Since President Bush took office in January of 2001, the outlook for working families has plunged to new depths. Stagnant wages and skyrocketing health-care costs are competing with soaring real estate and gas prices -- among many other rising expenses -- to destroy the quality of life for American workers.

To call attention to the real jobs crisis in America, the AFL-CIO sponsored a bus tour March 24 through 31, starting in St. Louis with stops in eight states, including those hit hardest by job losses, such as the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Riding in the slogan-festooned bus, 51 people -- one from each state and the District of Columbia -- talked about the devastating impact of joblessness.

One person lost a manufacturing job, another’s job was sent overseas and one is a parent who can’t pay for his family’s health insurance after being laid off.

Although the tour is over, ending in Washington, D.C., on March 31, the call for creating good jobs in America is growing louder.

For more details on the jobs crisis, visit the website, www.showusthejobs.com, where you can sign a petition to receive AFL-CIO “Action Alerts” and also send a personal message to President Bush about the jobs crisis.