AFL-CIO Executive Council Calls for Round 2 of Economic Recovery
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The nation’s working families and the economy desperately need a second installment on the Obama administration’s economic recovery plan. That plan, says the AFL-CIO Executive Council,
must focus like a laser beam on job creation.
Along with approving an economic policy statement outlining the urgent need for more economic recovery initiatives, the council, convening for a one-day meeting yesterday in Washington, D.C., also welcomed two new members, Letter Carriers (NALC) President Fredric Rolando and AFGE Vice President Rogelio Flores.
The council honored former council members William Young, who recently retired as NALC president, and AFGE Vice President Andrea Brooks, who died in April. To help support the work of the Alliance for Retired Americans, the council proposed the creation of the Preserving Union Values Charitable Foundation.
Although the first round of economic stimulus has made huge strides is shoring up our economy, the council pointed out in its statement that the Bush administration’s economic legacy created such “economic devastation—in finance, housing and jobs,” that
The challenge of fixing this economic mess is enormous—and urgent. Creating good jobs that cannot be outsourced is central to the solution.
Unemployment is expected to hit 10 percent later this year and remain high in 2010. So far 6.6 million jobs have disappeared since the beginning of the recession in 2007, including 1.9 million manufacturing jobs and 1.3 million construction jobs. For those with jobs, wages are stagnant or shrinking and many workers face forced furloughs. As the council statement says:
It is crystal clear that urgent action from the federal government is needed to boost economic growth and jobs, and invest in America’s future.
Union Movement Mourns Andrea Brooks
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| Andrea Brooks |
The union movement is mourning the loss of AFGE vice president and AFL-CIO Executive Council member Andrea Brooks, 65, who died yesterday.
AFGE President John Gage said:
We are deeply saddened by the tremendous loss of a great friend to AFGE, the labor movement and to me personally. Andrea was an ardent fighter for civil, women’s and human rights in the workplace, and she will be sorely missed.
During the 2008 elections, Brooks led AFGE’s successful voter protection campaign and worked closely with several national organizations, including the AFL-CIO and Rock the Vote.
