A MESSAGE FROM NYS AFL-CIO: TAXPAYERS DEMAND REAL JOB CREATION

Denis Hughes

Albany, N.Y.-- We all eagerly anticipate job creation as a result of the recently passed state budget. Ultimately, voters will judge the success or failure of our elected officials on that issue.

The state budget that has been agreed to embodies some very difficult decisions that were made in the interests of improving our economy over the long run. The economic downturn over the last several years hit working families the hardest and for too many years before that unemployment in the private sector was allowed to run rampant.

This budget is estimated to force as many as 77,0000 jobs to be lost in state government, local government, schools, transportation and heath care facilities.

Although there has been a lot of press attention surrounding the successful, on-time passage of this budget, the fact is that the real assessment of this budget and those who supported it will depend on the creation of sustained, good paying jobs.

The Obama economic recovery has made Wall Street profitable again and for two years straight the economy has turned around for those who can afford to invest. However, the vast majority of working families are still struggling and not benefitting from the 2008 and 2009 bailouts of Wall Street and corporate America. Bailouts that were in fact funded by those very same workers.

Simply put, there is no recovery unless we create jobs that sustain our local economies and allow individuals to purchase homes, pay their bills in a timely manner, and otherwise plan long term for the future well-being of their families. Taxpayer dollars can no longer be used to create minimum wage, low paying jobs at the expense of long term economic development goals and initiatives. The days of creating minimum wage jobs can and should be long gone. Economic policies based on empty rhetoric should cease and desist.

The labor movement, as well as taxpayers demand real jobs at good wages with necessary benefits.

Leading up to the budget agreement, there was a lot of talk about shared sacrifice. Our new budget provides a tax cut to the wealthiest New Yorkers, cuts government spending and continues tax credits and economic development programs important for business interests in this state.

Working men and women made their fair share of sacrifice with the intended results of good jobs. Now it is time to make sure that working people reap that much anticipated and long promised reward.

-Denis Hughes, President of NYS AFL-CIO