AFL-CIO Ad: ‘Auto Loans About All of Us’

by James Parks, Dec 10, 2008

The economy is in a free fall and failure to help the nation’s automakers could be devastating, economists say. Nearly 2 million jobs have been lost this year—more than half a million last month alone—and there is a possibility that another 3.3 million jobs could be gone if Congress does not pass an emergency bridge loan for the Big Three automakers. Some 10 million U.S. workers were looking for a job in October. That’s why union members are pushing for Congress to quickly approve the auto industry loans.

In full-page ads today in The Hill, Roll Call and Politico newspapers, which reach decision makers in the nation’s capital, the AFL-CIO says the auto industry crisis does not just affect autoworkers, its impact stretches across the economy in a big way.

 The House may act as early as today to pass a $15 billion bridge loan package, but a small minority of Republican senators are threatening to filibuster against the bill and stop it from being approved in the upper chamber. If lawmakers do not act this week, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said, one or more automakers will be forced to liquidate operations.

Please call your representative today. Urge her or him to vote for the bipartisan legislation to provide emergency bridge loans to the domestic auto companies. Tell your representative this legislation is essential to prevent the collapse of the companies and the devastating consequences that would follow for millions of workers and retirees, and for the entire economy of our nation.

You can call your representative toll free at 1-877- 331-1223. Or you can send her or him an e-mail here.

The ads cite a study by the Economic Policy Institute, which shows that jobs could be destroyed in every state because so many workers hold jobs that depend on the automobile industry. The ads also quote Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, who told the Senate Banking Committee:

 Hundreds of thousands of people would be laid off at a time when the economy is already set to lose several million jobs. The hit to already record low consumer and business confidence could be devastating.

The ad delivers the message that the average worker deserves the same support that Congress gave to Wall Street “so we can rebuild our economy together.”

Approve the auto industry loans now. This is about all of us.

 

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