What does economic recovery mean to you?

For us, it means more than just jobs - it means jobs that pay middle-class sustaining wages and that provide essential benefits such as adequate health insurance, a pension, and access to training and skill upgrading.

That's why our organizations are teaming up to ensure that New Hampshire uses the ARRA Responsible Contracting and Good Jobs Checklist proposed by the NH AFL-CIO and NH Building Trades Council when awarding ARRA-funded contracts.

President Obama's jobs plan will create or save 16,000 jobs in New Hampshire by making major federal investments in transportation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, health care, and schools. These jobs will put people back to work, help families, protect essential services and build the foundation for a stronger economy in the future - but this can only happen if these jobs provide essential benefits and training that will strengthen New Hampshire families.

Tell the Governor and Executive Council that economic recovery means jobs - good jobs. Tell them to use the ARRA Responsible Contracting and Good Jobs Checklist.

To Governor Lynch and the Executive Council:

Real economic recovery in New Hampshire means that taxpayer dollars used through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can't just go toward creating any job - we need to focus on creating GOOD jobs for working families in our state.

Good jobs are ones that pay middle-class sustaining wages and that provide essential benefits such as adequate health insurance, a pension, and access to training and skill upgrading. Strong economic stimulus contracts are ones that comply with state and federal law, work toward good job creation, and have public transparency and accountability.

That's why I'm asking you to use the ARRA Responsible Contracting and Good Jobs Checklist proposed by the NH AFL-CIO and NH Building Trades Council when awarding ARRA-funded contracts.

President Obama's jobs plan will put people back to work, help families, protect essential services and build the foundation for a stronger economy in the future - but this can only happen if these jobs provide essential benefits and training that will provide economic security for New Hampshire families and strengthen local communities.

The checklist is an important step on the way to economic recovery. As a New Hampshire taxpayer, I call on you to use the ARRA Responsible Contracting and Good Jobs Checklist when awarding ARRA-funded contracts. I look forward to your response, in writing or in action.

Sincerely,