Francisco

Francisco, 50, has worked in the textile manufacturing industry for 12 years. Since 2002, he’s been laid off from Malden Mills twice. A month ago, he returned to a part-time job at Malden Mills. Francisco also works for the Rapid Response Team of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO on a part-time basis, helping laid-off workers get through times of crisis.

My Story
I’ve worked at Malden Mills for a total of 12 years now, and I’ve been laid off twice in the last couple years. I just returned to Malden Mills after being laid off for three months, however I’m only working part time there. When I was between jobs, I started working on the Rapid Response Team of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, helping laid-off workers get through times of crisis. If I had the time and money, I’d go back to school to learn how to be a business agent or community organizer, because I’m really enjoying my work with Rapid Response.

All of my family members have experienced tough situations due to the sorry state of the job economy. Myses, 18, works part time and goes to school, but he can’t afford to live away from home during his college years. My 21-year-old lives at home, and I support him because he was laid off from his full-time job with Gillette a couple months ago and has been unable to find employment. My oldest son Keith, 25, was also laid off from his full-time asbestos removal job and remains unemployed. I really don’t know what to tell my sons about the job market. I encourage them to view these disappointments as challenges, and I hope that they’re able to make the best out of bad situations; however, my hope fades a little more every day. I fear for my future and the future of my family.

I live in a very small town where the unemployment rate is 12 percent. The majority of people in my town are Latino, and the language barrier hurts them when looking for employment. In this job market, one can’t have anything working against them.

I wish there was some way I could help my family and my community get though these tough times. Recently, I e-mailed President Bush to bring his attention to the devastating effects of the job economy that his administration has created. I said, “You should apologize to the people of the United States. It’s your job as president to help us find jobs, and I’m holding you and your administration responsible for the job crisis in the country. The social, political and economic state of this country has been run to the ground by you and your administration, and you need to bring jobs back to the United States in order to save the lives of the American people.”