Union Veterans Council: Vet Unemployment Is 25 Percent

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12345

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on November 11, 2009 - 4:03pm
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By Doug Cunningham

Mark Ayers, Chairman of the Union Veterans Council, says unemployment among veterans now exceeds 25 percent. The Veterans Council is calling on Congress to quickly extend unemployment benefits and combine it with an effort to strengthen and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment And Reemployment Rights Act. That law protects veterans by allowing them to claim their former jobs when they return from active duty. The Union Veterans Council says veterans need the assurance of satisfactory employment as they return to civil life. The Union Veterans Council also wants to see state and local job training and employment counseling programs for vets expanded. The council says it’s “dumbstruck” that Congress is considering cutting funding for the Helmets To Hardhats program – which places veterans in good construction jobs.

[fasttense]

1. I found it interesting that most of my military experience was considered of no value

in the civilian world. You have to start again at the bottom rung unless you hire on with a military contractor.

Vietnam vets have it even worse. Most employers look at them as if they are all drug addicts and bums.

[unhappycamper]

2. In addition,

25% of veterans are homeless.

25% of veterans are locked up in prisons.