AFSCME AND CSEA FIGHT FOR JOBS

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y. on February 8.

photo by Ove Overmyer

THOUSANDS OF UNION ACTIVISTS LOBBY NEW YORK LEGISLATURE

By Ove Overmyer

Albany, N.Y. -- As our nation struggles through a grave economic crisis, poor fiscal conditions are expected to get even worse in the months and years ahead. With state and local revenues hurting as a result of this national economic downturn, there is increased pressure to make significant budget cuts in public services at a time when they are needed most.

But these challenges — vital services at risk when demand for them is growing — create great opportunities to tell our story and the critical value of the jobs we do and services we provide.

At an Albany rally yesterday, AFSCME President Gerald McEntee said, “News that the jobless rate declined to 9.7% in January is cause for cautious optimism, but far too many Americans are still out of work and too many jobs are still at risk.”

He added, “Congress and state legislatures must act now to save nearly a million jobs in 2010 as local and state governments struggle with a $178 billion shortfall this year. Failure to invest in states and communities means the vital services Americans need during tough times will be cut to the bone.”

McEntee announced the delivery of $300,000 to help the six New York affiliate AFSCME unions deal with the brutal misconceptions that conservative media conglomerates and anti-labor groups are professing. The Protect Public Services Campaign will provide a series of advertisements and public service announcements to educate the community about the state’s budget realities and reveal a more accurate depiction of the role of New York’s public employee unions.

The event included addresses from labor leaders, including CSEA President Danny Donohue, and guest speakers, including keynote speaker AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Senate Conference Leader John Sampson and state Sen. Diane Savino.

Silver told union members that he continues to believe Paterson's budget numbers are bad, predicting the latest deficit hole is as much as $250 million more than the $750 million claimed by the governor.

Activists lobby lawmakers

Governor Paterson and state legislators are making budget decisions now for the next fiscal year. Over 2,000 activists from Buffalo to Montauk Pt. came to Albany to tell their elected representatives that cutting services and laying off workers is not the solution to the budget gap. Additionally, workers advocated for safe streets, to make sure our children are properly educated and that our working families deserve decent healthcare. CSEA and AFSCME members have also devised solutions to the revenue side of the budget, which include putting an end to the stock transfer rebate loophole and collecting taxes that are due on the sale of tobacco products.

McEntee added, “Investing in jobs with targeted support for states and local governments will put people back to work, pave the way for economic recovery and help provide the vital public services that protect communities during these troubled times.”

To view some photos from lobby day, you can click here.