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To: United States Senate

Supplemental Unemployment Must Continue! - Steady Data Shows 25% of its Members w/ 100% Income Loss

The U.S. Senate must pass an extension to the supplemental $600 weekly UI benefit, with over 40 million Americans having lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic and so many more 1099 workers having lost work. We cannot let July 25th come and pass without an extension from Congress! This cannot be political, this has to be collaborative, no Members' constituents are immune to the impact of this common enemy. We must fight together!

Steady has over 2 million Members and its data shows that 25% of those with trackable income have seen their income drop to zero in work categories including retail, hospitality, food services, logistics & transportation, gig work and healthcare services since late February and UI benefits now make up approximately 20% of income generated by Steady Members. The impact of the $600/week going away on July 31st would cause an economic earthquake for tens of millions of Americans far outpacing the imaginations of most of our Federal elected officials.

Yes, some may be making more now than before, but many have also seen large expenses such as healthcare and childcare increase dramatically. This is an opportunity to start to right the wrongs of our Nation's extreme income disparity. We do not want more of America's middle class falling into irrecoverable poverty and we don't want those already in poverty to face unimaginable hardship.

Why is this important?

We are scared, we are angry, we are humbled. We want to contribute, we cannot contribute. We want to have jobs soon, we will not have jobs soon. We didn't ask for this crisis, we didn't know this could happen, we weren't in a position to prepare. We need our system to help at this time where we need help more than ever. We cannot take care of our own? We are your Parents, your Grandparents, your Children, your Grandchildren, your Aunts, your Uncles and your Cousins. We need your help.

With COVID infection rates increasing across much of the country and the high potential for at least a future second wave prior to the onset of mass vaccinations, July 31st will not mark a magical date where job availability will all of a sudden rocket upwards. Demand across numerous industries that employ large numbers of workers remains near or at their bottoms and people are still scared to go back to work, facing an internal crisis of consciousness between the need to provide for their families and the need to not put themselves or their families in harm’s way.

How it will be delivered

Stage a virtual press conference that includes many hourly and gig workers currently relying on the supplemental $600 weekly UI benefit, in addition to several special guest participants.

Links

Updates

2020-07-08 12:17:05 -0400

10,000 signatures reached

2020-07-03 07:36:11 -0400

5,000 signatures reached

2020-07-01 11:54:42 -0400

1,000 signatures reached

2020-06-29 14:49:15 -0400

500 signatures reached

2020-06-27 11:38:07 -0400

100 signatures reached

2020-06-27 02:12:43 -0400

50 signatures reached

2020-06-26 21:43:22 -0400

25 signatures reached

2020-06-26 18:20:15 -0400

10 signatures reached