by Ali Cochran – Denver, Colorado
Last night members from the community group, Working America, joined together to share their stories and plan new ways to fight back against the avalanche of attacks being waged on working class families across the country. The members who came were from many different backgrounds, including recent college graduates, retirees, and even a one-year-old named Maggie. One common theme brought everyone together – a desire to strengthen and rebuild our community.
We all know things have gone out of balance in America. In neighborhoods across the country, working families understand what’s happening. Corporate power has grown, while working people’s power has crumbled. Corporate profits and banker bonuses are doing great, but the rest of us are, rightly, worried. We’re worried about keeping our jobs, staying in our homes, feeding our kids, and retiring securely. We know what the problems are, and we want to be part of the solution.
America’s workers are more productive than ever, but the benefits of our hard work have gone more and more to a small number of the very wealthy. As the cost of health care, housing, and education has gone up, our wages have fallen behind and America is more unequal than ever. In Washington, D.C., in state capitals, in workplaces and corporate boardrooms, the interests of ordinary working people and their families seem to have been forgotten.
There’s only one way we can reverse it and rebuild a country that works for everyone – and that’s together.
“I’m here tonight because a canvasser from Working America knocked on my door and inspired me to get more involved,” said Diane Stallard, who holds a master’s degree in HR and has years of experience in the field, but after a round of layoffs at her company two years ago, is still looking for work.
David Bouchey wants to see his community in Aurora get back on its feet, “I want to make sure my neighbors know about what our elected officials have been up to and to hold them accountable!”
It’s easy for banks, big corporations and the very wealthy to influence the political process – they have millions to spend on TV ads, lobbying and campaign contributions and, as we’ve seen, they’re not afraid to use it.
We can’t outspend these powerful interests – but we can fight for our needs with strength in numbers. Together, we can have a bigger impact on important decisions about our economy and our country. The morning after the meeting, Kevin Pape, CO State Director of Working America said, “this Community Action Team has voted and agreed to meet regularly to address the issues that matter most to us – rebuilding our neighborhoods. We’re organizing, we’re building, and we’re gaining momentum.”
If you’re in the Denver area and would like to get more involved with our Community Action Team, call our Denver office at 303-935-2776 or shoot us an e-mail at denver@workingamerica.org.
Tags: Colorado, Jobs
by Ali Cochran – Denver, Colorado
Federal emergency unemployment benefits will expire March 6th unless they are renewed. Under a costly and burdensome Republican proposal, supported by Mike Coffman, unnecessary cuts and barriers would make it even harder for jobless Americans to look for work. An estimated 2.8 million Americans face the prospect of going hungry and getting thrown out of their homes due to changes in the program. In Coffman’s district alone, approximately 11,000 people would lose unemployment benefits.
That is why working families around Colorado called on Congressman Mike Coffman and Congress to extend unemployment insurance at his congressional office in Lone Tree, Colorado. “Today we dropped off nearly 11,000 fliers for how people could obtain emergency assistance once their unemployment insurance ends; One flier for each potentially effected constituent,” said John Fleck, President of the Denver Area Labor Federation. “We are asking Rep. Coffman to extend the benefits for Coloradans and all Americans who are looking for work.”
The flyer of “Emergency Numbers for Constituents Losing Unemployment Insurance” has phone numbers to help people through an undoubtedly difficult time. There are numbers for the Salvation Army, the Food Bank of the Rockies, House of Hope, the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline, child care assistance, and bankruptcy lawyers, among others.
With so much at stake, it’s no wonder people are worried about whether their elected officials will do the right thing and stand up for those in need. “Shame on every politician who’s willing to use a jobless worker as a political pawn to payback corporate donors. It’s time to fully renew unemployment insurance for 2012 – there should be no cuts, no barriers that make it even harder to find work and to navigate a bureaucratic system, and with no cheap political points attached,” Kevin Pape, Colorado State Director of Working America said. It’s time for Congress to take action to help working people who just need the chance to succeed.
Fourteen million people are unemployed, many in the job search of their lives. And according to the December 2011 Department of Labor Jobs Report, there are nearly 5.6 million people in the U.S. who have been jobless for six months or more – that’s more than 40 percent of all jobless Americans. Another staggering statistic is the average duration of joblessness – 41 weeks – is higher than at any time in 60 years. At the same time, there are at least four jobless workers per job vacancy.
It’s clear that we need to spur the economy and keep it growing. Maintaining the unemployment insurance program does that. Jobless benefits go straight back into the economy – they support local businesses, help create jobs, reduce the demand for public services and cost taxpayers less in the long run. Congress has to put politics aside and do what’s right for Americans who’ve lost their jobs and are struggling to survive, and protect the communities that depend on the economic boost unemployment insurance provides.
Working families must reach out to their U.S. Senators and call on Congress to fully renew unemployment insurance for 2012 – with no cuts and no barriers. Please reach out to your elected officials and let them know how you feel. If you have any questions about how to contact your elected official or if you’d like a copy of the flyer we delivered this morning, please don’t hesitate to contact Working America at www.workingamerica.org.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, unemployment benefits extension
Tuesday afternoon State Rep. Joe Miklosi of Colorado State District 9, a small business owner, and members of the community gathered at the Fletcher Post Office branch in Aurora to urge lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), to support common sense legislation to save the post office, stop the closing of over 3,700 branches of which the Fletcher branch is one which would cause the potential firing of over 100,000 workers.
Working America member, and small business owner, Taylor Poole said at the event, “If Rep. Coffman doesnt fight to save the post office, Ill have to drive to the next town over, get and pay for a new PO Box, change my address for everything at home for my family and change my address for everything at work.”
The U.S. Postal Service is a critical part of the American economy that delivers mail, medicine, and packages on time and at an affordable price – without a dime of taxpayer money. The group gathered to send Rep. Coffman an early holiday present in the form of letters from his constituents, all urging him to save the Post Office and over 100,000 jobs.
Cindy Kirby of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said, “Congress needs to act to save the Post Office! If they dont, the American people risk losing the services that they have taken for granted over the past 100 years. The solutions put forth by Congressman Coffman and others in Congress are not reasonable and will devastate working class communities like the one we are in today!”
Rep. Coffman’s constituents understand that the Post Office’s financial issues are a result of a Congressional mandate to prefund future retiree benefits for 75 years. This is a burden that no other government agency has to face. Reasonable legislation will deal with the pre-funding mandate and does not have to involve the closing of branches and processing centers, the ending of six-day delivery and the firing of over 100,000 workers. Rep. Coffman has the authority to step up and pass reasonable legislation that addresses the pre-funding issue but he has said nothing and has indicated that he supports the radical proposals put forth by the Post Master General last week. Working America hopes that hearing from his constituents will change his mind.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, Mike Coffman, Postal Service
Ali Cochran reports from Colorado.
Around the country, working people are standing with over 45,000 employees at Verizon. In August, Verizon workers went on strike to demand a fair wage and good benefits. Now, in December, they are still in contract negotiations, fighting to keep the middle-class jobs they have worked hard for.
Even after returning to work from a two week strike, Verizon hasn’t budged on their greedy demands. Despite $19 BILLION in profit over the last four years alone, Verizon is demanding to offshore more jobs, makes retirees pay $6,000 a year for healthcare coverage they have already earned, cut healthcare for current workers and dozens of other concessions from the very people who have built the company and who create its profits.
Snow Deaton Schaefer, a member of Working America, spoke passionately to the crowd about the importance of keeping good, middle-class jobs here, at home. “NO MORE OFFSHORING. NO MORE OFFSHORING,” she chanted into the megaphone as more and more people joined in.
Here in Colorado, labor, faith, community, and student/youth groups are standing up to corporate greed and rallying to support middle-class jobs. Members of Working America’s Young Worker Community Action Team arrived at the Verizon store on the 16th St. Mall on Saturday morning to stand in solidarity with Verizon workers. When asked why she came, Romina Halabi said, “It’s the right thing to do. These workers have to know that they are not alone in this”.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, Jobs, Rights At Work, Verizon
Ali Cochran – Denver, Colorado
Two servers, a barista and a bartender recounted personal experiences of themselves and co-workers reporting to work sick at Denver restaurants today at an event on the west end of Larimer Square to highlight the public health risks connected with workers’ lack of paid sick days. Afterward, the Campaign for a Healthy Denver introduced “Sick Rick,” a six-foot tall germ who will educate Denver restaurant diners about these risks over the next three weeks until Election Day.
“I interact with hundreds of people every day—and when I’m sick at work, you better believe that my coworkers and our customers are going to get sick too,” said Eric Love, a bartender at a popular Denver restaurant and bar. “I wash my hands constantly, but if I’ve mixed your cocktail while I have a bad cold, you just might get more than that margarita you ordered.”
Compared to other Colorado counties, Denver County has had a high rate of food-borne disease outbreaks in the last decade. Last year, 24 “disease outbreaks” were reported in Denver, including five in food establishments. Outbreaks tend to be underreported, so the real number of disease outbreaks in Denver was likely higher. Sick workers are often the source of disease outbreaks in restaurants.
“I feel bad about showing up for work sick because the customers who come in for coffee are going to be exposed to whatever illness I have but I don’t have much choice if I’m going to pay my bills,” said Laura, a barista at a coffee shop with outlets across the city. “Not that long ago, a coworker came to work with pinkeye and served coffee all day because he couldn’t afford to miss a shift. I just know that some of our customers caught pinkeye from him.”
Restaurant employees go to work sick because their wages are very low and they simply cannot afford to take the hit from their paycheck and still pay the bills at the end of the month.
“What am I supposed to do?,” asked single mother and waitress Stasia. “I might not be able to pay the rent, put gas in the car or put food on the table for my three kids if I miss even one shift’s pay.”
Initiative 300 would not prevent “shift swapping.” “I’m still losing money by staying home if I’m too sick to get on the phone and swap a shift because most of my money comes from tips,” said Joel, a server at a hip central-Denver restaurant. “I’d only be paid the tipped minimum wage when I’m sick but at least it’s something to help pay my bills.”
After the restaurant employees spoke, the Campaign for a Healthy Denver introduced Sick Rick, a six-foot tall germ who visited Larimer Square restaurant lunchtime diners to tell them about the risks of sick restaurant workers and the need for Initiative 300 to protect the public health.
The Campaign for a Healthy Denver – a coalition of more than 120 community organizations, labor groups, faith leaders and organizations, public health groups, elected officials and businesses – seeks to pass Initiative 300, the Denver ballot initiative to protect public health by guaranteeing a basic standard of paid sick days for employees in all Denver workplaces.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, Health Care, Paid Sick Days
Working America organizers and members gathered at the Downtown Denver Post Office yesterday to send over 3,000 postcards to members who support paid sick days for workers – an issue that the majority of the country supports for its importance to public health, families and thriving businesses.
Working America member Laura Baker, a food service worker, shared her experience.
“I never want to go to work sick and risk getting my co-worker, and even worse, my customers ill but the reality is, I can’t afford to miss one day of work. If I had paid sick days I wouldn’t have to make that choice,” she said.
Baker is not alone. In this continuing economic crisis workers face extraordinary pressures on the job, including the fear of losing their job should they fall ill. Working America has knocked on over 18,000 doors and had nearly 8,000 conversations with the workers of Colorado about the issue, finding overwhelming support; now they are returning postcards which members filled out themselves, to remind them of why they support paid sick days and amplify the issue across the state.
Support for paid sick days is nonpartisan and overwhelming across the country. Half the workers across the country, and 75 percent of the low wage workforce, don’t have paid sick days – and each day, millions face the same predicament as Baker.
“We want to make sure that the voices of the workers of Colorado are heard and they are saying loud and clear that they want earned sick days,” said Working America Colorado Director Kevin Pape. “There has been a lot of noise coming from politicians and corporate lobbyists but no one is hearing from the workers, we want to make sure that their stories are heard.”
Baker’s experience demonstrates that workplace policies have not caught up with modern realities. Working America is encouraging members to ask their local restaurant if their staff has paid sick days, to ask their local school how many kids are forced to go to school sick because their parents couldn’t afford to take the day off and to urge their local businesses who don’t have paid sick days to invest in their employees’ health like they invest in other aspects of their company.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, Health Care, Paid Sick Days
Ali Cochran – Denver, Colorado
Last night members of Working America gathered in Downtown Denver for a happy hour to address the jobs crisis and its disproportionate harm to young people.
Alex Jones, a local college student came to the Young Workers Community Action Club meeting because he’s nervous about finding a job when he gets out of school. “These days it seems like even with an advanced degree there’s no guarantee.” The sad part is, he’s right. Young people have been hit harder than their parents by this economic recession. Wages earned by young people have declined by 10 percent over the last 30 years. Over one third of young workers don’t have health insurance and more than half have no retirement plans at work.
Karen Nussbaum, Executive Director of Working America, traveled from DC to meet with these workers as part of a multi-state tour to talk with some of Working America’s 3 million members. There are over 90,000 members in Colorado alone, with more signing up every day. As Karen told the group last night, “There is great strength in numbers. At Working America we knock on people’s doors every night to talk to them about the issues they’re facing; we follow-up with our members and engage them in new and fun ways, like this Young Worker Community Action Team meeting tonight; we’re a part of something big and we are standing together to change the direction of our country.”
The Young Worker Community Action Team meet up was the third of its kind in Denver and comes just in advance of a young workers’ summit in Minnesota next week. “Groups of young people are coming together across the country, meeting just like this group is tonight,” Kevin Pape, Colorado State Director of Working America, told the crowd.
A member of the Young Workers Community Action Team, Romina Halabi, was recently published in the Denver Post asking “where are the jobs for educated young workers in Colorado?” She told others about her letter to the editor and how we need to make sure the media and our elected officials are paying attention to this devastating issue, “the easiest way for us to do that, is to tell our stories, and tell them often.”
Studies have shown that young workers are the first to get laid off, compete with more experienced workers for the same jobs, and often get paid less because they are younger. It’s time to shine a spotlight on this issue. It’s time for our voices to be heard.
If you’d like to get more involved with the Young Workers Community Action Team or Working America, please contact Ali Cochran at 303-935-9300 for information about our next happy hour.
