Create Jobs Now!

“The end of this recession isn’t even in sight for many working families.  11 million jobs must be generated to return to pre-recession employment levels,” warns Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby. “Such massive numbers of new jobs aren’t just going to materialize on their own.”

That is why the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO is supporting a new piece of federal legislation, HR 4812: The Local Jobs for America Act.

The Local Jobs for America Act will create a million public and private jobs in local communities this year.  Support will be targeted directly to states and municipalities with the greatest number of people out of work to restore important local services.

Introduced by Rep. George Miller of California, HR 4812 already has over 100 co-sponsors, including Representatives Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore and Steve Kagen of Wisconsin.  We need to thank those who are already co-sponsoring this legislation, and encourage more of our congressional delegation to get on board. 

Click here to urge your Representative to become a co-sponsor of the Local Jobs for America Act.

Because of the recession, many local communities have cut back on education, public safety, childcare, health care, education and transportation.  As a result, families who rely on these services are suffering the cost of these cutbacks. This bill will help ensure that local communities can still operate essential services.

The Local Jobs for America Act will also fund salaries for private sector on-the-job training to help local businesses put people back to work.

HR 4812 will help spur additional jobs in the private sector by increasing employment in local communities.  Funding for public sector jobs means that families will be able to start spending again at their neighborhood businesses.

The Local Jobs for America Act includes:

• $75 billion over two years to local communities to hire vital staff.  That investment will create or sustain 750,000 family-wage jobs

• $23 billion this year to help states support 250,000 education jobs

• $1.18 billion to put 5,500 law enforcement officers on the beat

• $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters

• $500 million to fund 50,000 on-the-job private-sector training positions

(Top Photo: Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby discussed the Local Jobs for America Act at the United Steelworkers (USW) District 2 Conference held April 8th through the 11th.  Bottom Photo: Congressman Steve Kagen spoke about job creation during the USW District 2 Conference in Appleton.  Rep. Kagen, Rep. Moore and Rep. Baldwin are all cosponsors of HR 4812.  Credit for Both Photos: Greg Hinds.  For more USW District 2 Conference pictures, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157623840447532/.)