The Electronic Newsletter of the Florida AFL

11/07/03

E Messenger

The Electronic Newsletter of the Florida AFL-CIO

New Members according to the AFL-CIO Work in Progress
This week's WIP: 529
Year to date: 128,463

STATE NEWS

Despite Rosy Claims – Florida Workers Still Suffering

Yesterday, the Florida AFL-CIO participated with state federations around the country to promote a new economic analysis of the nation’s workforce that calls the positive spin of recent economic indicator reports into question. Below is a press release that accompanied a copy of the report and which was sent to the Florida media.

Despite Claims from Tallahassee and Washington , Florida ’s Working Families Still Struggling

According to New Economic Report

New Study Shows Florida is 4.3 on the Economic Richter Scale,

Has 26^th Worst Record in the Nation

Tallahassee – Florida ’s economy measures 4.3 on the “Economic Richter Scale,” according to a new report released today that examines objective criteria of how working families in Florida are faring. The “Economic Richter Scale” ranked Florida 26th among all 50 states. The rankings were based on each state’s unemployment rate, job growth, health insurance coverage, household income, poverty rate and personal bankruptcy filings. The data, all based on official government statistics, were compiled by the National AFL-CIO.

“With an Economic Richter Scale rating for Florida of 4.3, it is clear that current national economic policies have been disastrous for Florida ’s working families,” said Florida AFL-CIO President Cindy Hall. “Good jobs are being eliminated and the quality of life has deteriorated for families in Florida as the ranks of the unemployed and uninsured continue to remain high.”

Recent economic indicators widely reported in the media appear to signal a growing economy but these upbeat reports mask the bleak reality of this “jobless recovery.” While the unemployment rate in Florida dropped last month, there are still well over 400,000 Floridians who can’t find work. The unemployment rate also ignores the thousands of workers who are no longer in the system because they have been out of work for so long. President Hall said, “While everyone is focusing on the unemployment rate, they are ignoring the fact that this number is not accurate. It does not include those workers, primarily in the manufacturing sector, whose jobs have been permanently removed from the roles.”

Governor Jeb Bush has touted Florida ’s job growth as being the best in the nation, but his analysis has ignored the fact that most of the gain in the last few years has been in the low-paying service and tourist sectors. In a recent analysis of labor statistics conducted by the Associated Press, it was reported that 40% of the new jobs created during the past year paid less than 75% of the state’s average annual pay of $32,397. President Hall said, “The jobs picture in Florida and the nation is not as simple as our governor and President Bush would have us believe. The economy is hemorrhaging good-paying jobs, and they are being replaced by jobs more fit for students and new workers entering the workforce, not men and women with families to support.”

The new “Economic Richter Scale” report further illustrates the job crisis in Florida . The report shows that the unemployment rate in Florida has grown from 3.9 percent to 5.2 percent between January 2001 and September 2003, and the state has lost nearly 425,000 jobs since President Bush took office. Since January 2001, the state lost 57,200 manufacturing jobs – an erosion of America ’s middle class.

The study also points out that the jobs crisis in Florida has remained static for so long that the state’s unemployment insurance system has been unable to provide the safety net and economic stimulus functions for which it was created. More and more workers are exhausting their UI benefits without being able to find work. In September, almost half of jobless Florida residents (47.1 percent) who reached the end of their eligibility for regular state unemployment insurance (i.e., “exhausted their benefits”) had not been able to find work by the time their benefits ended. In comparison, Florida ’s unemployment insurance (UI) exhaustion rate at the end of 2000 was 39.8 percent.

Moreover, between March 2002—when the federal temporary emergency unemployment program (TEUC) began—and this past September, 73 percent of unemployed Florida residents who collected TEUC benefits (208,461 individuals) exhausted them without being able to find jobs. Cindy Hall said, “Economic Stimulus proposals that help families and pump up the economy through the unemployment insurance system have been introduced in Tallahassee and Washington , but they have been killed by the leadership. Governor Bush and President Bush are only interested in economic deals that give huge taxpayer handouts to corporations with no guarantee of job creation” she said.

The Economic Richter Scale study looks at other impacts on working families in addition to the loss of jobs, and the look is equally as grim. In Florida , the ranks of those without health insurance rose from 2,620,000 to 2,843,000 between 2000 and 2002, the poverty rate climbed 1.6 percent, personal bankruptcy filings increased 26.8% and median household income declined by 3.3%.

“This is the worst economic recovery since the Great Depression,” said Cindy Hall. “Instead of investing in our communities, the Bush administrations in Washington and Tallahassee have given tax breaks to the wealthy and implemented policies that caused the loss of good paying, middle-class jobs for our residents. There has been a lot of rosy talk about the recent special session and the Scripps deal, Floridians need more than a $310 million high stakes gamble. 545 jobs at a cost to the taxpayer of $677,000 per job are not enough to bring Florida out of this slump” she said.

The Florida AFL-CIO is working with the national organization and its allies to launch a national mobilization to draw attention to the need for good jobs and steps that must be taken to build a strong economy. In order to create jobs and improve conditions for working families, Tallahassee and Washington must do more. President Bush and the Congress must invest in the nation’s infrastructure, provide financial assistance to the states, extend the federal emergency unemployment insurance compensation program, address the nation’s health care crisis and raise the minimum wage. In Florida we need to strengthen our unemployment insurance system, initiate major new public works projects, increase our investment in education and reform our failing tax system so that government has the tools necessary to help Florida ’s workers and small businesses.

The Florida AFL-CIO represents over 500,000 workers, retires and their families. The National AFL-CIO represents 13 million workers.

A copy of the “Economic Richter Scale” report is attached to this email as a PDF file.

Florida 26th on 'Economic Richter Scale (scroll down) – Tallahassee Democrat 11/7/03

The decline of manufacturing
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Charlotte Sun Herald)

Forecast: Better days at hand for job hunters
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Orlando Sentinel)

News on the FTAA Mobilization

Free Trade Area of the Americas talks in Miami to offer civic forum - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 11/7/03

AFL-CIO to stage protest – The Miami Herald 11/05/03

Union Leaders Planning For 25,000 Members To March In Miami - WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Protest worries to bring week of closings
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Miami Herald)

More stateside rivals vie for secretariat
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Miami Herald)

Free Trade Takes Incresing Hits – CS Monitor 11/6/03

Scripps deal still dominates the press

Bush paves way for Scripps to locate in Palm Beach County
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Boca Raton News)

St. Lucie County's courting Scripps
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Ft. Pierce Tribune)

Bush touts educational benefits of Scripps branch
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Naples Daily News)

Orlando's bid for Scripps was, well, pretty ritzy
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Orlando Sentinel)

Scripps tour wows county, FAU officials
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Palm Beach Post)

Education

So…students and parent can’t see the test that is supposed to be helping them learn and private schools get to write their own rules for voucher accountability. Goodness gracious what a load of garbage!

Court: Parents can't see FCAT questions
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Gainesville Sun)

Nonpublic schools wrote own ticket on form
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Palm Beach Post)

Come fall, the heat is off
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © St. Petersburg Times)

380 students getting vouchers for home-schooling
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Palm Beach Post)

Tuition hikes proposed - to save students money
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Palm Beach Post)

Governor should use funds to improve education
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Miami Herald)

Republicans crucial to effort for funding Florida education
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © St. Petersburg Times)

Florida election 2004 – The Thief of 2000 may enter Senate race

Harris weighs run for Senate
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Orlando Sentinel)

Byrd courting support in area
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Gainesville Sun)

A graceful exit
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Bradenton Herald)

Absent change, GOP trend continues
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Orlando Sentinel)

Graham's decision to retire not good news for Florida
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Charlotte Sun Herald)

Democrats fine-tune plan to gain power
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel)

Dean says Graham would be excellent V.P. choice
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Naples Daily News)

Few silver linings in the political clouds over Dems
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © St. Augustine Record)

Dean says Graham would be excellent V.P. choice
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Naples Daily News)

Health Care Crisis in Florida about to get worse

Medicaid deficit may lead to cuts
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Gainesville Sun)

Unions propose Marlins stadium deal

Union-owned investor offers loan to Marlins
(FRIDAY, 11/07/2003 © Miami Herald)

Other state news

Regulatory balance – Workers’ Comp
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Gainesville Sun)

Non-profit struggle to cope with state funding cuts
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Ocala Star Banner)

Rep. Stargel Serves on Committee to Review Ballot Measures
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Lakeland Ledger)

Leaders Hope Region's Attractions Can Stop a Bullet Train
(THURSDAY, 11/06/2003 © Lakeland Ledger)

NATIONAL NEWS

News on the sham Medicare bill

With Medicare Bill Stalled, House Speaker Prods Panel – New York Times 11/7/03

Democrats Assail GOP on Drug Bill - The Washington Post 11/5/03

Zero hour for prescription drugs – The Washington Post 11/5/03

Wal-Mart Watch

Labor Vs. Wal-Mart - Hartford Courant 11/7/03

Tracking Wal-Mart's Influence – The Washington Post 11/6/03

Wal-Mart pays for shady tactics – Atlanta Journal Constitution 11/6/03

Illegally in the U.S., and Never a Day Off at Wal-Mart - NY Times 11/5/03

Wal-Mart just latest step in retail evolution – Arizona Republic 11/5/03

Wal-Mart Confirms Probe of Hiring - Washington Post 11/5/03

National Economy

AFL-CIO decries Bush’s economic policies - Charleston Gazette 11/7/03

Economy sees new signs of strength Jobs growth predicted; poll reflects optimism – USA Today 11/7/03

Election 2004

More Voters deciding not to support Bush

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031104/ap_on_el_pr/bush_poll_1

Dean Gets Major Union's Backing, Nears a Second – LA Times 11/6/03

Major Union to Endorse Dean – Associated Press 11/6/03

With endorsement of union, Dean moves to mainstream – The Baltimore Sun 11/6/03

George Bush’s America

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Rich Templin
Communications Director
Florida AFL-CIO