Working people are clear about wanting jobs, health care and an economy that works for their families, friends and communities.

The special election in Massachusetts showed the deep frustration by working men and women over the need for jobs. It was a genuine working class revolt. Sixty-one percent of voters in Massachusetts said they think the government’s recession policies have helped large banks a lot or a fair amount. Only 18 percent believe government has helped average working people.

They are angry because the big banks and securities firms that were bailed out last year by taxpayers were back at it with excessive executive bonuses. They are angry that we are down more than 10 million jobs as a result of the deep economic hole dug by Wall Street and big money policies.

All this becomes even more pressing in light of the Supreme Court decision that gives major corporations unimaginable power in our elections and legislative process.

The AFL-CIO and other organizations have developed an ambitious, five-point plan to create jobs. This plan calls for: extending unemployment, food assistance and health benefits; rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure; increasing aid to state and local governments; funding jobs in neglected communities; and using federal bailout money to get credit flowing to small businesses.

Over the last nine years, Wall Street and big business representatives in government turned a healthy surplus into an economic nightmare. While working families paid more than their share of taxes, Wall Street and the wealthiest received profits, subsidies and tax cuts.

Wall Street was supposed to use the bailout money to get the economy rolling again but instead, they just took it. Now stock prices and bonuses are up, but there are no jobs. The monied interests need to make restitution for the devastation they have created. Main Street needs the stimulus to recover and create jobs. It will take longer than a year to rebuild this economy.

Our retirements must be secured. Too many employers have replaced the system of pensions we once had with underfunded savings accounts fully exposed to Wall Street’s misdoings.

We must also restore American manufacturing. We cannot be a prosperous middle-class society in a dynamic global economy without a healthy manufacturing sector to lead in green energy and technology.

Finally, it is apparent to all that working families and small businesses want quality health care they can afford. This issue will not go away.

The labor movement will lead these efforts with conviction and energy, joining together with working men and women who are not in unions as well as those who are, with allies in big communities and small and with elected leaders at every level who will be champions for working families.

Angelo Vellake is president of the Western New York Area Labor Federation, AFLCIO.