SEIU's Henry: Honor Veterans By Creating Good Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) International President Mary Kay Henry issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:

Today we celebrate the brave men and women who put everything on the line to defend their country in a time of need. This is a special day to honor the sacrifice that these service members and their families have made throughout the history of our country. There is no better way to thank our veterans than to ensure that they have access to good jobs that support their families when they return home.

"As our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen come home from overseas, it is our duty to provide them the best opportunities to succeed and support their families. 850,000 veterans are currently unemployed and 1 million more service members are expected to transition to civilian life over the next five years.

"Last week's jobs numbers told us that the unemployment rate for veterans who have left active duty since 2001 now stands at 12.1 percent, higher than the national unemployment rate. We can do better.

"Veterans who transition from military to civilian jobs are especially dependent on jobs and services in the public and healthcare industries. Cutting Medicare, Medicaid and other critical public services would only put more veterans in the unemployment line and make it harder for veterans to receive the care they need.

"It is our duty to stand up for the brave women and men who put their lives on the line defending our nation. It's time to put our veterans back to work."

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