Senate Passes $26 Billion Aid Package For States As Unions Hail The Jobs It Will Save

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13973

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on August 4, 2010 - 3:27pm
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By Doug Cunningham

Unions say the Senate passage of a $26 billion dollar aid package to states will save hundreds of thousands of teacher, firefighter and public safety officer jobs. AFSCME President Gerald McEntee.

: “It was a critical vote to keep hundreds of thousands of Americans in both the private and public sectors on the job. And it prevented critical services, including education and public safety from being decimated.”

SEIU President Mary Kay Henry says workers coast to coast are cheering this news.

: “We have public service and health care members all across this country jumping for joy and cheering what the Democratic Senate made happen. Because the Democrats understand that for our economy to recover we need to put people back to work with good jobs and decent wages.”

The AFL-CIO says this vote keeps the country on the economic recovery path. But the labor federation says Republicans, with the exception of Maine’s senators, voted no – demonstrating that they are much more eager to defend tax cuts for the wealthy than saving the jobs of teachers and firefighters.