California Labor Federation Applauds Brown Administration's New Investment in Unemployment Insurance

Statement by California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski

“We applaud the Brown Administration on its significant new investment in improving customer service for laid off workers through the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program. The move is a solid step in the right direction.  

“The program has suffered years of neglect and cutbacks at the federal level have severed an important lifeline for many workers who have lost a job through no fault of their own. Administration of our UI program is 100% federally funded. A do-nothing Congress has turned its back on those suffering the longest job loss in this recession. They’ve denied extended UI benefits, they’ve ignored pleas for investments in UI administration, and they’ve allowed state UI programs to wither away.

“This infusion of state funds represents California’s willingness to act in the face of congressional inaction. We applaud the commitment of the Administration and pledge to work in partnership to improve service to jobless workers.”

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