New Yorkers Protest Proposed Service Cuts

January 09, 2009

DC 37 Exec. Dir. Lillian Roberts says there are better ways to balance a budget than cutting vital public services. (Photo credit: Colleen Brescia)

Thousands of public employees and their supporters from throughout New York state, including members of AFSCME’s DC 37 and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000, demonstrated in Albany on Jan. 7 to send a clear message that Gov. David A. Paterson’s (D) proposed budget cuts will place communities, jobs and services at unnecessary risk.

Calling their protest a “March for Main Street,” the workers – who also included members of District Council 1707 and Council 35 – braved freezing rain and sleet to take their message to the Capitol during the governor’s first State of the State address, aiming their outrage at his budget proposal that will especially hurt schools and hospitals.

“All working New Yorkers live on ‘Main Street’ and it’s time for all of us to stand up and say no to proposals that will have us pay more and get less while the wealthiest New Yorkers slide by,” said Danny Donohue, CSEA president and an AFSCME International vice president.

Although the legislature has not endorsed the governor’s plan for the fiscal year that begins in April, a coalition that includes the AFSCME affiliates, the New York State Nurses Association and the New York State AFL-CIO organized the protest rally to demand fairness and better priorities for the middle class.

Paterson’s fiscal 2010 budget would disproportionately hurt middle-class families by imposing $9 billion in cuts to many state services, including education and health-care programs. It would also increase college tuition, charge state employees more for their health insurance, close and downsize youth facilities and cut aide to local governments.

“The governor’s budget cuts are unfair, unjust and unwise,” said DC 37 Exec. Dir. Lillian Roberts. “His proposal to slash funds for health care, education and other social safety net services endangers the lives of those who need them and the jobs of workers who provide them.”

Read more about the March for Main Street in The New York Times and the Albany Times-Union. Also, check out videos in the Times-Union and Capital News 9.

STANDING TOGETHER – Braving bitter weather, members of New York’s CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000 demonstrate against cuts to vital public services.

Photo Credit: Janice Marra