Jobs, Justice, and Economics

This event will include discussion of both local and national worker issues, job resources, and tools for advocacy with our elected representatives.

• Resource Displays - Talk with representatives of organizations
  before morning plenary session.
• Morning Plenary
• Afternoon Plenary
• Workshops - Afternoon Breakout Session

• New Immigrants and American Workers - Why We Should Be Allies - Emma Cleveland
  The media and popular rhetoric inform us that immigrants are a drain on our economy. This workshop will discuss the newest research on the positive economic impact of new Americans and how denying rights and respect to immigrants erodes our own civil liberties.

• Labor Markets and Economic Justice - Bob Wendt
  Topics for this workshop will include:
  • A Snapshot of the Lehigh Valley: Who are we? How do others view us?
    
  • The 2000-2010 Decade ... CHANGE!
    
  • What do employers want?
    
  • The Lehigh Valley employer's and worker's competition is global.
    
  • Obsolescence: The need for life-long training, and re-training, and retraining ...
    
  • CareerLink resources for the unemployed and under-employed.

• Jobs and Economic Policy - Overview of Current Legislative Issues - Bob Walden
  This workshop will review several job-related legislative measures, as well as economic policy issues that affect the long-term outlook for Pennsylvania workers. The economic policies that led to the "great recession" and current high unemployment rate were put in place over several decades. There is no "quick fix", but there are many things we can do, in conversation with our elected representatives, to help restore sustainable jobs that provided living wages and healthy working conditions for everyone.