Statement by Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark H. Ayers on the Passage of an Extension of Federal Unemployment Insurance Benefits

WASHINGTON, DC – America’s Building Trades Unions are grateful that an extension of the federal unemployment insurance program has finally been enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Obama.  While this is certainly good news to the millions of Americans who are suffering through the worst economic calamity of our generation, it was disappointing to have to endure such a long and drawn our process to both acknowledge the critical nature of the situation at hand, and to get this extension passed.  In the construction industry today, the crisis is particularly devastating.  1 out of every 4 construction workers are out of work.  Some of our unions are reporting that upwards of 10% or more of their active members now have a house in foreclosure because of they have been unemployed for so long.  Unemployment benefits are an essential life line for workers and their families during these trying times.  But make no mistake about it, the men and women of America’s Building Trades Unions would prefer to be back on a jobsite earning a paycheck.  
           
The Building and Construction Trades Department is an alliance of 13 national and international unions that collectively represent over 2 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada