Press Release for Thursday, January 12, 2012

Contact: Sara Metz: (517) 449-1442

Michigan State AFL-CIO, Citizens Groups Unveil 2012 Jobs Plan

Aggressive plan puts pressure on legislators to support job creation, rebuild Michigan’s infrastructure, and invest in education
 

LANSING – This afternoon Michigan State AFL-CIO President Karla Swift joined workers and citizens groups from around the state to unveil an aggressive plan to hold legislators accountable for creating good-paying jobs, rebuilding the state’s crumbling infrastructure, making sure all of Michigan’s children have access to a good education, and helping unemployed workers get back on their feet. This document, entitled “Michigan’s 2012 Jobs Plan,” provides a roadmap for rebuilding the state’s economy by investing in Michigan’s workers, families, and communities.

“It’s time to get Michigan moving in the right direction again,” said Michigan State AFL-CIO President Karla Swift. “Our legislature has slashed funding for schools, police officers, and firefighters to give $1.8 billion in handouts to big corporations. Our roads are crumbling and our workers need jobs. We’re calling on elected officials to stop the power struggles, stop wasting time debating divisive policies like Right to Work, and focus on rebuilding our state’s economy.”

Highlights of the plan include ending tax-supported outsourcing of Michigan jobs, growing the clean-tech job sector, investing in public education and teachers, rebuilding the state’s infrastructure, and protecting workers and middle class families.

“As a teacher, I can tell you that taking money away from schools not only hurts Michigan’s kids but hurts our state’s chances of having a strong, educated work force in the future,” said Latika Fenderson, a teacher at the Macomb Intermediate School District. “We want our kids to do well in school, graduate, and pursue education and training opportunities after high school so they can get good jobs here in the state. Keeping classroom sizes low and giving teachers the resources they need to do their jobs is critical to making this happen.”

The Jobs Plan is already endorsed by labor, progressive, and community service organizations such as the BlueGreen Alliance, Michigan Clean Water Action, Michigan Citizen Action, the Michigan League for Human Services, Progress Michigan, the Sierra Club, and We Are The People. The Michigan State AFL-CIO is willing to work with any individual or organization to move this plan forward, and it has the support of leaders in the State Legislature.

For a copy of the Michigan 2012 Jobs Plan click HERE.

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