When the Paycheck Stops: A Forum on the Economic Crisis to be Held in the Quad Cities

When the Paycheck Stops:  A Community Meeting for the Unemployed, Under-employed and Anxiously-employed

    * A meal will be provided each night from 5:30pm-6pm
    * Speakers will address the economic crisis and potential legislative and community based actions
    * Health & human service agency representatives will direct people to assistance programs
    * A resource packet will be available each evening

Due to the large numbers of layoffs and plant shutdowns in the Quad City Area, the Quad City Federation of Labor, Progressive Action for the Common Good, and United Way of the Quad City Area are holding a three-day forum on the economic crisis, When the Paycheck Stops.

Locally, many of the plant shutdowns have resulted in permanent losses of unionized jobs – jobs with benefits like health insurance and pensions. Also, Quad Cities largest employers like Alcoa, John Deere still have hundreds on layoff. For those who have found new jobs, the jobs tend to be part-time positions without benefits like health insurance. For many, replacement jobs are at a lower rate of pay. And yet, despite this reality on Main Street, Wall Street and the banking sector continue to operate unabated.

Legislation to reform the financial sector that caused the economic crisis has yet to be passed, and ten years after the Battle in Seattle – in which tens of thousands of union members, environmentalists and progressive activists fought against the expansion of WTO policies detrimental to labor and the environment – real wages for American workers continue to decline.

For laid-off workers without a union or seniority, the loss of health insurance is another casualty in addition to losing a paycheck. Senate Republicans and a handful of conservative Democrats are blocking passage of meaningful health care reform; meanwhile, Americans continue to suffer at the mercy of health insurance companies. Since we held our rally in support of the public option in front of Senator Grassley’s Davenport office on October 6th, another 5,000 Americans have died for lack of access to health care. This is inexcusable.

Altogether, the Quad Cities labor force shrank by 3,000 jobs since September 2008. Rock Island County ’s unemployment rate is a staggering 9.5 % (up from 5.6% this time last year); Scott County has a rate of 7.3 % (up from 4.4 % last year); and the City of Rock Island has it worst in our area with a 10.8% unemployment rate (up from 6.2% this time last year).

In recognition that for many Americans, the recession is far from over, the Quad City Federation of Labor, Progressive Action for the Common Good, and United Way of the Quad City Area are holding this three-day forum. On December 1, 2, and 3, speakers from health and human service agencies will talk about available assistance from 5:30 – 7:30 each evening. And to get the dialogue started about the larger economic issues, policy speakers will present each night on a different topic.

Tuesday, December 1st will focus on the Home Front: foreclosures, mitigation and rapid re-housing programs, landlord/tenant issues, utility and rent assistance, weatherization programs. Jen Hall DeKock from Citizen Action Illinois will talk about the Consumer Financial Protection Act and legislation curbing the excesses of pay day lenders.

On Wednesday, December 2nd, Money Matters is the topic: Job training and education opportunities, resume building classes, crisis intervention. Ralph Martire from Center for Tax and Budget Accountability will examine the Illinois budget deficit while Iowa Policy Project will have a speaker present on Iowa ’s budget cuts.

Finally, on Thursday December 3rd, Affordable Health Care Options will be discussed: Food vouchers, eating health on a budget, affordable and sliding scale health care options and dealing with unemployment stress. Dr. Alta Price and Karen Metcalf from Progressive Action for the Common Good will give a presentation on the status of the health care legislation passed in the House and pending in the Senate.

Agencies presenting include Salvation Army, Community Health Care, Edgerton Women’s Health Center , Project Now, United Neighbors, Friendly House, Neighborhood Housing, HELP Legal Assistance, Prairie State Legal Aid, Iowa @ Work, Success Network, Angel Food Network, Churches United, and United Way 211.

Dinner will be served each night and a door prize given away at the end of each night. Call Tracy Kurowski for more information 309-738-3196.

Tracy
Kurowski is currently AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison at the United
Way of the Quad City Area. She has been active in the labor movement
for ten years, first as a member of AFSCME 3506, when she taught adult
education classes at the City Colleges of Chicago. She moved to the
Quad Cities in 2007 where she worked as political coordinator with the
Quad City Federation of Labor, and as a caseworker for Congressman
Bruce Braley from 2007 – 2009.

Tracy Kurowski writes a labor update every Monday on Blog for Iowa