The Professional Unemployed Say 99 Weeks is Not Enough

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A group of "99ers," those who've exhausted all the federal benefits available to them, held a rally in front of the Federal Building in New York City yesterday, to demand Congress pass a comprehensive jobs bill and provide an additional tier of federal unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed.

Both the House and the Senate have introduced bills that would provide an additional 20 weeks of benefits for 99ers, but it's largely believed that those bills don't stand a good chance of becoming law.

The rally, which attracted 30 or so protesters, according to the Business Insider, was organized by the Unemployed Workers Action Group. Members of the Transit Workers Union Local 100 and members of the United Federations of Teachers bolstered the numbers, said the New York Daily News. Members of the media were there too.

Rally organizers estimate that there currently are 2 to 4 million 99ers, and the numbers are expected to swell to 15 million in the future.

“We are told ‘it has been long enough’, ‘no more unemployment benefits’, ‘tough’. Millions are being forced into poverty by their own government, with thousands added to our ranks every week," said Kian Federick, the organizer of the rally.

A few passersby shouted rude comments to the protesters, such as "get an f'ing job," but the rally never got really heated.

According to the Business Insider, the rally failed to make much of an impression on Wall Street. One problem, it said, was a lack of a clear political message. Also, since the organizers had no sound permit, protesters were unable to use microphones.

http://www.mlive.com/michigan-job-search/index.ssf/2010/08/long-term_unemployed_rally_in_new_york_c.html

[Pooky 3,787]

The rally, which attracted 30 or so protesters, according to the Business Insider, was organized by the Unemployed Workers Action Group. Members of the Transit Workers Union Local 100 and members of the United Federations of Teachers bolstered the numbers, said the New York Daily News. Members of the media were there too.

So, if there were TWU and UFT member there to bolster the numbers, how many actual protesters were there? Two? Three?

And that's enough for a rally?

Epic reporting!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The rally was held early in the day, and you know how hard it is to get out of bed sometimes, especially when you are not working.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Wow. I have been working my rear off for a long time so how does one get on this gravy train?

[justashooter 430]

in the 1980's, when the unemployment rates were lower than they are now, 33 months compensation was the max. today, it's 23. what's the deal, buddy?