IAM's Union Of The Unemployed Uses Social Media To Unite Jobless For Social Change

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12785

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on January 20, 2010 - 3:47pm
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By Doug Cunningham

Thirty one million of us are either unemployed or underemployed as this Great Recession continues its horrific toll on working families. The International Association of Machinists has launched a new web site to bring together this army of the unemployed – both for support and to unite the jobless for change. IAM’s Rick Sloan says he hopes this new union of the unemployed will be a powerful engine for change on a variety of issues facing America’s workers.

: “Jobs legislation, expansion of food stamps, an expansion or extension of unemployment compensation, and the discount COBRA health care provisions. The idea here is to create a huge force for change."

The union of the unemployed web site – union of unemployed.com – is set up as a social networking site. Several other labor organizations - including the AFL-CIO, Working America, AFSCME, the National Education Association , the American Federation of Teachers, the CWA and the painter’s union – are supporting the IAM’s union of the unemployed. Sloan hopes the U-Cubed web site will serve as a supportive community for the jobless, both union and non-union.

: “It also is a way for those 31 million Americans who are unemployed or under-employed to pressure their government and pressure the politicians to do more."