"Contrary to what some are saying, I see no cause for cheer in the unemployment figures released today," said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. "Over 28.5 million Americans are now unemployed or underemployed. We need to recognize how serious the situation is and we need immediate help to keep the country's manufacturing core from melting down completely."
Buffenbarger called on the Obama administration and members of Congress to begin crafting emergency legislation to provide funds to begin rebuilding the nation's manufacturing infrastructure and to provide unemployed workers with the training and support needed to sustain a real recovery.
"This is the worst economy in 75 years and we need bold measures that are equal to the crisis we're facing," said Buffenbarger. "No sector of our economy is in greater peril than manufacturing, and no other sector provides a greater return on investment. We cannot afford to wait any longer."
The IAM is among the nation's largest industrial trade unions, representing nearly 700,000 active and retired members under more than 5,000 contracts in aerospace, transportation, shipbuilding and defense-related industries. For more information, visit www.goiam.org.
Web site: http://www.goiam.org//