Our Voices
Giving a voice to unemployed workers and their stories, we cut through the silence and invisibility that obscures the personal realities of today’s unemployment crisis.
“Unemployment has been hard on our family, as it is for everyone. Unemployment Insurance benefits have kept us going. ”
Our Voices, Our Stories
Peggy from Montana writes about being laid off last summer, and that without Congressional action to fully renew Unemployment Insurance through 2012 she'd likely lose her home.
For the first time in my life on June 30, 2011 I was "let go " from a professional position. I was laid off from my job as a mental health outpatient therapist. I was a hard worker and devoted and thought I would be there from now on, or at least until I chose to retire. I am a 60 year old well educated woman, with a bachelor of science degree in biology and a master of science degree in counseling – and now I am in danger of losing my home if unemployment insurance is not extended and I have not yet found a new position. I dearly loved my job and worked very hard to keep it. It was a shock and mentally draining to lose it. I was laid off from my job because of budget cuts, so finding a new job I know is not going to be easy – but I am diligently looking both in Montana and in other states as well. I lost 117 hours of overtime (what they called comp time) as well as other benefits. Congress needs to renew the unemployment insurance, otherwise I will have nothing and lose my home. Thank you for listening, Peggy from Montana.
Lifeline: Unemployed workers tell their stories
Jobless, Not Speechless: A Vet Speaks Up
Jobless, Not Speechless: Just One of Millions
Fight for the Jobless at Unemployedworkers.org
Worker Stories
January 27, 2012
Peggy from Montana
Peggy from Montana writes about being laid off last summer, and that without Congressional action to fully renew Unemployment Insurance through 2012 she'd likely lose her home.
read more »November 16, 2011
Juli from Wisconsin
Juli from Wisconsin, laid off in April 2011 when her employer relocated the business to another state after a company buyout, writes that she now faces a cut-off of unemployment insurance if Congress fails to renew the federal extensions for 2012.
read more »October 4, 2011
Terry P. from Buffalo, NY
Terry P. from Buffalo, New York, writes of the frustration of being excluded from consideration for a job due to the duration of unemployment.
read more »August 4, 2011
Al from Albertus, PA
Al from Albertus, Pennsylvania, tells of his experience with discrimination in hiring because he's unemployed.
read more »July 14, 2011
Mary Anne from New Jersey
Mary Anne from Bridgewater, New Jersey on employers discriminating against unemployed workers in hiring.
read more »March 10, 2011
P.D., Crest Hill, Illinois
Meet P.D. from Crest Hill, Illinois. A 45-year old father of two young children, P.D. worked for 24 years in manufacturing and warehousing/distribution before being laid off 21 months ago. He writes about being told that employers are "skipping over people who have been out of work more than 6 mos."
read more »
