PHOENIX — Local people out of a job because of the pandemic, are demanding more in unemployment benefits.
On Wednesday, these workers, many of them in the hospitality industry, took their message to the capital.
The protest was organized by United Here Local 11 — a union that says it represents about 3,000 hospitality workers in Arizona, a group that has been hit particularly hard by sprawling business closures across the Valley.
For some, going back to work does more harm than good financially.
Communications Director Rachel Sulkes explains, “They can end up losing their benefits that they are receiving because employers are not offering full-time hours as their reopening. So people are putting the unemployment benefits in jeopardy by going back to work. But they’re also not getting a full check.”
To further this message — dozens of cars filed into the state capital’s parking lot with signs asking, “Could you live on $240 a week”? That is the total dollar amount of weekly, state-funded unemployment benefits.
Beatriz Topete, board chair for Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy or CASE, said, “Arizona is number 49 out of 50 when it comes to the number of unemployment benefits that are given to workers when they lose their jobs.”
Federal assistance has also been available.
Nonetheless, as confirmed cases of COVID-19 rise, hospitality workers' financial future remains uncertain.
Restaurants and bars capacity is limited to promote social distancing.
Moreover, many of these establishments are not built for takeout. All of this, of course, means less money.
“So what we’re trying to do is call upon the state to be more responsible,” Topete said, “take leadership and to increase the amount, that workers get.”
The federal government is considering a second round of stimulus checks.
12 News has reached out to Arizona's Department of Economic Security and the governor's office about the protest and raising the minimum wage.
Neither has gotten back at this time. In a separate email, DES did say they are processing unemployment claims as fast as possible while making sure no fraud is being committed.