Sacramento, CA –  The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California released the following statement today from President Bill A. Lloyd following news that California’s unemployment rate has grown to 12.5 percent:

“Even as the nation’s staggering economic downturn shows signs of easing up, today’s reports indicate that the situation for too many California families has worsened.  Our state’s 12.5% unemployment rate makes an urgent case for a state budget that stimulates the economy and helps to rebuild the state.  

“Cutting vital services and jobs is the worst thing our state could do when Californians are still suffering through a long, painful recession.  But rather than taking the steps we need to stop the bleeding and invest in our recovery, cuts to vital services for seniors and people with disabilities, more layoffs and wage cuts are once again on the table, which will only make California’s recession worse.  

“Working families are ready to rebuild California and we know what our state needs to do: invest in our recovery and strengthen our schools, colleges, and healthcare.   Middle-class families are already paying more in taxes but California’s recovery will require everyone to do their part.   It’s time for the corporations who have received sweetheart deals in every budget to pay their share, too.


SEIU California is a coalition of over 700,000 janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees represented by SEIU local unions throughout California. We come together to build a better California by fighting to pass policies and elect candidates that benefit working families and advance the issues we care about: affordable healthcare, good wages, retirement security for all, a healthy environment, good schools and universities, and stronger communities. We believe that by working together we can build a California where working families can thrive again.