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99ers form a union to lobby for a Tier V of federal unemployment benefits (MI)
MLive ^ | 09/20/10 | Jackie Headapohl

Posted on 09/20/2010 7:20:51 AM PDT by Kieri

More than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months and they're stepping up efforts to join together in support of increased help from the federal government, writes Annie Lowrey of the Michigan Messenger, who's written several in-depth stories on the problem of long-term unemployment.

"99ers" — those long-term unemployed who have exhausted all available 99 weeks of unemployment benefits — have formed the American 99ers Union to lobby Congress to create a Tier V of federal unemployment benefits, she reports.

The coalition is comprised of a number of groups: Advocacy For the Long Term Unemployed (AFLTU), Extend Unemployment Benefits, Jobless Unite, the Layoff List, Now: Jobless / Next: Homeless, Tier 5 Unemployment Extension Needed, Tier 5 To Survive Unemployed Unite, UCubed, The Unemployment Examiner, Unemployed-Friends, Unemployed States of America, Unemployed Underemployed, Active For Progressive Change in Government, Unemployed Voices, Unemployed Workers Action Group, United, Angry, Voters, and 99ers United.

The American 99ers Union first order of business is to get members and readers to join in a faxing/emailing/calling campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 22, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. in order to get the Americans Want to Work Act, introduced by Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, passed into law.

The bill would create an additional tier of federal unemployment benefits that would provide 20 additional weeks of benefits for people in states with an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent or higher as well as extend through 2011 the HIRE Act tax credit, which cuts payroll taxes for businesses that hire workers who have been unemployed longer than eight weeks and provides a $1,000 tax credit for each new worker employed for at least a year.

The bill is stuck in committee and doesn't appear likely to pass any time soon.

According the American 99ers Union: "An avalanche of messages received all in one day will clearly demonstrate to the Senators that there are indeed many of us who desperately need this bill to be signed into law."

The union recommends that people contact their own two senators since senators often ignore requests that come from out of state.

The union aims to wield the political clout of the 99ers and those who support them. It writes:

"Inform our senators that we are watching their votes very closely and we will vote against those who oppose this bill in the November election, encourage our friends and family to vote against them and use the internet and media to encourage the general public to vote against those who will not help Americans who are suffering without unemployment insurance during this national emergency."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: 99ers; benefits; debbiestabenow; stabenow; stabmenow; unemployment; unions
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Well, isn't this just peachy! Wonder where they'll get the union dues? I can't *wait* until they push Granholm to bill the taxpayer rather than scrape them off the top of unemployment checks!
1 posted on 09/20/2010 7:20:58 AM PDT by Kieri
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To: Kieri

Maybe they should go on strike...............


2 posted on 09/20/2010 7:22:54 AM PDT by Red Badger (No, Obama's not the Antichrist. But he does have him in his MY FAVES.............)
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To: Kieri

Bread and Circuses


3 posted on 09/20/2010 7:24:19 AM PDT by Panzerlied ("We shall never surrender!")
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To: Red Badger

BBAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome!!!


4 posted on 09/20/2010 7:26:38 AM PDT by GOPsterinMA (Support and vote for Sean Bielat (MA-4)! MA-4 is Barney Frank's district.)
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To: Kieri

99ers, the new welfare class, just peachy!


5 posted on 09/20/2010 7:29:35 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Red Badger

A work startage?


6 posted on 09/20/2010 7:30:04 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kieri

**Sigh**


7 posted on 09/20/2010 7:30:18 AM PDT by therightliveswithus
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To: Kieri

No wonder they can’t find a job! Very few jobs for lazy bums who want to watch cartoons and soaps all day and still collect a paycheck.


8 posted on 09/20/2010 7:30:40 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("CJ, if we're ever ordered to storm your house, I'm calling in sick." Local SWAT team member.)
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To: Kieri

Instead of begging for more government handouts, they need to be screaming at the government for essentially treating the economy as it treated those cars taken in by Cash for Clunkers. The Obama Administration has dumped a toxic stew of regulatory chemicals into the engine block and now is forcing the economy to run this poison through its system until it totally freezes up.


9 posted on 09/20/2010 7:31:19 AM PDT by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

People need to understand that Onama and the democrats really don’t want unemployment to come down. The more people who rely on government the better.


10 posted on 09/20/2010 7:31:57 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kieri
I suppose shame and humiliation are not ensconced in any of the dead-beat American DNA...I hear never ending ads by Andy Willoughby how his plan can make ANYONE 2-5 grand a month with little effort. Maybe the "effort" part would be the problem...(zero) effort is more like it with these people.

Maybe their ship will come in during the elections...I am sure that there will be "walking around money" to be had for socialist votes this NOV....if only they can hang on...

11 posted on 09/20/2010 7:32:49 AM PDT by B.O. Plenty (Give war a chance...)
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To: Kieri

union dues? I dont need no steenking union dues. I’ll just pay with my hope and change dollars and it will be alright.


12 posted on 09/20/2010 7:32:58 AM PDT by max americana (I post 1st..and show up last)
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To: cripplecreek

This coming lame duck congress really worries me, both state and federal. Castle, Murkowski and other RINOS may just vote with the Dems (not that they didn’t already) out of sheer contempt.

I wonder which working group the unions will go after next. Gotta have those dues rolling in.


13 posted on 09/20/2010 7:39:23 AM PDT by Kieri (The Conservatrarian)
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To: cripplecreek

I agree. They want EVERYONE dependent. Then they have total power.


14 posted on 09/20/2010 7:41:12 AM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Kieri

The economy’s in shambles and there’s likely to be civil unrest if it doesn’t turn around QUICK. UI is going to have to be extended at this rate.


15 posted on 09/20/2010 7:41:19 AM PDT by Tolsti2
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To: Kieri

All I know is that if I’m ever forced into a union, I will vote on all union issues and I’ll make sure they regret including me.


16 posted on 09/20/2010 7:42:58 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kieri

is thus satire or for real?


17 posted on 09/20/2010 8:00:08 AM PDT by jtal
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To: Kieri
Wait till they start blocking the working/employed people from getting to their jobs.

This will be the beginning of the riots that will lead to revolution.
Only, these people will be the first to die.

18 posted on 09/20/2010 8:02:31 AM PDT by blam
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Crack Hos local 225.


19 posted on 09/20/2010 8:05:33 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Kieri

“99ers” — those long-term unemployed who have exhausted all available 99 weeks of unemployment benefits — have formed the American 99ers Union to lobby Congress to create a Tier V of federal unemployment benefits, she reports.

*******************************************************************

What are they going to do if they don’t get their way? Strike? What would they do then? Get a job?


20 posted on 09/20/2010 8:08:14 AM PDT by pgkdan (When the same man...holds the sword and the purse, there is an end of liberty: George Mason)
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