Group Keeps Pressure On For Jobs
The group MoveOn met for the second time in front of Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s office recently to hear speakers and to rally around the idea of creating jobs rather than cuts in important services. Organized by MoveOn.org, this was one of hundreds of similar rallies held all across the country.
Among the key speakers were Tom Villanova from the Chicago Building and Construction Trades Council who spoke about the jobs crisis in Will and Cook Counties. He was followed by Marie Lindsey, PhD, APN, CNP, associate Professor at the University of St. Francis, who spoke about the critical shortage of nursing teachers and nurses for our country’s aging population. Abe Mwaura from the Warehouse Workers for Justice organization spoke about the over 30,000 warehouse workers working in Will County, 25% of whom are also on public aid because their pay is so low and about how the practice of using “Perma-Temps” is keeping wages low. Rev. Craig Purchase, pastor of Mt. Zion Full Gospel Tabernacle and also recent president of the local Rainbow Push Coalition, spoke about the critical shortage of jobs in Joliet and how important it is to get people back to work. Other attendees spoke about their situations with layoffs, foreclosures, etc., all due to lack of jobs.