Media Contact: Eric Russell (412) 562-2475
(Pittsburgh) -- A special “post-agenda session” of joint City and County Councils, will be held tomorrow, Thursday at 2 p.m. at City Council Chambers to consider a proposal to focus on job retention and creation in the Pittsburgh region. Participants will include elected officials from all levels of government as well as community, business, labor and religious leaders.
The town hall meeting is being organized by the United Steelworkers (USW), the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32B. The focus will be on maintaining and growing family-sustaining manufacturing and service jobs in the Pittsburgh region. Some specific issues of concern, including the current city-wide janitor negotiations will also be discussed. SEIU Local 32BJ represents these workers.
Immediately following the meeting, Congressman Mike Doyle (D-14) will speak from the City/County Building steps. The Rally will then march from the City County Building steps to the Federal Building, where public officials and leaders of the participating groups will deliver messages about jobs.
The effort is being actively supported by a coalition representing more than 70 organizations from the faith, social and economic justice, environmental and labor communities. In a one page proposal framing the objective of the meeting the organizers say:
“Pittsburgh has a long history of regional efforts that focus on a specific crisis. While the Pittsburgh Region has done better than other communities; during the current economic downturn, the dire circumstances of many working age youth and adults in the Pittsburgh Region and our overall economic progress call out for a special focus on job creation. There is a sense that as a Region, our efforts to create jobs and spur economic activity could be accelerated if a united and comprehensive approach were undertaken by key governmental, community, labor and business leaders throughout the region.”
WHAT: Good Jobs Now Town Hall Meeting/Good Jobs Now March and Rally
WHO: Congressman Mike Doyle; elected officials; community and religious leaders
WHERE: City County Building, Council Chambers, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh
WHEN: Town Hall Meeting begins at 2 p.m.; Rally and March for Good Jobs Now
begins at 3 p.m. on City County Building, Grant Street steps.