Extremely disappointed N.C. Senate fails to save federal unemployment benefits

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jeremy Sprinkle, Communications Director, [email protected], 919-833-6678

STATEMENT FROM NC STATE AFL-CIO AND NC JUSTICE CENTER ON STATE SENATORS’ FAILURE TO SAVE $780 MILLION IN FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Workers and the economy will fall off the "unemployment cliff" when benefits expire on July 1

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 12, 2013) – The North Carolina State AFL-CIO and North Carolina Justice Center are extremely disappointed that the state Senate again turned its back on the long-term unemployed by refusing to take action to save federal emergency benefits.

Early in the session, the legislature passed and Governor McCrory signed House Bill 4 knowing that it violated a federal agreement on Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which means that, from July 1 through the end of this year, up to 170,000 North Carolinians will lose access to $780 million in federal extended benefits.  This afternoon, a callous majority of senators tabled an amendment to House Bill 743 - not even allowing it to be voted on - that would have saved those benefits by changing the effective date of the new law from July 1 to January 1, 2014.

It is still not too late.  We urge legislators to take action before the end of the month to save these benefits.  Tens of thousands of North Carolinians are waiting and watching to see if their legislature will do the right thing.

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The North Carolina State AFL-CIO is the largest association of local unions and union councils in North Carolina, representing over one-hundred thousand union members, fighting for good jobs, safe workplaces, workers’ rights, consumer protections, and quality public services on behalf of ALL working families.  PO Box 10805, Raleigh, NC 27605.