Tell Congress: Strengthen Unemployment Insurance

Maine's Congressional Delegation - Sen. King, Sen. Collins, Rep. Pingree, Rep. Golden

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress is currently considering legislation to improve and strengthen Unemployment Insurance to help workers get through this crisis.

The legislation would:
·  Add an additional $600 per week on top of the unemployment check workers will receive for up to four months for workers eligible for unemployment benefits.

·  Allow self employed, contract workers and government employees to collect unemployment benefits (they are typically excluded)

Please sign this petition calling on Maine’s Congressional delegation to pass the strongest version of improvements to Unemployment Insurance to keep workers whole through this crisis.

These provisions are in a much larger federal COVID response bill. That bill has some very good and some very bad provisions in it. We are pushing for the strongest possible unemployment supports. This is a good example of the kinds of things we can accomplish in this moment when we take action together and make bolder demands.
Sponsored by
Maine-aflcio-logo
Maine AFL-CIO
Augusta, ME

To: Maine's Congressional Delegation - Sen. King, Sen. Collins, Rep. Pingree, Rep. Golden
From: [Your Name]

In light of the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we call on Maine's Congressional delegation to support passage of improvements to the Unemployment Insurance system. Hundreds of thousands of Maine workers will be laid off or lose income through this crisis.

We call on Congress to strengthen Unemployment Insurance in the following ways:
• Add an additional $600 per week across the board to unemployment benefits.
• Open unemployment insurance to self employed, contract workers and government employees.
• Lower the minimum earnings requirement to allow poorer workers and workers without much earning history to benefit.
• Extend the current 26 week limit on unemployment benefits.

Unemployment insurance is a crucial lifeline in this crisis. Please act immediately to strengthen and improve unemployment insurance to help workers survive this crisis and to protect public health.