Saturday, November 15, 2008

Enact Local Resolutions to Support The Drive for Decent Work!

The National Jobs for All Coalition has drafted a local resolution for towns, cities, counties and states to enact in support of public investment and job creation. The text of the resolution is attached below.

To pass a local resolution in your town, city, county or state:
1) Organize a Local Coalition of organizations who support The Drive for Decent Work
2) Survey Council members or Legislators to Learn More about Their Views on Jobs
3) Identify Council Member Allies who will Introduce the Resolution, and Support It
4) Hold a Public Education Event
5) Gather Other Endorsements or Signatures in Support
6) Conduct Outreach to the Media by adapting this Resolution as a press release or letter to your local paper.

For more help with the Drive for Decent Work Resolution, contact: NJFAC Vice Chair Chuck Bell at cbell [at] igc.org or NJFAC Outreach Coordinator Logan Martinez, at loganmartinez2u [at] yahoo.com
See also the guide to Getting a Resolution passed at: http://www.citiesforprogress.org/ (under Resolution Toolkits)


RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
THE DRIVE FOR DECENT WORK


WHEREAS, millions of people in the United States are unemployed in good times as well as bad, and many more work without living wages, comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits;

WHEREAS, the official unemployment rate leaves out the “hidden unemployed”— who want full-time work but are forced to work part-time or who want a job but are not currently looking for reasons such as lack of child care or transportation.

WHEREAS, in October 2008, an estimated 10.1 million workers were officially unemployed (6.5%), an additional 11.7 million were “hidden unemployed,” bringing the actual jobless rate to roughly 14%.

WHEREAS, the unemployment rate in [ state or locality ] has risen to __ percent; [see Local Area Unemployment Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/lau/]

WHEREAS, millions more workers in the United States work full-time, year-round, yet earn less than the official poverty level, and do not earn a wage high enough to support the basic costs of living,;

WHEREAS, in addition to its chronic deficit of decent jobs, the United States also suffers a chronic deficit of public investment in vital human and physical resources, including affordable housing, child care, elder care, health care, public transit, bridges, levees, schools and other physical infrastructure, as well as environmentally sustainable technology, conservation and renewable energy;

WHEREAS, greater federal, state, and municipal investment in meeting infrastructure and service needs could create millions of new, living wage jobs and lay the foundation for shared prosperity and improved quality of life for all;

WHEREAS, every job in the United States should be a decent job that allows individuals and families to live a secure and prosperous life; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ]calls upon the Congress to enact a “Main Street” Economic Stimulus Package as proposed by the US Conference of Mayors, and other pending legislation to meet urgent unmet public needs for infrastructure and services, and create new millions of living wage jobs;

RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] calls upon the Congress to introduce and pass a 21st Century Public Investment Act to provide additional support for high-priority public works and services, with emphasis on providing jobs for the unemployed;

RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] calls upon the Congress to create a National Employment Accounting Office to systematically evaluate the progress of efforts to improve infrastructure and services and create jobs, and assess future needs for additional public investment;

RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] encourages the Congress to raise the minimum wage and bring it closer to a living wage by restoring its historic 1960s value and linking it to 60% of the average wage;

RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] declares [ seven day period ] to be Jobs for All Week in [ town, city, state ]. We encourage [town/city/state ] residents, public officials, labor unions and nonprofit organizations to become involved in finding lasting solutions to the United States’ twin deficits of unemployment and underinvestment in essential public services, by supporting effective programs of public and private job creation.

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
THE DRIVE FOR DECENT WORK

WHEREAS, millions of citizens and. residents of the people in the United States are unemployed in good times as well as bad times, and many more work part- or full-time without living wages, comprehensive health insurance and retirement benefits;
WHEREAS, the official unemployment rate does not include leaves out the “hidden unemployed”—people who want full-time work but are forced to work part-time or who want a job but are not currently looking for reasons such as lack of child care or transportation.
WHEREAS, in October 2008, an estimated 10.1 million workers were officially unemployed (6.5%), an additional 11.7 million workers were counted as “hidden unemployed,” bringing the effective national actual jobless rate to roughly 14%.
WHEREAS, the unemployment rate in [ state or locality ] has risen to __ percent; [see Local Area Unemployment Statistics at http://www.bls.gov/lau/]
WHEREAS, millions more workers in the United States work full-time, year-round, yet earn less than the official poverty level, and do not earn a wage high enough to support the basic costs of living, including food, housing, health care and utilities;
WHEREAS, in addition to facing its chronic deficit of decent jobs, the United States also faces suffers a chronic deficit of public investment in vital human and physical resources, including affordable housing, child care, elder care, health care, public transit, bridges, levees, schools and other physical infrastructure, as well as environmentally sustainable technology, conservation and renewable energy;
WHEREAS, greater federal, state, and municipal investment in meeting infrastructure and service needs could create millions of new living wage jobs throughout the United States, and lay the foundation for shared prosperity and an improved quality of life for all;
WHEREAS, every job in the United States should be a decent job that allows individuals and families to live a secure and prosperous life; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ]calls upon the Congress to enact a “Main Street” Economic Stimulus Package as proposed by the US Conference of Mayors, and other pending legislation to meet urgent unmet public needs for infrastructure and services, and create new millions of living wage jobs;
RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] calls upon the Congress to introduce and pass a 21st Century Public Investment Act to provide additional support for high-priority public works and services, with emphasis on providing jobs for the unemployed;
RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] calls upon the Congress to create a National Employment Accounting Office to systematically evaluate the progress of efforts to improve infrastructure and services and create jobs, and assess future needs for additional public investment;
RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] encourages the Congress to further raise the minimum wage and bring it closer to a living wage by restoring its historic 1960s value in the 1960s, and linking it to 60% of the average wage;
RESOLVED, the [ _________ City Council or Legislature ] declares [ seven day period ] to be Jobs for All Week in [ town, city, state ]. We encourage [town/city/state ] residents, public officials, labor unions and nonprofit organizations to become involved in finding lasting solutions to the United States’ twin deficits of unemployment and underinvestment in essential public services, by supporting effective programs of public and private job creation.

National Jobs for All Coalition

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