As unemployment in Britain rose to more than 2.2 million this week, the country's biggest union brought thousands of people from across the UK on Saturday to march in defense of their jobs.

The national March for Jobs through Birmingham saw workers from every sector of the economy unite to send a message to the government that protecting jobs during the recession must be its top priority.

Workers from numerous manufacturing companies and from the public and private sectors converged on Britain's second largest city and manufacturing heartland to demand urgent steps to keep people employed.

Derek Simpson, joint General Secretary of Unite, told those attending the rally that some action has been taken to stimulate demand in the economy and to protect working people from the ravages of the recession.

"But it's all been too timid," said the leader of the UK's main car workers' union.

"Billions have been spent to save the banks but those same banks are still throwing people out of their houses when they can't meet their mortgage payments because of a recession those very banks caused," he said.

Simpson accused the banks that won't lend to manufacturers of taking "food from the mouths of our families" and "threatening our jobs and homes."

Tony Woodley, joint General Secretary of Unite, said the union's mission was to get government ministers "to wake up and act to halt the jobs crisis."

"And our message is clear," he said. "Workers are not going to pay the price for the crisis created by bankers."

Woodley urged the government to implement a short-term subsidy to keep people on the job and out of unemployment lines. He also called for speedy action to support British manufacturing, more help for businesses from state-aided banks, and greater protection for workers from layoffs.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2009)