40,000 Union Members March Against Proposed Budget Cuts
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/
More than 40,000 members of New York's trade unions massed on the streets outside of City Hall yesterday to protest against the budget cuts proposed by Democratic Governor David Paterson and Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The cuts threaten to damage the city's transportation, healthcare, education and social service systems. In addition, the plans propose to eliminate 30,000 city jobs (more than 3,000 through layoffs) and attempts to shift the burden of rising healthcare costs onto workers.
Yesterday, was a massive show of the social power of the municipal trade unions. NYC is still, in many important ways, a union town. The unionization rate is more than 26%, far higher than many other areas in the US which have slipped into the low single-digits. Union members also brought along scores of others. Teachers encouraged students to attend, mothers and fathers brought their children and random passers-by were attracted by the energy of the swelling crowd. One could finally see union dues money being put to good use.
The general political message of the day was provided by the Fair Share Reform coalition - a grouping consisting of various trade unions, community groups and the Working Families Party. Their campaign is called One NY and it seeks to create common cause around a platform which advocates measures such as a millionaire's tax and an increase in the tax rate for highest income earners in the State. These are desirable reforms which would easily fill budget deificts, yet the NYC Local of the Socialist Party USA and others have advocated for more fundamental changes in taxation such as a property tax on stock and bond holdings.
More than a dozen SP-USA members and supporters spent the day distributing leaflets inviting people to participate in a demonstration next week at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's house. A section of our group started out at a City University of NY rally of students and faculty. These protesters quickly moved from the sidewalks to the streets in an exuberant display of the kind of fighting spirit necessary to beat back these cuts. This was the first demonstration for two in the SP contingent and it was certainly a fine introduction to political activism.
Next Thursday we take the fight to Bloomberg's house on the Upper East Side. The proposed budget cuts will severely disturb our lives, so we intend to create some disturbances in his life by moving our protest into his neighborhood. All are encouraged to join and bring noisemakers to express our anger and hopes for the future.
For pictures of the event:
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/40000-union-members-march-against.html
For info on the Demo at Bloomberg's House:
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/2009/02/protest-nyc-budget-cuts.html
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/ More than 40,000 members of New York's trade unions massed on the streets outside of City Hall yesterday to protest against the budget cuts proposed by Democratic Governor David Paterson and Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The cuts threaten to damage the city's transportation, healthcare, education and social service systems. In addition, the plans propose to eliminate 30,000 city jobs (more than 3,000 through layoffs) and attempts to shift the burden of rising healthcare costs onto workers.
Yesterday, was a massive show of the social power of the municipal trade unions. NYC is still, in many important ways, a union town. The unionization rate is more than 26%, far higher than many other areas in the US which have slipped into the low single-digits. Union members also brought along scores of others. Teachers encouraged students to attend, mothers and fathers brought their children and random passers-by were attracted by the energy of the swelling crowd. One could finally see union dues money being put to good use.
The general political message of the day was provided by the Fair Share Reform coalition - a grouping consisting of various trade unions, community groups and the Working Families Party. Their campaign is called One NY and it seeks to create common cause around a platform which advocates measures such as a millionaire's tax and an increase in the tax rate for highest income earners in the State. These are desirable reforms which would easily fill budget deificts, yet the NYC Local of the Socialist Party USA and others have advocated for more fundamental changes in taxation such as a property tax on stock and bond holdings.
More than a dozen SP-USA members and supporters spent the day distributing leaflets inviting people to participate in a demonstration next week at Mayor Michael Bloomberg's house. A section of our group started out at a City University of NY rally of students and faculty. These protesters quickly moved from the sidewalks to the streets in an exuberant display of the kind of fighting spirit necessary to beat back these cuts. This was the first demonstration for two in the SP contingent and it was certainly a fine introduction to political activism.
Next Thursday we take the fight to Bloomberg's house on the Upper East Side. The proposed budget cuts will severely disturb our lives, so we intend to create some disturbances in his life by moving our protest into his neighborhood. All are encouraged to join and bring noisemakers to express our anger and hopes for the future.
For pictures of the event:
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/2009/03/40000-union-members-march-against.html For info on the Demo at Bloomberg's House:
http://socialistpartynyc.blogspot.com/2009/02/protest-nyc-budget-cuts.html
Add your comments