Valley Voices United for Change hosts forum on creating living wages in the Mahoning Valley
Posted June 18, 2018 in Press Releases
Policy Matters Ohio, Innovation Ohio and leaders from Labor and economic development will address the question of Jobs with Living Wages for the Mahoning Valley in a public forum
Mahoning Valley -- Youngstown Policy Matters Ohio and the Innovation Ohio Education Fund (IOEF) along with union and local economic development leaders will engage with community members to highlight the challenges and potential paths forward to increase the opportunities for jobs at living wages in the Mahoning valley. The forum will be hosted and moderated by Valley Voices United for Change.
“The forum will bring us together in a community conversation about issues of the continued loss of decent paying jobs like the 1,500 job cuts at GM Lordstown this month. We will discuss efforts to improve economic development and job opportunities for the area like TJX and the Youngstown Incubator. Working families need to set the agenda on this topic in the mid-term elections.” said Karen Zehr, a Valley Voices United for Change member.
“Many working families feel a deep sense of anxiety,” said Keary McCarthy, President and CEO of IOEF. “Technology is changing our jobs and it’s becoming harder to earn a decent wage. As these forces shape our economy, Ohio’s next governor cannot simply continue doing the same thing leaders have been doing for the past decade. We need a new proactive agenda that builds economic security in an uncertain future.”
“Mahoning Valley workers deserve peace of mind, free of worry about how to put food on the table, pay for their kids’ college or make the rent each month. For too long, policies at the state and federal level have slowly chipped away at that sense of security and failed to make room for these workers in the new economy. We have partnered with Innovation Ohio’s Education Fund to outline a platform of policies that can start turning things around. The report, A Winning Economic Agenda for Ohio’s Working families, is blueprint for legislative and gubernatorial candidates to embrace in their campaigns and after they are elected. This forum is an opportunity to talk about solutions,” said Hannah Halbert, project director with Policy Matters Ohio.
Who: Valley Voices United for Change, Policy Matters Ohio, Innovation Ohio, David Green, President UAW Local 1112, Jaladah Aslam, Mahoning Trumbull AFL-CIO and President Youngstown/Warren Black Caucus, Kristen Olmi, Economic Development professional
What: Jobs with Living Wages for the Mahoning Valley
When: Thursday June 21 at 6 pm, panelists available for press at 5:40 pm
Where: 20 Youngstown Warren Rd. Suite #6, Niles, Ohio