Indiana AFL-CIO to fight unemployment benefit cuts

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.necn.com/01/14/11/Indiana-AFL-CIO-to-fight-unemployment-be/landing_politics.html?&blockID=3&apID=b69afed3278548d999df9e7fd088b519

Jan 14, 2011 4:00am

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The head of the Indiana AFL-CIO says protecting the unemployment benefits paid to jobless workers will be among the union organization's top priorities during the state Legislature's session.

Indiana has borrowed $1.9 billion from the federal government to keep making payments as unemployment jumped during the recession. The Daniels administration has proposed cutting the payments to those who face seasonal unemployment, such as construction workers, along with tax increases on companies with frequent layoffs.

But state AFL-CIO president Nancy Guyott (GUY'-ut) says it would be harmful to cut those jobless benefits when the economy is beginning to recover.

Guyott spoke at the Statehouse on Thursday as union members announced what they called a workers' bill of rights for legislators to consider.