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Thanksgiving Message

November 25, 2009

From International President Edwin D. Hill

Many of us are looking forward to a cherished holiday centered on family, friends and food.

But this year, thousands of working families who always considered themselves middle class—not among those who rely upon charity—will enter the ranks of the impoverished.

Hunger is growing. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2007, 11 percent of U.S. households faced what is now called "low food security." Last year that number—which includes families that rely upon food pantries or federal assistance—or cutting back on nutritious food—rose to nearly 15 percent. The majority of households facing food problems had at least one adult working full-time. That says a lot about the need to pass legislation that will make it easier for workers to organize for higher wages.

It also shows the downward pressure on incomes as U.S. unemployment has grown to an official 10.5 percent, an official figure that grossly understates the level of joblessness. And that spike in unemployment is yet another link in a painful chain that leads to growing mortgage foreclosures and a rising number of people to look toward social services and charities for assistance.

At the beginning of the current mortgage foreclosure crisis, the focus was on risky subprime loans. But last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that delinquent loans had risen to the highest level since their survey began in 1972. And 55 percent of the loans in foreclosure during the last quarter were prime loans. We can fairly assume that many of these loans were held by working families who always paid their bills, saved for the future and played by all of the rules.

Food, jobs, a roof over their heads, decent health care—these are the basic needs that growing numbers of North Americans will hope and pray for this Thanksgiving.

Their prayers must be joined by our voices and our activism. Our leaders in Washington and Ottawa will wake up to their responsibilities to working families only when we—the men and women of organized labor—truly stand side by side with those who are hurting this holiday season.

Photo used under a Creative Commons license from Flickr user b4b2