Saturday, November 13, 2010

There are 2.3 million people who are unemployed in California

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Dear America,

T
he time to digest the election has ended. It’s time for action.

America, when Congress returns Monday, critical votes will be happening fast. By the time you read our urgent e-mail action alerts, it could be too late for your voice to be heard.

So we’re launching a program to keep AFL-CIO activists up to date on critical legislation by text message. It starts with you signing an urgent petition on your mobile phone, urging Congress to renew unemployment benefits for jobless workers.

Please pull out your mobile phone right now and send a text message with the word RENEW to 225568. We’ll add your name to our petition urging Congress to renew emergency unemployment benefits—and keep you up to date by text message as the fight continues. (Data and text message rates may apply.)

In California, and across the nation, jobs just aren’t there. There are 2.3 million people who are unemployed in California,(1) and 14.8 million people who are unemployed nationally.(2) Many of them are in the job search of their lives.

But get this: Some lawmakers—many of the same ones who want to pass tax cuts for people who make more than $250,000 per year—want to cut off emergency unemployment benefits.

Tell your lawmakers this is unacceptable: Please pull out your cell phone right now and text RENEW to 225568—we’ll add your name to our petition urging Congress to renew emergency unemployment benefits and keep you updated by text message. (Data and text message rates may apply.)

In solidarity,

Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

(1) Number as of August 2010. See: www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.t03.htm.
(2) See: www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf.