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America Needs Paychecks Not Pink Slips
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Center for Community Change Statement on White House Jobs Summit
Our neighborhoods are economically distressed and people need hope. Any conversation about fixing our nation’s unemployment problem must include unemployed people at the table with business and labor interests. The need for jobs is immediate and urgent. America needs paychecks not pink slips.
Contact: Germonique R. Ulmer 202-339-9331
Washington - Today, the White House hosted a summit on jobs. At the same time, unemployed workers from across the country were outside the gates to deliver an urgent message for creating a community jobs program. The following is a statement by Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change:
"Government can no longer sit on its hands during this jobs crisis, nor expect a solution will come by putting all its eggs in Wall Street’s basket. Main Street’s unemployment levels have reached epic proportions and are far deeper than anyone could have imagined.
"Our neighborhoods are economically distressed, and people need hope. Any conversation about fixing our nation’s unemployment problem must include unemployed people at the table with business and labor interests. The need for jobs is immediate and urgent. America needs paychecks, not pink slips.
"A large-scale community investment jobs program would reduce unemployment faster than any other mechanism available to the government. The White House and Congress can immediately put 2.5 million Americans back to work revitalizing our communities, providing critical services and cleaning the environment. These jobs would be real jobs with living wages and have a long term impact on America’s future."
Following the gathering outside the summit that included an employment line, the workers took their demands to Capitol Hill and made plans to deliver a letter to White House Domestic Policy Advisor Melody Barnes asking for a meeting.
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Since 1968, the Center for Community Change has strengthened the leadership, voice and power of low-income communities nationwide to confront the vital issues of today and build the social movements of tomorrow.
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