The first-Friday jobs report from Bureau of Labor Statistics is always worth reading. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm. The report on January is very positive political news for the Biden Administration.
New employment figures had been disappointing for December; consequently, pundits were forecasting very low figures, even negative figures, for January. Instead, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 467,000! Employment figures for December and November were revised strongly upward by a combined 709,000! The big improvements were attributed to a big increase in the participation rate, job seeking. The Dallas newspaper says that Texas has already recovered all the pandemic job losses! The national payroll figures showed a 23-cent increase in hourly pay in January. For the past 12 months, pay was up 5.7% -- slightly less than inflation.
The BLS telephone survey on unemployment gave a 4.0% overall figure, slightly up from 3.9%. Black unemployment, always the highest number, ticked downward to 6.9%. The BLS announced another slight reduction in union density last month. No statistics have reflected any increase nor decrease in labor’s power of solidarity between unions, solidarity with other progressive organizations, or solidarity with the world labor movement. Dramatic successes for strikes, organizing drives, and contract negotiations argue for a big, unmeasured, increase in labor’s overall clout, but that is not in the statistics.
Solidarity Matters
While Exxon-Mobile announced big improvements in their income and a move from Irving to Houston, they continue to starve 600 locked-out refinery workers in Beaumont. Those families have been deprived of their jobs since May 1st, 2020! See their video here. The Texas AFL-CIO continues to raise money for their food pantry. Donate here.
MORE ACTIONS COMING UP
Feb 5, 3P: Anti-war rally on the grassy knoll, 413 Elm. US Peace Council and Black Alliance for Peace call for demonstrations against war with Russia
Feb 14, 10A: First day of early voting. Rally at 600 Commerce in downtown Dallas to encourage turnout
Feb 18: Last day for county elections offices to receive application for a ballot to vote by mail
Feb 25: Early voting ends
Mar 1: Election day