San Francisco rally linked to statewide events as midnight deadline looms
This morning thousands of SEIU members rallied outside of Gov. Schwarzenegger's six statewide offices as part of our union's push for a common-sense approach to resolving the state's budget crisis.
The SEIU-UHW-sponsored rally in San Francisco drew hundreds of members of SEIU-UHW and other locals, who mobilized on short notice, to demonstrate our union's commitment to a fairer budget and to urge the Governor to abandon his reckless plans.
"We're here to stop the cuts and make the budget right," said Sylvia Seward, a Contra Costa County-based home caregiver, "Unity makes all the difference, that's why SEIU does such a great job working for the people."
Speakers at the SF rally continued to make the case that the Governor's plan to drastically cut funding to critical social services was both unfair and short sighted, because eliminating services doesn't eliminate the need for them, but only passes on the cost to other sectors of the state's struggling economy. Vera Tabib, an In-Home Support Services provider from Marin County, heard about the rally this morning and came down with her client because they are both alarmed by the Governor's plans. "The Governor's plan doesn't even make sense; they [clients] will end up being housed in other parts of the system, or relying on repeated emergency care. As the population ages, Home Care is the only way to provide for seniors without over-burdening the health system."
SEIU's statewide rallies were launched to ratchet up support for the budget plan just approved by both the State Assembly and Senate in advance of tonight's looming midnight deadline for resolution. The plan approved by the state legislature takes a balanced approach to bridging the budget deficit by coupling spending cuts with revenue measures that will increase taxes on Big Tobacco and Big Oil.
In stark contrast, Gov. Schwarzenegger has remained committed to a risky and radical "cuts-only" approach that will jeopardize services to California's most needy at exactly the wrong time. If the Governor does not sign the legislature's plan, millions of Californians will face severe disruptions in their lives while corporations continue to get outsized tax breaks that subsidize their record profits.
Watch the slide show to see SEIU-UHW members, along with sisters and brothers from Local 1021, Local 521, Local 1000, Local 6434, as well as concerned community leaders as they send a strong message to the Governor to change course before its too late.
