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The most recent US Department of Labor Statistics for Los Angeles put the city’s June unemployment rate at 12.3%, well above the national rate of 9%. Since the economic downturn Los Angeles has continued to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Against this backdrop of stagnant job growth thousands of workers converged at LA City Hall Friday to send a message to state and Federal governments, and make the demand for “good jobs now”. The rally, organized by the AFL-CIO, included Mayor Antonio Villaregosa, and California Senator Barbara Boxer. Public sector workers, families and supporters came out in force. A majority of those gathered were Letter Carriers, a group facing 80,000 lay-offs if a proposal to cut Saturday postal service is approved. Their message is simply don’t cut tens of thousands of good jobs during the worst recession since the great depression. The participants also pushed for a commitment to a plan that has wide support from City Hall and labor unions, the mayor’s so-called 30/10 Initiative. The initiative would provide a jump-start to job creation by setting a goal to complete 30 years worth of public works projects in 10 years, creating 166,000 new jobs. Barbara Boxer touted the 30/10 initiative as a way to curb the state’s dependence on oil, because many of the projects would improve public transportation systems. The plan would require a large federal loan guarantee to get started.

Uprising correspondent filed a special report.