January 9, 2009

Statement from Dennis J. Gannon, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, on the current economic picture and new data on jobs

“The data reported today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reinforces what have known for some time now: that working people in this country are badly hurting.  Over the last year our economy has been in a free fall and ordinary working men and women are bearing the biggest burden. 

“Job loss and inflation, coupled with rising health care costs, declining home values, and instability in retirement savings have ravaged the middle class.  If there was ever a clear signal that our country is in need of an economic stimulus package to get us back on track, this is it. 

“We need a package that will, among other things, create jobs for America’s working men and women through improving our nation’s aging infrastructure and investing in new technologies.  President-elect Obama is right to make economic recovery his top priority upon taking office.  We cannot begin the long road to recovery soon enough.”