San Jose, CA – En mayo de 2015, la tasa oficial de desempleo fue de 5.5 %, bastante cerca a la tasa del 5.0% que existía cuando comenzó la última recesión en diciembre del 2007. Sin embargo, a pesar de la aparente recuperación del mercado laboral, los salarios continúan aumentando a un ritmo sumamente lento, mientras que las ganancias se han disparado de forma exponencial. De hecho, para el detrimento de aquellos que tienen que trabajar para sobrevivir, las empresas han utilizado la recesión para impulsar la reestructuración del mercado laboral en beneficio de sus intereses.
San José, CA – On July 2, the Labor Department released its report on the job market for June of 2015. The official unemployment rate fell to 5.3% in June from 5.5% in May, the lowest since the early months of the recession in April 2008. In addition, the payroll jobs report showed a gain of 223,000 in June. With unemployment down and job numbers up, the economic expansion continues.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following July 1 statement from the powerful Greek trade union center, the All Workers Militant Front (PAME).
The Trade Unions To Organize Militant Response
San José, CA – On June 28, the European Central Bank (ECB) stopped emergency lending to Greek banks. With depositors trying to withdraw money and banks without access to cash, the Greek government called for a six-day bank shutdown from June 29 to July 6. ATM withdrawals were limited to 60 euros (about $66) a day per account holder. In addition, capital controls mean that money cannot flow out of Greece unless permitted by the government.
On May 1, 2015, workers around the world will celebrate International Workers’ Day and the struggle for a better world. In most every country, workers and oppressed peoples will march in the streets waving red flags. Working class leaders will give powerful speeches about the history and future of the struggle against an unfair system that only benefits the 1%. May Day is an opportunity to celebrate the working class and the bright future ahead for those of us who work and stand against the bosses and companies that exploit us. May 1 is also a day to stand with oppressed nations and peoples of the world who are resisting war and occupation by the U.S. ruling class and its military machine. Freedom Road Socialist Organization (www.frso.org) urges people to march on May Day and host forums about the working class, the need to end the rule of the 1% and to establish socialism – a system where political and economic power is in the hands of the workers.
_Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) still needed _
Washington DC – Statistics released by the federal government on Jan. 27 indicate that high unemployment rates persist in a good number of states. California, home to almost 40 million people and the most populous state in the U.S., has an unemployment rate of 7%. In December, Mississippi had the highest unemployment rate of all states, coming in at 7.2%. Topping the list is Washington D.C., with an unemployment rate of 7.3%. Rhode Island and Nevada are also plagued by high unemployment.
Washington, D.C. – Statistics compiled by the federal government indicate that there is still a large number of long-term unemployed workers, despite the modest economic expansion. According to a Jan. 9 statement from the Bureau of Labor Statics, “In December, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was essentially unchanged at 2.8 million and accounted for 31.9% of the unemployed.”
San José, CA – On Friday, Oct. 10, U.S. stock prices fell again, ending a week marked by ups and downs in the market. As measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average of 30 large U.S. corporations, stock prices have actually fallen slightly this year.
San José, CA – On Oct. 3, the Department of Labor released their report on the job market for September. The report showed that the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR), or the percentage of adults either working or looking for work, continued to decline, and hit a low not seen since 1978. Almost 100,000 jobless workers gave up their job search and left the labor market, helping the unemployment rate to go down to 5.9%, the lowest since summer of 2008.
Growing economic inequality means only the rich are getting richer
San José, CA – On Tuesday, Sept. 16, the Census Bureau released their annual report on income and poverty for 2013. The report showed that the typical household had a small gain in their income for the first time since 2007. The median household income, at $51,939 was still below that of 1996, when adjusted for inflation. It is still down 8% from 2007 and 8.7% less than its peak in 1999.
