For over thirty years I have worked in the construction industry. Starting when I was very young and learning as much as I could every step of the way. Then came the advent of the computer age and designing jobs and printing plans became a hundred times easier and faster. Then came the Construction Management college degree, which used to never exist. College classes for construction? We didn’t want college kids nowhere near our jobsites back then! I have always been an accomplished artist, that was a nice little hobby; but I saw blueprints and designs that I knew I could do better. All along the way throughout my career, I tried to get myself established as a successful Construction Foreman, but then the economy fell apart and I saw it coming as early as Spring of 2008.

I had been interested in learning AutoCAD, I am interested in computers and the new technoloy that has been emerging as well. So I enrolled at ITT Technical Institute and am pursuing my lifelong dream of getting another job! I have a degree in Computer Drafting & Design, I know AutoCAD very well now! I have also been learning a great deal about many other software applications, as well as learning how to build my own computer! (Which I have done!) So I am attending classes now for the Construction Management Degree too; hopefully even though I have the experience but didn’t hve that little “Piece Of Paper” that says I am qualified I will still be able to find a job? I have a hard time believing that four years of school could over-ride thirty years of experience, but this seems to be the case. So here I am, unemployed and looking for a job because for some reason, the construction industry in the state of California has fallen through the floor in my lifetime and I am “over-qualified” to work at Pizza Hut or Taco Bell. (That’s what they tell me, though.)

I been unemployed for 16 month and can not find a job I am so tired of what some of the republican are saying we are lazy bums that is defamation of character we need to find a lawyer and file a lawsuit againts the ones who called us lazy bums there is 30million of us we can show them we are not going to let them call us names and get away with it so if you know of a good lawyer let me know his phone no.e mail begoodbecky@aol.com

Extended unemployment benefits? What are those? In typical bureaucratic form I got screwed out of federal extended unemployment benefits. Why? Because I accepted a four month contract in another state. I ran through my unemployment benefits in my home state, where I have lived and worked for 20 years. My last job was out of state so I had some benefits from the other state. My home state said I could not file for extended benefits until I ran through my out-of-state benefits. That sounded reasonable enough. I ran through my out-of-state benefits and contacted my home state to apply for those extended benefits. At this point I was informed that I had to apply for extended benefits in the state where I last worked. So I called the other state. They looked at my records and said, oh my you have only worked for four months you do not qualify for extended benefits. What about all those other years I worked in a different state? Aren’t these federal benefits? What kind of messed up law is this? So I am burning through my IRA funds a little faster now, and I’m betting that Social Security goes belly up by the time I retire. At this rate I am going to be a poor old man if I get too sick to work. At least I can still get a cheap gun and do myself in when I have no money and am old and sick.

I had a great job, but then the company decided to make some changes globally. From the results of those changes, I was laid off in October, 2008. The job was the best that I had ever had. Really thought I had a life long job there with this company. However, things changed and I lost my job and there were others that laid off too on that terrible October Monday morning. While working at this great place, I was proud that I had a great job where I was building a nest egg for myself and mine. After being laid off, I looked for work. Looking for a job is not only a full time obligation, but a job and a half too, because I spend my weekends looking for work as well. I do stop searching for a job long enough to attend church on Sundays and believe you me, when I am at church, I doubly pray for a job while Pastor Rick tries to teach keeping the chin up, things will get better. There is no time off for the weary. I put in from 8 to 12 hours a day looking for a job, sometimes to the point of getting headaches searching until I send off a resume or hit a dead end. I’ve learned there are a lot of dead ends when looking for work. Most of my efforts were from searching the Internet (the infamous black hole). Many of my searches ended up in direct mailings of cover letters, resume’s and references to companies in my field.

In the past 20 months, I’ve sent out 2,847 resumes. I have had 7 face-to-face and 11 phone interviews. From one of the face to face interviews, about two months later, I get a call from a hiring manager from a well known aviation corporation in May of 2009. I was offered a job on the phone to work as a contractor for a ridiculously low rate with no benefits. It had been 7 months since I lost my job in October, 2008. So things were getting thin a bit skittish; meaning that at this point, I was willing to accept any kind of job, even for the insulting low wage. I accepted the job for 26% of my normal salary. Accepting that job left a very bitter taste, but I had no choice but to accept. I truly felt like crap; I swallowed my pride and took the job so that I could keep a roof over me and mine and to have beans on the table. I figured while working at this job, I could continue to look for a better paying position during off hours worthy of my expertise; at least to continue to look for a job that paid at least 70% of my normal salary. I took this cheap job and I worked hard and long hours at this ridiculous low salary. It wasn’t a week that went by that I didn’t work over time to make extra money so that I could make ends meet. Most of the weeks, those ends did not get met, but it was still better than no salary at all, but just barely.

At this low paying gig, I brought onboard knowledge, experience, and expertise. I had developed and implemented procedures that increased the efficiency of the engineering process so that in hopes the management would see that I was well worth a second look for better pay. Work colleagues, project managers and development teams said they were very happy to see the good work and that I was brought onboard to inject a standard that would be appreciated. I felt good in one way, but bad in another because of the extremely low salary. 9 and 1/2 weeks later after starting working at this contract position, the manager brings me and 2 other engineers into his office along with the temporary agent that had gotten me hired for this position in the first place. Guess what, you got it… I was laid again along with the other two engineers at same time. The manager didn’t even have the courtesy to call us in one by one to give us the bad news. The reason we got the ax is that the manager just said the company is reducing head count. Now I ask you, what kind of professionalism is that when you get laid off for no reason? I worked my can off, gave it all that I had and then some, but still lost this puny job.

Anyway, long story short, I am a hard worker and I am diligent about the work that I do. I don’t complain about my work, because I believe in doing an honest hard day’s work for an honest buck. I have a degree in electronics engineering and computer science. My grade point average was 3.83; graduated with honors and second in class. I have technical certificates up the wazoo that I (no one else) paid. The classes and the tests to achieve those certificates; which by the way cost a fine penny I might add. For example, the “American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB)” certification; this class which cost nearly $2900 bucks for a 5 day class and the examination cost $250.00. By the way, there was no such thing as retaking the test if you failed to pass the test. If you failed the test, you had to wait 6 months before you could retake the test again. So the pressure is on. You dare not screw up. I studied and studied and studied. The certification is dang hard to achieve. Don’t believe me, you take the class and try to pass the test yourself. Ask anyone that has attempted to get the American Software Testing Qualifications Board Analyst (ASTQB) certification. They’ll tell you how hard it is to achieve.

Why do I want certification? Because it shows I know what I am doing and it proves a point that I am no slouch that I am willing to go all the way to achieve recognition and to get a better paying job.

Anyway, back to my story, after being laid off again from this really low paying job, I had a feeling there was a dark economic storm brewing. I had heard from friends that other engineers were being laid off from other high tech companies that in my area. Even after hearing about other layoffs, that did not discourage me from beating the bush to find a job. I began to target companies in my field that were within a 30 mile radius and after a month looking with no results, I broaden my search field to 50 mile radius. At least I could still commute daily if I got hired, even a low wage job too. After another month, I broaden my search to 100 miles with no results, a week later my search pattern was expanded to 250 miles and now my search is in the entire state which is 770 miles. So don’t you “REPUBLICANS” tell me that I am lazy! When I read republicans said that the unemployed are lazy, I felt insulted, I felt belittled and I felt as if I was a second class citizen, as if I was some kind of scandal after that comment was broadcasted in the news. Do you want to see what “lazy” really is? Republicans, look in the mirror; look long and hard and then look again. You’ll see the definition of lazy in that mirror. Do you see yourself in that mirror? That is the definition of “Lazy.” Unless the Republicans want to join the unemployed in November, I suggest you get off your “lazy” buns and start supporting the unemployed by getting jobs back in the USA. Not low paying jobs either. Get us back into the great nation we were before George Bush and his bunch screwed it up. May I remind you it was the Republican Party that spent the surplus when Clinton left office? You’ve managed to get us in so much debt from two wars and I’m sure there are other pet projects that put us in a hole as well? Are you having a hard time remembering? You think Americans forget so easily? November is only a few short months away. Enjoy the ride while you can. Your days of lazy politicians are over, your time in office is limited unless you start taking care of the American people and that includes the unemployed because WE ARE AMERICANS too.

As an American, I am proud that we have it in our hearts to extend help to people in devastated areas, even our enemies want to harm us. When I think of the children getting food and clothing due to the destruction of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, loss of their parents and other catastrophic occurrences in their home land, it actually brings a tear into my eyes, but there has to be a point where helping Americans comes first before helping others. There must be a line that must not be crossed anymore. We Americans need to stop crossing that line and start taking care of our own. Americans first, then we can care for others, but until we get every American a job with a decent salary of their chosen profession, we are far from wining this battle. Because there are no jobs, congress thinks we as American citizens are as weak as sheep. If we cannot get jobs, then there’s no tax revenue and if there’s no revenue for the government to operate, then where will you politicians be? Do you think the government will be taxing the rich once the honest working class has lost every job in America? I hope you’re not kidding yourself?

To the republicans that are stonewalling the passing of the bill, “HR 5618”. You better wake up, because you’re going to have catastrophic turmoil on your hands simply because you bicker about where the money is coming from. It is clear Americans can see that you have hidden agendas. Better wake up and smell the coffee burning before it is too late. Good honest hard working American people will be forced to do things they’ll (and you republicans) regret.

My best friend texted message me today saying that he was changing parties, because he was so ashamed to admit he is a republican. I have been best friends with this guy for a very long time and I have been warning him for years about how the republicans play games. Thankfully, he has seen the light.

In closing, I have attempted to explain how hard it is to get a job, even with a degree and have tried to explain why it is so important for the congress to pass the HR 5618 bill and I have reflected back on what got us in this situation in the first place. I warn congress; there will be devastation, chaos, and good people doing unthinkable things and whatever else you can think of on an unprecedented level if something isn’t done soon. There must be something done, a shot in the arm – if you will, to get the economy going on, to get jobs in America, to build confidence in ourselves and this great nation.

Democrats, Republicans and liberals alike, stop your’ bickering, stop playing politics, stop surfacing your hidden agendas, and start caring, start building again, start working together, side by side, lay down your grievances towards each other. Let’s stand together to get America back on its feet so that we can stand proud again. Let other countries see what we can do, and then those other countries will follow suit. Can you see the domino effect here? You are well educated. Act like it! Stop being hard-headed and put your egos in check; put your pride in the closet and leave it there! You’ve got a job to do, get it done!

A reminder, elections are in November (this year). Do you want to keep your post? Americans are fed up with the political shenanigans in Washington. Political jobs will be lost in Washington if you don’t wake up and start taking care of Americans NOW! You were voted in office and you can certainly be voted out of office.

I’ve said my piece, now you sleep on it and when you wake up, you wake up with an attitude that you’re going to fix this mess we are in!

Sincerely,
One Ticked Off Voter

I had held a job ten years. I had considered the job my career. It was at UPS. I got pneumonia and missed a week due to doctor’s orders and was swiftly put on attendance probation. Prior to this I had filed grievances for over-supervision and other harassment type charges. I had not missed a day until my children passed. I had twins, Johnathan and David, my first and middle name, I missed one day due to grief. I should have been allowed three days, but I was threatened to lose my job if I did not return. I lost my job anyway due to the day I missed. I was put on probation in December of 2006 and finally fired in July of 2007. I was fired multiple times repeatedly because my supervisor did not like me, even though prior to this I had conversations with him regularly. Our turning point was when I suggested he read two books, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie, and “Seven Habits of Effective People” but Steven R. Covey. I must have made him mad. At the end of it all, they refused me my vacation time that I had gained the year prior, according to my union, who did not do much to help me with anything, I called trying to get answers for my time, and I slipped in a question, “Did you fire me because I am black?” He replied, “Yes…N, n, No…..(long pause) Yes, I fired you because you are black.” My jaw dropped. I was stunned and amazed at his admission.

i have held a job since but they only gave me part-time hours and were giving others full-time hours even though they either requested those hours after me or were hired after I was. I was really hurt by all of this and became very active in organizing and promoting the well-being of Americans.

I was on my out, leaving for the week to enjoy a trip to D.C. For NPA and my manager came to me and told me, “Black people owe white people, we made ya’ll better.” Then a person I thought was a friend of mine said, “Yeah, ya’ll should be thanking us.”

I have often time questioned why it seems that racism follows me, but I know that to a racist I am a threat, because I want to rebuild my community and help change how a whole people respond to this world. I think it would make for a brighter place if we all could enjoy a little more freedom.

I am now unemployed because I had an anxiety attack on my way to work and I could not make it. It hurt to bad and reminded me of UPS too much.

We need to boycott such companies. Not because of how they treated me, but because of the potential to treat all Americans that way. We have to have each others back in these hard times. No other person is gonna have your back like the person wearing your same shoes. Please remeber that.

I worked as a locksmith in a shop in Central New Jersey for 6 years. For most of that time, there were 2 locksmiths in the shop, myself and my over sixty, overweight, diabetic, cancer surviving, arthritic, self described Alter Kocker. Suffice to say, I did about 90% of the work. At the peak, I made $15.00/hr. No medical benefits, no 401k. I used mostly my own tools (his were in various degrees of disintegration), I had no paid sick days and until the end, I had no vacation days. I went the last 3 years working overtime most days. When he went on vacation, I ran the store by myself as well as performed service calls. I worked Saturdays so that my boss could spend time with his family.

As I said before, I never had a paid vacation day until the end. I decided that I would take my first paid vacation day on my birthday weekend. The day after my vacation I came back to work. My boss came in and told me that he “could not see how we could continue to work together”. He refused to explain why and then told me that he would give me 2 weeks severence. Since then, I have been trying to get a job as a locksmith in my new home town (Philadelphia). It has been almost a year. I have contacted almost every locksmith shop in Philly. Still no job. A few weeks ago, I found out that one of my friends from my old job (a salesman) gave my name and reusme to a shop just outside Philly. The locksmith who runs the shop told him he wouldn’t hire me because my old boss was a friend of his. It seems that my old boss has been “Blackballing” me to any one who called him for a reference.

I am now looking for any job I can find. With the goings on in Congress, I might have to join the ranks of the Unemployed.
God Blessed America, but he stole the B from Blessed

African American felt the beginning stages of the economic downturn in 2003. I’m educated with a Bachelor Science in Accounting and Tax, and a MBA. I have 2 daughters both entering or in college this year. For my caliber there has been a recorded increase in disadvantages and discrimination. I have not held a full time permanent opportunity now since 2003. Primarily residing in the south I have found that times are very difficult as it has been for many. Although, I have had a job all my life since the age of 14 I am now recognizing that there are no social programs available to assist someone of my status to assist them with getting back on there feet. My worry is for my young daughters who expect rewards for its contribution in society who will not be able to live to there expectations unless they keep them very moderate. Like many of my scholars would say knowledge is power and I have something that no one can take away.

Lost my job a few months back due to insufficient funds. Now I’m looking for any local job to support my family. Please, I would really like your help. Sorry, this is the only photo I have uploaded.

I was employed for Hannaford Bros. from 2002 til this year.I injured my back on the job and was on workman’s comp which paid me twice.I have been out of work now for 5 months and lost my job due to the fact I was out of work for 13 weeks and more.The manager there fail to provide me with the proper paper work in order to save my job for being out for a certain period of time.Workman’s comp is no longer paying due to the fact of no medical evidence of MRI and now I’m not receiving no income and my husband can not support me the way he wants due to the fact of the work that he does which does not bring enough income.I’m now behind on my rent and bills and can’t even get a loan due to the fact I know I can’t pay back when it suppose to be paid.I have to find a doctor for the injury and I can’t even get a call back to get an appointment and I don’t have any medical insurance.I’m constantly in pain and have a family that I can’t even have fun due to the agony that I have to go through.It’s hard already trying to keep a job and get a job and now to be ignored by doctors when you are in need should also have to suffer consequences of refusing to help people in need.

“Papa said there’d be days like this”. I am the child of a man who was a unionized factory worker. Since I was very small, I saw my father in and out of work, on picket lines, in union meetings, and always trying to make ends meet. This was the early 60s through the late 70s. I saw my father’s union friends lose their jobs to outsourcing. I saw their wives take low-paid part time service industry jobs (non union, mostly) to make ends meet. I saw a whole generation of hard working people ground down, then robbed of their unions int he 80s. And this same generation told me about the Great depression, of how their parents suffered. Now, my children are watching us go through the same thing. I do not feel sorry for myself, I am not bewildered, nor am I depressed, perplexed, or suffering anxiety. Why? Because I was taught as a child to never trust the bosses, to expect to be tossed around at their whims, and to always raise my voice against this. I was also taught to stick tot he union.
This “crisis” we are in is nothing new. The American economy is based on profit-motivated greed, and each generation faces the fall out from that.
I want to tell everyone to keep your heads up and keeps your heads on. Don’t fall for the “depression and anxiety” hype. None of this of YOUR fault. It’s the way this greedy system operates.
But, always remember, we have more power than we often realize. We can strike, we can write, we can protest, we can shout, we can demand solutions to thee problems.
Am I being to “political” for some people? Well, this is indeed a political issue, not a personal one.
You will be amazed at how good you feel once you start standing up for yourself. Your dignity will remain intact.
Let us stay strong and not go under.