pan>)--International Association of Machinists (IAM) President Tom
Buffenbarger, speaking at the Labor Summit sponsored by the Democratic
Governors Association (DGA), urged a renewed focus on a 21st
Century Works Progress Administration (WPA).
“Creating
Jobs, Putting People Back to Work, and Turning Our Economy Around”
Between 1935 and 1938, over 9.7 million jobless Americans received WPA
pay checks, said Buffenbarger. The WPA offered average Americans a
chance to prove themselves, work hard, and ensure their families
financial security. They grabbed at the chance. Were still driving on
the roads and bridges they built. Were still flying into the airports
they constructed. And were still admiring the photographs taken, stage
plays produced and books written.
The WPA was an opportunity to modernize our country even in the midst
of the Depression, explained Buffenbarger. If we could do it then, we
can do it now.
Buffenbargers remarks preceded release of the DGA report Creating
Jobs, Putting People Back to Work, and Turning Our Economy Around which
included a WPA-style jobs initiative. The report also calls for policies
that establish a strong Buy American Act, discourage the outsourcing of
American jobs, strengthens U.S. trade laws, creates a national
manufacturing policy and develops skills training programs all points
included in the 21-point jobs plan, Hire
US, America, and crafted by unemployed members of the Union of
Unemployed in 2010.
UCubed, with over 60,000 members, is a community service project of the
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). For
more information, visit Union
of Unemployed and UCubeds ongoing WPA
Facebook campaign.

Information Source: Business Wire