Roughly 14.8 million Americans are unemployed with about 6.2 million of them out of work for at least 27 weeks. This long term unemployment is making long-term jobless people get more organized. One union “the 99ers” have sent 10,000 letters to lawmakers earlier this month. Another group the FlashMobs4Jobs is holding rallies and demonstrations. Earlier this month the group recreated a 1930s breadline outside the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Unemployed Americans have collected $319 billion in jobless benefits over the past three years, and the lawmakers are very sensitive in increasing the bill. One thing is certain though the voice of the unemployed will get increasingly stronger.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
99ers: The unemployed need help!
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Are the union and group doing more than collecting benefits such as helping to create jobs or anything of the like? Also, "the lawmakers are very sensitive in increasing the bill" refers to the sum of money or a proposed bill?
ReplyDeleteI don't see how this will help the 99ers by extending the time for the unemployment benefits since they had 99 weeks to find a job. I think this is going to motivate them to not find jobs even longer. I think they should do some work (volunteering) for the community.
ReplyDeleteBut again, I agree with the statement, "That's why advocates are pressing Congress to add another tier of unemployment benefits. The additional weeks will cover the jobless, while giving the economy more time to recover and create employment opportunities..." But we need to look at the pros and cons.