International union surveys members about state of state services, funding

Tell AFSCME how Ohio's financial woes impact you, your family, and your customers.

December 2008 - Your union wants to hear from you about Ohio's financial troubles.

In the past month, President-elect Obama has made signing an economic recovery bill his top priority once he takes office. AFSCME believes that aid to state and local governments must be a cornerstone of the economic recovery package that Congress and the new administration will put forth in the coming weeks.

We must protect jobs and the vital services OCSEA / AFSCME Local 11 members provide. You can help.

How are you feeling about what's happening in with you and your family? Where you work? Let us know here.

As public service workers, AFSCME members know first hand that when local and state government budgets are squeezed, services become harder to provide. Ohio is not alone: 

• Rhode Island has cut health care coverage for 1,000 low-income parents.
• New Jersey has cut funds for charity care in hospitals.
• And Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are just some of the states where funding for K-12 education is being dramatically cut.

In fact, on top of earlier cuts this year, Ohio will be forced to find an additional $640 million in cuts to balance the current biennium budget by June 30. Ohio's budget director also warned last week that the state will need to ax $7.3 billion from the 2009 - 2011 budget. This news came just as bargaining between the State of Ohio and OCSEA began the week of Dec. 2. 

What's worse: The need for the services and programs that state and local governments provide continues to grow while their ability to meet this responsibility shrinks.

Is that what's happening in Ohio? The union is collecting information about how the state and local budget crises are affecting AFSCME members on the job and off the job. Please take our quick member survey to let us know.

When impossibly large numbers and hundreds of billions of dollars are being discussed, just one story, one human voice, can make a world of difference.

Let's face it, OCSEA / AFSCME Local 11 members are on the front lines of this crisis—we provide the vital services that people rely on. States must have significant additional federal resources to provide the vital health care and family services their citizens need, especially in difficult economic times.

Help secure funding for states and local communities. Together, we can begin the change we need to revitalize federal support for state and local public services.

Remember, your union wants to hear first hand from you. Please complete a short online survey now.

See Related

State Budget News 

Bargaining News