Churches Plan To Campaign for Full Employment
Various church groups have issued Labor Day proclamations and announced their support of ÛÏfull employment weekÛªÛª beginning Sept. 4 in an attempt to urge government action that would result in a near-zero unemployment rale.</br></br>President William P. Thompson and General Secretary Claire Randall of (he National Council of Churches warned in a proclamation that ÛÏa failure on the part of church people and policymakers to move on a full employment policy will result in the eventual deterioration of the will and purpose of the nation.Û</br></br>In their statement, the NCC officials said President Carter should develop a ÛÏfull employment and national purposes budget" to create private and public sector jobs in energy, mass transportation, housing, education and other fields.</br></br>Urging that a specific effort should be made in the private employment sector, the NCC officials said the federal government should become Û÷Û÷the employer of last resort" for those who canÛªt find private jobs.</br></br>The two church leaders also suggested the coordination of the policies of the Federal Reserve Board, such as setting of interest rcates, with a government program for full employment and the establishment of ÛÏan adminis-(rativc appeals procedureÛ for the unemployed.