The Unemployed Now Have a Union- And It's Catching On

Are you unemployed or underemployed? If so, there is a new union organization that is being formed to help people who have lost their jobs ban together to make changes and find adequate employment. The Union of the Unemployed, or Ucubed was started as a community service project by the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers ( IAM ). According to their website, Ucubed mission is-

It brings people together – the unemployed and underemployed alike – to build a community of Jobs Activists who will create local networks, support one another and help get America back to work.

The idea is that if everyone who is unemployed joins together, they can affect national change. Congress may be able to ignore jobless individuals, but it is much more difficult to ignore a group that is advocating change. By lobbying for issues like job creation, more reasonable COBRA benefits, unemployment insurance and increased food stamp benefits, the group can better have their voice heard.

How the union works is that when someone joins, they are given a list of other members in their zip code. 6 people in a zip code or area form a Ucube. 9 Ucubes for a neighborhood. Just 3 neighborhood Ucubes form a group of 162 people with a voice that is harder to ignore. On both the Ucube level and neighborhood level, the groups are self managed and elect their own leadership. According to their site-

Jobs Activists, organized by their zip codes, advocate for sound public policy, emailing public officials to alert them about policies that directly impact the jobless. And to help ease the burden of being unemployed, they receive steep discounts and rebate dollars when shopping the Machinists Mall.

Job Activists come from all walks of life, all corners of this country and all sectors of our economy. This Grave Recession has harmed us all – salary and hourly, manufacturing and construction, finance and service, union and non-union, college educated and high school dropouts, inner city and suburban residents. And only by working together can we end this economic turmoil.

The idea is unique, and has already received the support of the AFL-CIO and many of the prominent Unions. If fact, most worker's unions have begun encouraging their members who have lost their jobs to join Ucubed. It is vital for organized labor to show solidarity to those who haven't been able to earn a paycheck. The truth is that both the organized workers and the unemployed are working for the same team. Worker's rights benefit both groups. And when the economy recovers, and new jobs are created, the unions want the new workforce to have a good feeling about organized labor.

Even for people who do not want to join a union, the website and the group provide support and encouragement to unemployed people. The website attracts over 19,000 viewers a month and offers a place where people can share their unemployment stories and give each other advice and emotional support. It is an innovative idea and one worth watching.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.