Public Employee Press

Obama & Biden meet with local leaders

By JANE LaTOUR

The official unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, some states are worse, and minority communities are suffering disproportionately high levels of joblessness.

"These numbers should be a wake-up call to politicians around the country, especially those who are blocking the American Jobs Act," said Gerald W. McEntee, president of DC 37's parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. He spoke out as Republican legislators pledged to oppose the president's jobs plan, calling it a "federal bailout" for struggling state and local governments.

As President Barack Obama reaches out to allies for support in the fight to pass the American Jobs Act, he met Nov. 1 with a union group that included Social Service Employees Union Local 371 President Anthony Wells, Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 Executive Vice President Alma Roper, and representatives of other unions and community groups. AFSCME brothers and sisters from Ohio, Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico joined Roper and Wells.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis addressed the group and invited Wells to express his concerns. "We have to remember that we all depend on public servants who work in hospitals, in social services and handle the 911 calls - the recent attacks on public employees are not just about Teachers, Firefighters and Police Officers," he said. He warned about the national trend toward privatization and contracting out that diverts money from government services and employees.

President Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden encouraged those present to get the message about the Jobs Act out to their communities. Obama said he needs help to pass the bill, and invited meeting participants to share their concerns.

Roper spoke about the need to include support staff in any federal jobs bill. "Don't forget the 911 operators and clerical support staff who keep every city agency operating," she said. She noted that Mayor Bloomberg had just laid off 642 of these support workers in the New York City school system.

"This was a great opportunity to hear the president's views and for him to hear from us about the impact his bill can have on us," Wells said.