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.

In late 2007 much of the capitalist world fell into crisis. While the U.S. economy has expanded in recent years, job growth has been slow and wages have stagnated.

Here in Washington D.C., politicians have been taking aim at programs that serve workers and low-income people. In Dec. 2013, Congress allowed Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) to lapse, cutting millions off extended benefits for the long-term unemployed. Massive Food Stamp cuts will kick into gear later this year.

Steff Yorek, a spokesperson for Freedom Road Socialist Organization states, “Capitalism is good at producing unemployment and hunger and is a failure when it comes to creating decent, good paying jobs that pay enough to feed a family.”

#WashingtonDC #Unemployment #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

Speaking about unemployed workers, Boehner stated, “I think this idea that’s been born over the last – maybe out of the economy —over the last couple of years that, you know, I really don’t have to work. You know, I don’t really want to do this; I think I’d just rather sit around. This is a very sick idea for our country.”

He then went on to talk the how hard he and other members of his family had to work, stating, “if you wanted something, you worked for it.”

Speaker Boehner and other House Republicans have been blocking efforts to renew extended unemployment compensation (EUC).

When the Democratic leadership failed to make benefits for the long-term jobless part of the budget compromise at the end of last year, Republicans got veto power over extending emergency unemployment benefits.

About 3 million jobless workers have lost out on jobless benefits, causing utility shut-offs, hunger and home foreclosures.

#WashingtonDC #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC #JohnBoehner #AmericanEnterpriseInstitute

San José, CA – On Sept. 5, the Department of Labor’s monthly report on the job market said that employment grew more slowly in August. There was a rise of only 142,000 jobs, much less than the average of about 240,000 for the last six months. In addition, the Labor Department revised down the job gains for June and July by 28,000.

The report also stated that the official unemployment rate ticked down by one-tenth of one percent to 6.1% in August. There was also a large drop (192,000) in the number of long-term unemployed. But rather than finding jobs, many of the long-term unemployed were likely to have given up on finding work. Those who stop looking are then not counted as officially unemployed. The Labor Force Participation Rate, which measures the fraction of working age adults who are either working or looking for work, dropped to 62.8%, matching the rate reached earlier this year, which has not been seen since March of 1978, when fewer women were working.

Back in January, congressional Republicans blocked extending Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation or EUC. The EUC was designed for unemployed workers whose state benefits, which last only six months, had run out. In January alone, more than a million jobless workers lost their benefits, and since then more than a million more unemployed have lost all their benefits. Many Republicans blame unemployment benefits and the minimum wage for the high unemployment rate.

#SanJoséCA #Unemployment #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #ExtendedUnemploymentBenefits #EUC

St. Paul, MN – Members of the Welfare Rights Committee (WRC) gathered outside Governor Mark Dayton’s mansion here, Sept. 4, to demand the governor, along with the Minnesota state government, provide public assistance to everyone who needs it and that they increase the welfare grants.

A statement from the WRC points out, “Governor Mark Dayton is running for re-election. We have seen four years of giveaways to the rich (like to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf). The governor knows the MFIP grants have not been increased since 1986 – but his administration has fought against a grant increase, even though 70,000 kids in extreme poverty. There are hundreds of thousands of others suffering homelessness and poverty who can get no help at all.”

Protest organizers also said that Congress’ failure to pass extended unemployment compensation (EUC) for the long-term jobless means that more people need help. The WRC’s current slogan is, “Give aid to all in need!”

#StPaulsMinnesota #StPaulsMN #PeoplesStruggles #Minnesota #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #MN #EUC

Washington, DC – Unemployment rates ticked upwards in 30 states, according to an Aug. 18 report from the federal government’s U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ohio, Maryland and South Carolina had the largest job losses. Mississippi has the country’s highest unemployment rate, at 8%. Meanwhile, Congress is in recess until September.

About 3 million workers have lost long-term jobless benefits since emergency unemployment insurance was allowed to lapse in late December 2013. At the time, Democratic leadership failed to insist on including extended unemployment compensation (EUC) in the budget compromise. That gave Republicans veto power over attempts in Congress to restore the program.

Early this year the Senate voted to bring back benefits for the long-term jobless, but the House leadership refused to allow the measure to come to the floor. Many conservative politicians blame jobless workers and unemployment insurance for the persistently high unemployment rates.

Commenting on the impasse in Congress, Steff Yorek of Freedom Road Socialist Organization states, “The fact members of Congress are at home campaigning – instead of addressing the real crisis that unemployed workers are facing – is a searing indictment of the politicians who serve the 1%.”

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Capitalism #SteffYorek #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

About 3 million people have lost unemployment insurance since Congress failed to renew jobless benefits in late December. At the time, Democrat leaders in Congress failed to insist on the inclusion of extended jobless benefits in the budget compromise, giving Republicans veto power over legislation to restore aid for long-term unemployed workers.

It is telling that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made no mention of restoring emergency unemployment benefits in his July 18 press release on the June unemployment rates.

Steff Yorek, a spokesperson for Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “It is time for both parties of big business to address the crisis unemployed workers are facing. We need benefits for long-term unemployed workers and the benefits need to be retroactive so as to cover everyone who was cut off.”

According to the June unemployment report, Rhode Island has a 7.9% unemployment rate, Nevada 7.7%, California 7.4% and Illinois 7.1%.

#WashingtonDC #Unemployment #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #ExtendedUnemploymentBenefits

About 3 million unemployed workers have been denied unemployment insurance since the program was allowed to lapse at the end of last year. Republicans have had the final say over legislation to bring back the long-term unemployment benefits since the December 2013 budget compromise, where the Democratic leadership failed to insist on including an extension in the budget.

A measure to restore extended unemployment passed the Senate earlier this year, but it has been held up by House Speaker John Boehner.

A high rate of unemployment has persisted in the U.S. and much of Europe since 2007, when capitalism underwent its worst crisis since the 1930s.

#WashingtonDC #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

Washington, DC – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stated in a June 6 press statement, “It is my hope that Congress can still act on extending unemployment. This vital lifeline is so critical to struggling families in Nevada and throughout the country.”

Addressing the House impasse that is holding up legislation to bring back unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless, Reid condemned the Republican leadership stating, “Speaker Boehner has refused to consider an extension of unemployment insurance to over 2.9 million Americans out of work.”

The crisis began in December 2013 when Congress failed to pass legislation to continue Extended Unemployment Compensation. Democratic leaders in Congress did not insist on including benefits for the long-term jobless in the budget compromise, which gave House Republicans the say-so over any attempt to bring back the emergency benefits.

Many observers say that President Obama is unwilling to expend political capital to see a restoration of the benefits.

Steff Yorek, a spokesperson for Freedom Road Socialist Organization, condemned congressional inaction on June 7 stating, “Unemployed workers who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own are facing a crisis. They are losing their homes, their cars are being repossessed, utilities are cut off and families are being destroyed. The so called ‘job creators’ are failures and so is their capitalist system. Congress needs to act now and restore emergency unemployment benefits for the long term jobless.”

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Capitalism #SteffYorek #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights #HarryReid

Last January, Republicans in Congress blocked extension of the Federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation, or EUC. This program provided unemployment benefits to jobless workers whose state unemployment insurance benefits had run out after six months. Over a million jobless workers lost their benefits in January and by now the number is more than 2 million.

Republicans, using free-market economic theory, argued that the EUC benefits were an 'incentive' not to get work, ignoring the facts that there is still a lack of jobs and unemployment insurance on average only covers 30% of one’s wages. But the reality is that the end of extended unemployment insurance benefits just discouraged workers and many gave up looking. They were no longer counted as unemployed (thus helping to push down the unemployment rate from 6.6% in January to 6.3% in May), and in turn pushed down the labor force participation rate.

#SanJoséCA #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

Washington, DC – House speaker John Boehner (R-OH) still refuses to allow a vote on legislation to restore unemployment compensation to the long-term jobless. In a May 21 statement on job training, Boehner failed to address the predicament of the nearly 3 million workers who have been hit by the failure of Congress to restore Extended Unemployment Benefits.

After a protracted fight, legislation to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless passed the Senate, April 7, with a handful of Republican votes. The Senate bill would extend the benefits until June 1 and provide for retroactive unemployment compensation payments. The House is unlikely to hold a vote on the proposed measure before June 1, which means the legislation will be back to square one.

Given the outrage that exists around this issue – many unemployed workers are losing their homes, cars and the ability to help their families – most expect that legislative efforts to bring back long term jobless benefits will continue after June 1.

Republicans gained effective veto power over extended unemployment benefits when the Congressional Democratic leadership did not insist on the inclusion of Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) in the December 2013 budget compromise.

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #Capitalism #RepublicanAgenda #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

The 14 Republican House members who participated in the May 9 Weekly Republican Address, titled “Many Bills, One Focus: Jobs,” made no mention of the bill on extended benefits for the unemployed.

Republicans gained effective veto power over extended unemployment benefits when the Congressional Democratic leadership did not insist on the inclusion of Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) in the December 2013 budget compromise.

Since extended benefits expired on Dec. 28, 2013, about 3 million workers have been cut off unemployment insurance.

In the aftermath of the 2007 economic meltdown, the worst crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, large-scale unemployment has been a huge problem in the U.S. and Europe.

In the U.S., California has an unemployment rate of 8.1%, Illinois 8.4%, Nevada is at 8.5% and Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate, 8.7%.

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #Capitalism #RepublicanAgenda #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights #JohnBoehner

The bill to restore the long-term unemployment benefits passed the Senate, with a handful of Republican votes, on April 7. Since then House Republican leader John Boehner (R-OH) has refused to allow vote on the measure.

According to reports, Boehner is holding out for an agreement that will link the proposed benefit extension with Republican economic measures. Many analysts view this as a cynical move to torpedo Extended Unemployment Compensation.

The congressional Republican leadership gained effective veto power over legislation to extend unemployment benefits, when the Democratic leadership did now insist on the extensions inclusion in last December’s budgets compromise.

Nearly 3 million workers have lost jobless benefits since they were allowed to lapse on Dec. 28, 2013. As a result, unemployed workers have home foreclosures, car repossessions and hunger.In the aftermath of the large scale economic crisis that hit the U.S. and most other capitalist countries 2007, high unemployment rates have persisted.

In Washington DC, there is a consensus among top Republicans and Democrats to rein in spending by cutting programs that serve working and low-income people. Both parties receive extensive backing from large corporations and wealthy donors.

#WashingtonDC #WashingtoDC #Unemployment #PeoplesStruggles #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC #Wage #Compensation #JackReed

In the Weekly Republican Address, released April 26, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) highlighted the jobs issue but made no mention of moves to bring back jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. Speaking of Republican goals Boehner stated, “your priorities are our priorities.”

Nearly 3 million workers have lost out on unemployment benefits, since they were allowed to lapse on Dec. 28, 2013. The failure of the Democratic congressional leadership to insist on including jobless benefits in December’s budget accord set the stage for this crisis.

Unless the Republican leadership agrees to allow debate and a vote on extended unemployment insurance, the measure cannot move forward.

Commenting on the impasse, Stef Yorek of Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “Politicians from both parties have failed unemployed workers, and so has capitalism. Plans to give more help to the wealth ‘job creators’ are a joke. House politicians need to pass legislation to extend unemployment benefits now.”

#WashingtonDC #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

Labor leaders and activists in every country know the story of the heroic Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago who in 1886 led strikes and militant protests against big industrial bosses and bankers. Some of the labor leaders were American-born, while others were immigrants from Germany and other countries, just like Chicago today. All of them were united in understanding the working class is the basis of social change, a revolutionary class, the class of the future with the right to rule society.

Against the workers, trying to stop the unions and repress the workers’ demand for the eight-hour day, were the big capitalists. The bankers and industrial capitalists broke all the legal rules and hung four of the Haymarket labor leaders. It only outraged industrial workers more and they went on to win the eight-hour day through an international campaign.

Immigrant Rights and Legalization for All!

Today in the U.S., we can thank the immigrant rights movement for the rebirth of May Day. On May 1, 2006 over 2 million working people and their allies poured into the streets of America’s big cities. The immigrant rights mega-marches shut down the repressive, anti-immigrant Sensenbrenner bill that criminalized undocumented immigrants and other working people who show solidarity with them. 120 years after Haymarket, another attack from big business and right-wing politicians was beat back by the power of the people.

The vast majority of the mega-marches were made up of Chicanos, Mexicanos and Central Americans. By far most undocumented are Mexicano and Central Americans, and so it is no coincidence that their communities rally on May 1. We see the struggle for immigrant rights as part of the struggle for equality by Chicanos, Mexicanos and Central Americans, as well as other oppressed nationalities (African Americans, Asian Americans, Arab Americans and others) who have a history of discrimination and exploitation in the U.S. Immigrant rights is also part of the struggle for self-determination for the Chicano nation in the Southwest.

On May 1 this year, many will march through the streets and hold rallies in cities both big and small demanding immigrant rights. With the failure of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, we think it is important to raise the slogan, “Legalization for All!”

Legalization means immigrant workers have rights and full equality on the job and in society. We want more than CIR proposals that mainly benefit corporations. We want immigrants to be able to form or join unions and improve their pay and lives. It will certainly give Wall Street a heart attack, because Wall Street likes the ‘broken immigration system.’ Wall Street promotes it and benefits from it with huge profits on unpaid or underpaid labor. We say no to Wall Street, and yes to worker-to-worker solidarity!

Another important demand for May Day is “Stop Deportations Now!” President Obama can stop deportations with the stroke of his pen. On May 1, President Obama can sign a presidential order saying he will extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals to all 11 million undocumented immigrants. What are you waiting for Obama?

We also say, put an end to ICE raids, stop the border militarization and halt expanding the guest worker programs. We also want states to allow drivers licenses and we support the national SDS Tuition Equity campaign for undocumented students so they can pay in-state tuition like other students. These are all good reforms, but Legalization For All will take care of much of this.

On International Workers’ Day we are reminded of the bold Teamsters of Local 804 in New York City who walked off the job Feb. 26 in solidarity with their union steward and fellow worker threatened with dismissal by corrupt management. UPS threated to fire all 250 union drivers for practicing ‘an injury to one is an injury to all,’ but union solidarity won the day. Other sharp struggles are likely to break out as unions are under attack and workers begin to act under pressure. With austerity measures by federal, state and local governments, public sector unions and workers either wage struggle or lose out.

The same is true for low-income and other working people, especially the unemployed, as the government cuts back social welfare spending. Angry voices are demanding Congress pass Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC). People cannot find good jobs to replace the ones they lost during the 2009 economic crisis and they are desperate. The Republicans are blocking EUC and it is obvious that millions need good jobs or income now.

The reality is the U.S. government has never worked for the people. The U.S. government serves the rich and it always has. That is the lesson of Haymarket. There were no ‘golden years’ when government served the people. We cannot ‘take back our democracy’ because the government always served the rich. Occupy Wall Street got it right! The government works for Wall Street and no bankers are going to jail unless we make a revolution that seizes state power and puts them there.

As a matter of fact, the U.S. government and society is growing more repressive and this will likely increase. Last year witnessed a number of court cases where the killers of young African-American men got away with cold-blooded murder. There was no justice for Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Jordan Davis and Marissa Alexander in Jacksonville, or Corey Stingley outside Milwaukee – and the list goes on. The movements against police murder and brutality and to reform the prison injustice system are gaining momentum, led by African-Americans. The FRSO says the U.S. is a penitentiary for oppressed nations, African-Americans in the Black Belt South and Chicanos in the Southwest, as well as others.

Similarly, we expect an increase in political repression as movements grow and become more determined to make social change and bring justice. The Anti-war 23 continue to be ‘investigated’ with no official word saying it is over. The connected case of Rasmea Odeh, Palestinian and Arab woman leader in Chicago is heading towards a court date on June 10 in Detroit. We are asking people to hold “Solidarity with Rasmea Odeh” events on May 15, the day of Al-Nakba – when armed Zionists drove Palestinians from their homes. Arabs and Muslims are under serious attack and we all need to rally in their support for democratic rights and against unfair imprisonment.

On May 1, 2014, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization wants to send our solidarity to workers and oppressed people here at home and around the world. We are with you in struggle, from the belly of the beast. Our forces are small, but our spirit is great. We know that as we march in Chicago and other cities, police using violence and tear gas will repress workers in Turkey and Colombia. As the FRSO hosts celebrations and forums on socialism in U.S. cities, we are inspired by socialist countries like Cuba, where over a million people will gather in Havana to celebrate international solidarity with the workers and oppressed peoples of the world. We are with you and you are with us!

We march with you for a future where the many are no longer exploited or oppressed by a handful of rich billionaires and multi-millionaires.

#UnitedStates #MayDay #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #internationalWorkersDay #May1 #frso #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #Socialism #EUC

The Democratic leadership did not insist on including a benefit extension in last December’s budget compromise, giving Republicans the power to stop legislation to restore Extended Unemployment Compensation.

About 3 million workers have been denied jobless benefits since the program was allowed to expire late last December.

House Democrats are circulating a discharge petition, which if signed by a majority of House members, would force an immediate vote on the measure. To date, the discharge petition has been signed by 193 House members. The House of Representatives has 233 Republicans and 199 Democrats.

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #Capitalism #RepublicanAgenda #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

The bill now moves to the House where it faces opposition from Republicans. House Republican leader Jon Boehner says he considers the extension “unworkable.” Many House Republicans blame the jobless for high unemployment rates.

The Democratic Party leadership gave Republicans the power to veto an extension of unemployment benefits when they refused to include the measure in last year’s budget compromise.

#WashingtonDC #Unemployment #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

Washington, DC – A vote is expected on legislation to restore Extended Unemployment Compensation this Monday, April 7. The bill, which calls for Congress to bring back unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, has faced repeated delays from Senate Republicans, but is expected to pass.

The impasse in the Senate was broken when a small group of Republican senators decided to back the effort to restore the benefits.

When the Democratic leadership in Congress failed to insist on the inclusion of Extended Unemployment Compensation in last December’s budget compromise, they in effect gave Republicans veto power over benefits for the unemployed.

After the passage of the jobless bill in the Senate, the legislation needs to pass in the House. Most House Republicans are hostile to measures that assist working people. Many of the Democrats have gone along with cuts to social programs.

More than 2 million workers have lost their benefits since extended unemployment insurance expired at the end of last year.

Steff Yorek, a leader of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), states, “The capitalist system is a failed system that is unable to meet people’s needs. It serves the rich and so do many of the Washington, D.C. politicians. It’s time to turn up the heat on Congress.”

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #Capitalism #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

The Senate measure would reinstate jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and includes retroactive payments.

The cut of long-term jobless benefits at the end of last year has impacted nearly more than 2 million workers. Many are losing their homes and face car repossessions and utility shut offs.

Many Republican politicians assert that the unemployed are the cause of high unemployment rates. Congressional Democrats failed the unemployed when they did not insist that Extended Unemployment Compensation was included in the December 2013 budget accord.

#WashingtonDC #Unemployment #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #EUC

While more Republican opposition to unemployment insurance is expected over the next few days, the bill bringing back jobless benefits will likely pass. Five Republican Senators have signed on to measure, giving it the margin it needs to move forward.

The decision to go ahead with Extended Unemployment Compensation came on the heels of the passage of a bipartisan deal to spend $1 billion on the fascists who recently took power in the Ukraine.

The bill extending jobless benefits faces a tough fight in the Republican-dominated House.

The decision by the Democratic leadership to not include Extended Unemployment Compensation in last December's budget agreement gave Republicans the power to block measures to aid the long-term unemployed.

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #Capitalism #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights

In Congress ‘fiscally-responsible’ is often a code word for cuts to social programs that serve working and low-income people. ‘Private sector job creation’ means handouts to corporations or removing environmental regulations.

Nationally, Republicans have staked out the political terrain that blames jobless workers for high unemployment rates and poverty on the poor.

More than 2 million workers have been hit by the failure to renew Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC) at the end of last year.

Republicans got what amounts to veto power over legislation to extend jobless benefits when the Democratic leadership failed to insist on including extended unemployment insurance into the December 2013 budget compromise.

#WashingtonDC #unemploymentInsurance #RepublicanAgenda #ExtendedUnemploymentCompensation #workersRights #EUC #JohnBoehner