Responding to today’s release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September employment report, AFSCME President Lee Saunders said in a statement that it “demonstrates the economy’s continued sluggishness. Public sector employment declined by 216,000, a huge blow to the public service workers who are on the front lines of fighting COVID-19.”
State and local governments have shed more than 1.2 million jobs since February, adding to the millions of jobs that have already been lost, with more coming up on the chopping block, he noted.
“The drop in the unemployment rate paints a false picture of the economy,” said Saunders. “Americans know the truth: millions of jobs are permanently gone, tens of thousands of businesses have shuttered forever and millions of workers have lost hope and left the job market altogether.”
With more provisions of the CARES Act expiring, more devastating job losses and a deeper recession loom if Congress doesn’t step up.
“Mitch McConnell couldn’t care less,” Saunders said, referring to the Kentucky Republican who serves as the Senate Republican leader. “He and his caucus have refused to work in good faith with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pro-worker lawmakers who have passed multiple COVID-19 relief bills – including one last night – that would save jobs, renew enhanced unemployment benefits, deliver vital aid to struggling sectors of the economy and ease the suffering of working families nationwide.”
There can be no more delay. The Senate must deliver aid to our states, cities, towns and schools. Public service workers and the communities they serve depend on it.