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Pocono News Section
Thousands Lose Unemployment Compensation
Thousands Lose Unemployment Compensation - Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 1:39PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 @ 01:39pm EDT
TANNERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - Unemployment benefits have run out for more than 23,000 Pennsylvanians. Many are scrambling to get work, but they say jobs are hard to come by. Eyewitness News stopped by the Career Link office in Tannersville to see how people are dealing with the problem.
Truck driver David Miller was there. He said he was laid off three times in the past five years. "I've been a good worker all my life. I haven't quit jobs, they've quit me," he remarked.
The first two times Miller said he found new jobs quickly. But in a recession there's a lot more competition. He said, "I've been searching for jobs for the past year and the only thing I can find is ten dollars an hour or less."
Miller's unemployment benefits are about to run out. He visited Career Link to get training for a new job. He said, "What choice do you have? If i don't find a job - you know - I'm gonna end up being dependent on the government and I don't want t do that."
Miller worried if he doesn't get something soon, he may have to apply for welfare. He said, "I don't like depending on other people. I've always depended on myself my entire life."
Eyewitness News also met Jarvis Hardy at Career Link. He said, "If you're not finding a job they have a great job training assistance program here."
A credit card company laid Hardy off four months ago. He said, "You don't give up. And you don't sit home and feel bad for yourself. Especially when you have a family."
Hardy believes the government should extend unemployment benefits for people who need more help. He added, "That doesn't mean that you should sit around and wait for your extension to run out and be caught in the same situation that you were before the extension."
For Hardy and others at Career Link finding work is a full time job.
The federal government is considering a 13 week unemployment extension. The house already approved the bill. The Senate has not yet made a decision.
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