Shrinking the Welfare Gap
The workers rights campaign "Jobs with Justice" is holding its National Day of Action for Welfare/Workfare Justice December 10, 1997, in 50 cities across the U.S. Endorsed by more than 80 organizations, the designated day is a coordinated response aimed at highlighting the gap between the number of projected new jobs and the number of welfare recipients expected to enter the workforce in coming years.To further illustrate their ideas on welfare reform, the organization also will release the comic book "Jobs with Justice Comics," by Alec Dubro and Mike Konapcki "Both the comic book and the day of action point to a fatal flaw in Welfare Reform. As it is currently being implemented, there are not enough jobs for all who need them," said Fred Azcarate, executive director of Jobs with Justice.December 12, 1997, is the first federal deadline for states to submit welfare reform plans in exchange for their portion of the allocated $3 billion in welfare to work funds. Jobs with Justice is demanding that these funds be used to create living wage jobs rather than jobs spun from what they deem exploitative workfare programs.For more information contact Simon Greer at Jobs with Justice, (202) 434-1106.