WNYT

ALBANY --A rally in Townsend Park in Albany was one of more than 100 across the country, calling for full and fair employment.

The group included well-known labor leaders and supporters. Green Party candidate for Governor Howie Hawkins spoke.

Protesters are calling on Congress to put the countryback to work.

"We want local elected officials to use any stimulus money they have towards job creation, not just plugging a hole in the deficit. We really have to do the best we can to get people stable, back on their feet," said Alethia Jones of the Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition.

They are asking Washington to pass the Local Jobs for America Act, and to extend the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Emergency Fund.

According to local company Next-Act, job postings in the Capital Region dropped12% over the past seven days, andthat's after a20% drop the week before.

The nationwide unemployment rate went up to9.6% last month.

After the rally, a car caravan went up to Latham to support striking workers at the Holiday Inn Express.

Protesters say it's time to focus on the ordinary workers.

"The corporations and Wall Street have received enormous support from the government. That has been translated, unfortunately, in the case of Wall Street, into bonuses. In the case of corporations, they are not using this money to rehire or develop new hires," said Bill Ritchie of the Capital District Area Labor Federation.

"We did 700 million dollars, we printed money, through the Federal Reserve to bail them out and we're wondering, what about regular people?" said Jones.

Jobs and economic development are the focus of a meeting with Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and other upstate mayors in Syracuse Thursday.