Demand that Congress fixes our Unemployment Insurance System!
25 Governors across the country have decided to cancel Pandemic Unemployment Insurance. This orchestrated action is set to impact an estimated 4 million individuals in need of unemployment benefits to recover from the pandemic and economic crisis.
Putting an early end to these programs will prevent people from obtaining the federal support they need at this moment and instead puts them in harm's way facing unhealthy work conditions as well as earning exploitative wages. By taking away the $300 weekly federal benefits, lawmakers are potentially putting people at risk of public health and labor violations at the hands of employers that do not provide the livable minimum wage and safe working conditions during a pandemic.
Across the United States, people are seeking equitable and dignified employment. That means an increase to the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, safe working conditions, and good jobs guaranteed to the most impacted communities that begin to address the chronic unemployment of Black workers.
We call on the White House and Congress to act NOW:
- Raise the minimum wage to at least $15/hour
- Improve federal standards for unemployment programs by expanding the eligibility criteria and providing benefits for longer periods of time.
- For every branch of the government to use its power to address chronic unemployment and underemployment of Black workers.