Weak Job Growth Persists as Congress Puts Politics Above Workers, America's Needs

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The weak job growth in the overall economy was reflected in the latest construction jobs numbers released today by the U.S. Department of Labor. In June, the industry shed another 9,000 jobs, and over 1.3 million construction workers were unable to find a job. The industry's unemployment rate was 15.6 percent.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91600LOGO)

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

The job losses in the construction industry and the weak job growth in the overall economy make it clear that Congress needs to get serious about putting people to work. The best way to do that is by passing a surface transportation bill that fully invests in our needs and creates millions of good jobs.

Yet only yesterday, the Republican leadership in the U.S. House revealed a plan for gutting transportation investment that actually destroys jobs, including 490,000 in the first year alone. They would rather do what they think will help them politically than help working men and women or tackle the crisis facing our roads and bridges.

Instead of playing politics with people's livelihoods and with the basics all Americans rely on every day, we need to focus on passing legislation that invests in our crumbling roads and aging bridges while creating millions of good, family-supporting jobs.

It's a no-brainer -- by passing legislation that truly invests in our needs, we can put millions of men and women to work, get our economy moving, ensure America remains globally competitive, and leave behind real assets for taxpayers and future generations.

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

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED