Sunrise Movement Tells Schumer: Guarantee Good Jobs For All
At a rally and march in NYC, youth climate organizers demanded that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pass a federal green jobs guarantee.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK — On Wednesday, April 7, members of the Sunrise Movement marched from Grand Army Plaza to Senator Chuck Schumer’s apartment. With songs, speeches, and chants, they demanded that Schumer sign the Good Jobs For All pledge, which guarantees every American who wants one a good union job as part of America’s transition to a more equitable and sustainable energy and economic system.
“Labor believes we can do this. Immigrants believe we can do this. We believe we can do this. The whole country believes we can do this, except for you,” said Sunrise organizer Drake Hunt, addressing Schumer in a speech. “You can stand up for Good Jobs For All. You can stand up and make the pledge so people don’t have to suffer. So people can get paid a living wage. So we can have good green jobs for all. Community gardens. Abandoned factories become wind farms. This is the dream we’re talking about. That’s the America we’re trying to build. So stand up today. Make the choice, because we’ve been making the choice. You can step up or step aside.”
The action was attended by dozens of members of Sunrise NYC and Sunrise NYC Youth. Young speakers delivered powerful calls to action, urging Schumer to address America’s interrelated climate, racial justice, health, and economic crises through a sweeping jobs plan. The event was part of a nationwide day of action held by the Sunrise Movement aimed at ensuring that Biden’s infrastructure plan facilitates a just transition to renewable energy over the next decade through a jobs guarantee and an investment of $10 trillion in green jobs.
“My mom works endless hours for little pay and it’s not fair,” says Aissatou Bah, a member of Sunrise NYC Youth who helped organize the event. “She’s not able to get a good education because she has to work, take care of us, and take care of herself. And she’s not the only one! Millions of other people also have the same problem. We demand a Good Jobs For All plan so those millions of people can feel secure. It is Schumer’s responsibility as a senator to help New Yorkers be safe and have an income source, and the plan would be one of the best ways to do that.”
We are in the midst of a climate crisis that will require a mass investment in transforming our infrastructure and energy grid, and millions of Americans are out of work. As America rebuilds from COVID-19, the Good Jobs For All pledge will help address these issues while also combating systemic racism and economic inequality.
As Senate Majority Leader, Schumer has the power and the responsibility to address these crises by introducing transformative legislation to the Senate. Through this action, Sunrisers demanded that he make good on his promises and utilize this unique opportunity to begin the decade of the Green New Deal.
To learn more about Sunrise NYC, visit sunrise-nyc.org.
