Labor & Employment Law

Philly Activists Tell Deficit Commission: ?Hands Off Social Security?

By Tula Connell

Yael Foa, AFL-CIO senior field representative for the Northeast Region, joined activists in Philadelphia for the America Speaks town hall, to forestall possible moves by the deficit commission to cut Social Security.

More than 30 union and community activists took part in the America Speaks town hall meeting Saturday in Philadelphia, holding signs and distributing fliers to get our message out to town hall participants and pedestrians walking by: Social Security isn’t causing the nation’s budget deficit, cutting entitlement and safety net programs will make matters worse, and the best way to reduce the deficit is to invest in the jobs programs and get America back to work.

Signs included “America before Wall Street,” “Social Security belongs to the people,” “Hands off my Social Security,” “Jobs for America now” and some related to health care. Unions that participated include AFT, AFSCME, CWA, UFCW, SEIU and Working America. Community groups included Jobs with Justice, MoveOn.org, Penn Action, Social Security Works, Jewish Labor Committee, Concerned Youth of America, Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Neighborhood Network, Socialist Action, MainLine Peace Action, Montgomery County Democracy for America and others.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on June 28, 2010 (boomark / email).