Hopeful Unemployed Construction Workers Need Congress to Pass a Highway Bill in 2012

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Numbers released by the U.S. Department of Labor today suggest that despite a drop in the overall national unemployment rate, America's construction industry remains weak.  Currently, more than 1.3 million construction workers are jobless.

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While the construction sector added 20,000 jobs in December, the industry unemployment rate rose significantly from 13.1 percent in November to 16 percent last month.  Such a jump indicates many long-term, jobless workers who gave up hope looking for work last year have started looking again.

Terry O'Sullivan, General President of LIUNA, made the following statement:

While many of America's construction workers – who were out of work for months on end last year – are reentering the job market, the unfortunate reality is that unless Congress takes meaningful action in 2012, their hopes of finding work may be disappointingly dashed. 

In 2011, too many Republicans in Congress did nothing but play politics, even as working families suffered. 

When Congress reconvenes later this month, they must get serious about taking care of those who Build America and who are hopeful to get back to work.  It's time to pass a Highway Bill that fully invests in rebuilding our deteriorating bridges, roads and transit systems. 

There's a lot of work to be done, and 1.3 million construction workers who, based on today's jobs numbers, are ready to do it. 

The half-million members of LIUNA – the Laborers' International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America.

SOURCE Laborers' International Union of North America