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Our country is in the throes of an economic crisis—the
most severe since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Unemployment
is at the disaster level. And even before the onset of our current,
deep recession, chronic unemployment, low and stagnant wages,
myriad unmet needs and unprecedented environmental degradation
were endemic.
Current Job Crisis
Nearly 30 million workers fully or partially jobless (June
2009)
Most rapid job less of any downturn since the Great Depression
5 million fewer jobs in the U.S. economy since the onset of
the recession.
High unemployment expected to persist, even if the economy “recovers.”
Many of the long-term unemployed will lose benefits, their savings,
their homes and more
Weak Stimulus
By the Administration’s own estimate, the economic stimulus
will make up for a fraction of the millions of jobs lost since
the recession began. Nor will the Stimulus stem the continuing
job hemorrhage.
“Good Old Days”
Even in “good” times: 5 million or more women
and men were officially jobless; hidden unemployment afflicted
many millions more; and poverty wages were rampant. Inequality
reigned, our infrastructure was crumbling, and human services
fell far short of needs.
We must not go back to those “Good Old Days.”
Instead, we should be guided by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
(1933): We cannot be content, no matter how high the general
standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people …
is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.
Real Reform
Now is the time to organize and mobilize to create a just economy--one
that assures living wage jobs for all, sustains the environment,
and repairs our social and physical infrastructure.
JOIN A COALITION of LABOR, RELIGIOUS, ANTI-POVERTY, COMMUNITY
ACTION ORGANIZATIONS … & CONCERNED PEOPLE
ATTEND & SUPPORT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK
HELP TO ORGANIZE SIMILAR CONFERENCES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES
PLAN A MASS DEMONSTRATION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN WASHINGTON
Endorse the Conference Call to Action! Please list name and organization
INITIAL ENDORSERS OF THE CONFERENCE -- [list in formation]
Adelphi University School of Social Work
Americans for Democratic Action, Darryl Fagin,
Legal Director
Ron Baiman, Chicago Political Economy Group,
Director of Budget and Policy Analysis, Center for Tax and Budget
Accountability. Chicago
Bill Barclay, Chicago Political Economy Group,
Oak Park Citizens for Truth and Justice, Progressive Democrats
of America
Charles Bell, National Jobs for All Coalition,
Conference Chair
Center for Constitutional Rights, Bill Quigley,
Legal Director
Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board, Workers United,
SEIU
Coalition on Human Needs, Deborah Weinstein,
Executive Director
Coalition for Economic and Social Justice, San
Francisco & Belleville, IL, Barbara Arms,
Community Organizer
Sheila Collins, National Jobs for All Coalition,
Professor of Political Science, William Paterson University
Committee For New Priorities/Chicago Jobs With Justice
Cornell ILR Extension Programs, New York City
DC 37 AFSCME, Lillian Roberts, President
Bill Fletcher, Jr., Executive Editor, BlackCommentator.com
Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Senior Pastor Emeritus,
Riverside Church of New York, Pres., Healing of the Nations Foundation
Helen Ginsburg, National Jobs for All Coalition, Professor Emerita
of Economics, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
Greater New York Labor Religion Coalition, Rabbi Michael Feinberg,
Director
Philip Harvey, Professor of Law & Economics, Rutgers School
of Law
Hunter College School of Social Work
Haydar Kurban, Chicago Political Economy Group, Associate Professor
of Economics, Howard University
Garth Mangum, Max McGraw Professor Emeritus, Economics & Management,
Univ. of Utah
Logan Martinez, Miami Valley Full Employment Council/Organize
Ohio
National Council of Churches
National Jobs for All Coalition, Trudy Goldberg, Chair
New Priorities/Chicago Jobs With Justice
Jeanette Mott Oxford, Missouri House of Representatives, State
Representative, 59th District
Joseph Persky, Chicago Political Economy Group, Professor of Economics,
University of Illinois, Chicago
Robert Pollin, Professor of Economics and Co-Director of the Political
Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign
Presbytery of New York
Professional Staff Congress-CUNY, AFL-CIO
Elce Redmond, Chicago Political Economy Group, South Austin Coalition,
Chicago
Marguerite G. Rosenthal, National Jobs for All Coalition, Professor
Emerita of Social Work, Salem State College
Stony Brook University, School of Social Welfare, Social Justice
Center
Frank Stricker, Emeritus Professor of History, California State
University, Dominguez Hills
Dr. Peg Strobel, Professor Emerita, University of Illinois at
Chicago
Rev. Marcel Welty, Conference Coordinator
Mel Rothenberg, Chicago Political Economy Group, Professor Emeritus
of Mathematics, University of Chicago
Local 2110 UAW
Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University
June Zaccone, National Jobs for All Coalition, Associate Professor
Emerita of Economics, Hofstra University
For more information, to make reservations, to participate in
planning the conference and subsequent action:
• Visit the conference website,
http://www.jobsconference.org
• Telephone, 212-972-9877 or
• E-mail JobsConference@njfac.org to register for the Conference
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