Invitation to Cover: First Friday Vigil for Jobs

ALBANY, NY (05/03/2011)(readMedia)-- Invitation to Cover: First Friday Vigil for Jobs

Where: At the Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building Corner of Clinton Ave, And Pearl St., Albany

When: Friday, May 6, 2011, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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Where: in front of Congresmember Peter King's office at 1003 Park Blvd, Massapequa Park

When: Friday May 6 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm

The federal building at 100 S Clinton Street, Syracuse

Contact: Gaby Moreno at gaby2122@verizon.net or 212-580-2663

More Info: www.jobscampaign.org

The "First Friday Vigil for Jobs" held outside of Senator Schumer's office was to urge him and other members of Congress to create a jobs program like those created by the Roosevelt administration during the 1930's. Sponsored by the National Jobs for All Coalition, the National Organization for Women-NYS, and eighteen other civil rights, labor, community, and religious groups, "First Friday Vigils" mark the day that the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the previous month's unemployment figures.

"The need for more jobs is a critical issue for single mothers," says NOW-NYS President Marcia Pappas. "In New York State, on average over the last three years, single women who were heads of households had an official unemployment rate that was double the official unemployment rates of married men and married women. "

"Create a national jobs program" is the clear message that participants in the "First Friday Vigils" want to send to Washington. Owen Rogers of the Equal Employment Council, states, "The top priority for this economy must be putting people to work."

Additional demands of the Vigil are that Congress act immediately to extend benefits for long-term unemployed individuals who have been jobless for longer than 93-99 weeks (H.R. 589) and to continue financial assistance to state and local governments to avoid massive layoffs in health care, education and other essential services.