Lifeline

On November 30th, Congress allowed emergency unemployment benefits to expire. Here are the faces and stories of those Americans most affected by the inaction of Congress.

To stay informed about issues important to working families and the American labor movement, please visit:

http://www.aflcio.org
http://blog.aflcio.org/
http://www.facebook.com/aflcio
http://www.twitter.com/aflcio

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• unemployment
• benefits
• lifeline
• afl-cio
• workers
• jobs
• economy
• jobless
• labor
• union

[skepticalsinner]

@hanksnow82 I just dont know what reality youre living in. Yes. Some people abuse the very meagre unemployment benefits. Do you know how much they are? Theyre not very much at all. Do you know how hard it is to find work currently (Jobs are in the paper!) - you probably don't. And finally, do you know how much you pay in taxes for unemployment assistance? You almost certainly don't, otherwise you wouldn't post here and look like a crass and unfeeling, selfish republican shill.

[spyron06]

@hanksnow82 So your answer to starving children is "I haven't seen any, so they don't exist?" Here's some facts for you. Fact, charitable donations are low enough that food pantries can't feed people. Fact, when you have $0 coming in, you have $0 to spend on food. Fact, children eat food.

Yeah, he got unemployment extended by bribing rich people. So for 2 years we'll get more of the same tax cuts that created so many jobs over the last decade.

[Beantownpierce34]

I'm a union hvac apprentice for the united Association 267 and I'm proud to be union. Cuz I'm smart. And I have balls to stand up for myself and my fellow workers rights. I'm not a pussy that's brainwashed.

[Beantownpierce34]

Your all scumbags. These are people who have lost their job dignity houses everything. You shouldn't be poking fun at these people. Without the unions I might add..u would not have overtime pay or a 40 Hr work week. Cheap scabby corporations tell u when you'll work how long youll work with no ot. They treat u like a piece of shit. Educate yourselves before you speak. I've worked both non union and union. Union jobs are about ten times safer.

[BIGwalrus9]

copyrighter...secretary...shee­t metal worker. See a pattern here? Technology has replaced these jobs. Don't just bitch about it and demand handouts, make yourselves useful you fucking slobs.

[BIGwalrus9]

Hahaha. Begging for a handout from the gub'ment then acting like it's in "everyone's best interest." Sounds not so altruistic, and pretty selfish to me. In America, no one hands you a job. A job is not a right. Unemployment rate was quoted at 8.6% as of last week, not even close to all time highs. Theres work out there in retail, at restaurants, etc. Maybe not so desirable, likely a step down from your previous jobs, but at least you can have some dignity in your lives instead of begging.

[MrSTANDFORAMERICA]

now how do qwe know that vido is fake.

Everyone I know that's union, never just say what trade they are in, but also and always point out what local they are in or from (the local they servered their apprenticeship).

That's how you can tell this is a fake video of the AFL-CIO.

[steblizz]

"People are told they must “earn a living”, which perpetuates a form of superstition that only certain people deserve the “right of life” and others do not."

Peter Joseph

The Zeitgeist Movement

[utubenotgoodasgvideo]

Stop begging the State to pay workers to be complacent!

Demonstrate before the palaces of the rich; demand work. If they do not give you work, demand bread. If they deny you both, take bread! --Emma Goldman

[melardkey]

@Rafra67 If I could opt out of SS and Medicare I certainly would but the government will not allow it. They will however collect it at gunpoint. Too bad you'll be needing SS and Medicare. You had the chance to live the American dream, sounds like you blew it. Good luck being dependant on the government.

[melardkey]

@AntaresInScorpius Union workers did build this country and created the middle class, then the union thug bosses jumped in bed with high power leftist politicans. Every employee should have a written contract with his employer, your union is between you and your employer, however, union thugs don't belong in washington DC.

Don't make assumptions on my employment status. You're wrong, BTW.



[hanksnow82]

@AntaresInScorpius Coming from an illegal alien i won't put much stock in that .