The theme of this year’s “Day on the Hill” is “A Strong Economy for the Common Good.”
“Gov. Pawlenty’s proposed cuts could weaken the economy with the loss of at least 3400 public sector jobs,” says Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “Piling on more layoffs and cutting services for people hurt by the poor economy will only prolong this recession. Every time Gov. Pawlenty cuts a public employee’s job, Main Street loses a customer.”
“Fair taxes are a better budget fix,” explains Seide. “If people who earn more than a quarter-million dollars start paying their fair share, we could save jobs and services. Nobody likes taxes, but most folks understand we must invest today for a better state tomorrow.”
Nearly 1,000 union members are registered to rally in the State Capitol rotunda at 1 p.m. Wednesday and meet with their state legislators that afternoon to share their legislative priorities:
• Sustain funding for the quality education, transportation, and health and human services.
• Restore aid to local governments to stabilize property taxes.
• Raise revenue fairly, including fair taxes on persons earning more than $250,000.
• Protect and create good jobs to jumpstart the economy.
• Stop privatization that threatens the quality of public services.
• Move toward affordable health care for all Minnesotans.
AFSCME members provide the vital services that sustain Minnesota’s quality of life. They are deeply concerned about attempts to starve, shrink and privatize public services, the union said.
Council 5 represents 43,000 public and non-profit workers throughout Minnesota.
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The theme of this year’s “Day on the Hill” is “A Strong Economy for the Common Good.”
“Gov. Pawlenty’s proposed cuts could weaken the economy with the loss of at least 3400 public sector jobs,” says Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5. “Piling on more layoffs and cutting services for people hurt by the poor economy will only prolong this recession. Every time Gov. Pawlenty cuts a public employee’s job, Main Street loses a customer.”
“Fair taxes are a better budget fix,” explains Seide. “If people who earn more than a quarter-million dollars start paying their fair share, we could save jobs and services. Nobody likes taxes, but most folks understand we must invest today for a better state tomorrow.”
Nearly 1,000 union members are registered to rally in the State Capitol rotunda at 1 p.m. Wednesday and meet with their state legislators that afternoon to share their legislative priorities:
• Sustain funding for the quality education, transportation, and health and human services.
• Restore aid to local governments to stabilize property taxes.
• Raise revenue fairly, including fair taxes on persons earning more than $250,000.
• Protect and create good jobs to jumpstart the economy.
• Stop privatization that threatens the quality of public services.
• Move toward affordable health care for all Minnesotans.
AFSCME members provide the vital services that sustain Minnesota’s quality of life. They are deeply concerned about attempts to starve, shrink and privatize public services, the union said.
Council 5 represents 43,000 public and non-profit workers throughout Minnesota.