Ad Campaign Tells GOP To Focus On Minority Job Creation

WASHINGTON – In an effort to refocus Republican lawmakers on the need for job creation, the 2.1 million nurses, janitors, security officers, child care providers and other members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today unveiled a 7-figure ad campaign, including broadcast and cable television, radio, direct mail and phones and online advertising. The ads will run in Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and Virginia, with a special emphasis on African American and Latino media outlets.

Despite an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent --16 percent for African Americans and 11 percent for Latinos -- and as many as 30 million Americans in need of full time work, Republican leaders in Congress have failed to make job creation a priority, focusing instead on rewarding corporations and the rich with tax breaks and incentives to ship jobs overseas.

“Rather than turning their attention to the jobs crisis, Republican leaders are narrowly and exclusively focused on the wealthiest 1% of Americans,” said Brandon Davis, National Political Director, SEIU.

"Republican leaders’ tone deafness to our country’s need for jobs is devastating African American and Latino communities, which are bearing the brunt of unemployment on a crippling scale," said Davis.

“Time and time again, Republican leaders have demonstrated that they are willing to take the country to the brink of disaster, in order to vigorously protect the interests of big oil, millionaires and companies that ship jobs overseas,” Davis said.

"Working families in communities across the country are sending a message loud and clear that this country must get back to work," said Davis. "Elected leaders will be judged by their effectiveness in getting this done."