Support Extending UI for Maine’s workers!
Click here to see media coverage of our December 8 Forum on Unemployment!
Brothers and Sisters,
On December 8th, the Eastern Maine Labor Council, Food AND Medicine, the Maine AFL-CIO and the National AFL-CIO sponsored a forum on just how important unemployment benefits are for laid off workers. If Congress fails to act over 5,000 Mainers will lose this lifeline support come January first.
Please contact Senator’s Snowe and Collins to urge them to support laid off workers and extent UI, with no strings attached.
Please contact Sen. Snowe at 202-224-5344 in DC or 945-0432 for the Bangor office. Sen. Collin’s numbers at 202-224-2523 or in Bangor at 945-0417. This aid is needed by workers who have both earned it and are now without work through no fault of their own.
I want to thank the following people who played such a critical role in making the December 8th happen. Rev. Mark Doty from Hammond Street Congregational Church facilitated the whole forum. IBEW 1253 member Tim Bickworth eloquently spoke of the issues of looking for work. Summer Allen from Valentine Footwear spoke of the importance of gaining the support of UI which allowed her to open a great shoe store on Main Street Bangor (Next to Penobscot Theater- and yes, that was a plug). IBEW 1253 member Scott Cuddy and Lawrence Reichard both gave compelling stories of the importance of the UI system. Kevin Holmes really brought home the role of the big banks in creating this whole mess. Rev. Becky Gunn from Bangor Unitarian Universalist brought a strong and clear message. Bill Murphy rounded out event with the historical context.
On the strength and clarity of what these people said, the media couldn’t help but report the event, which gained incredible coverage- all three network shows, Maine Public Radio, Bangor Daily news, five Cumulus stations and WERU.
I’d also like to thank Sarah Bigney and Barbara Niccoli-Hiltz who helped organize the event.
Please remember those looking for work, while we go through these holidays which for some will be real hard times.
In Solidarity,
Jack McKay
Click here to see media coverage of our December 8 Forum on Unemployment!
