Council 13 members send message to Congress through AFSCME GO Tele-Town Halls

More than 1,400 members of Council 13 from across the commonwealth joined in-person, online, and over the phone, for an AFSCME GO tele-town hall on Monday, May 12, sounding the alarm on how federal funding cuts will devastate all public services in Pennsylvania from education to infrastructure. 

Learn more and commit to Getting Organized here!

Tele-town hall participants were joined virtually by AFSCME President Lee Saunders who discussed how Congress’ plan to gut public services to pay for billionaire tax cuts will harm working families and devastate Pennsylvania’s communities.  

At the three in-person watch parties in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Plymouth Meeting, members got to meet with and hear from State Representative Dave Madsen, Caroline Lowe from the office of US Representative Chris Deluzio, and US Representative Madeleine Dean, respectively. 

Almost 38% of Pennsylvania’s state budget comes from federal funding. During the town hall, experts warned that if Congress cuts this funding, essential public services from education to health care to infrastructure will be on the chopping block, potentially causing job losses that will impact the entire state’s economy. More Pennsylvanians out of work will put an additional strain on public services, as well as cause local businesses to lose customers and main streets to crumble.  

Union members also warned that plans such as Medicaid work requirements or block grants are the same as cuts and will result in lives lost. Most people on Medicaid already work, and those who don’t are often unable to work due to disability or caregiving responsibilities. Instead of boosting employment, these plans would rip health care away from those most vulnerable.   

During a time of rising costs, cuts to public services like Medicaid and food assistance would push many Pennsylvanians into poverty. Participants at the townhall called on Congress to abandon this reckless budget proposal that would devastate their communities.  

AFSCME President Lee Saunders said:  

“The wealthiest people on God’s green earth are doing everything in their power to kill our jobs, crush our freedoms, and silence our voices. They want to privatize our public schools, hospitals, and prisons. They want to take away our freedom to form a union. And now, Congress is lining up to give them more tax breaks – paid for by gutting Medicaid and funding for public services that the people of Pennsylvania depend on. Together, we must send every member of Congress a message: your vote to gut Medicaid will be the vote that ends your career.” 

AFSCME Council 13 Administrator Jim Howell said: 

“Every day, Pennsylvania’s communities rely on the essential work of AFSCME Council 13 members. Parents count on school bus drivers to get their children to school safely, commuters count on PennDOT workers to keep the roads clear of hazards, families count on nurses and health care professionals to keep their loved ones healthy, we all depend on correctional officers to keep our neighborhoods safe. If Congress moves to cut off funding for our state, public service workers will lose jobs and millions will lose lifesaving public services – and it will take entire communities decades to recover. We call on our representatives in Washington to do the right thing, defend Pennsylvania, not billionaire profits.” 

Faylynn Kassander, Adult & Family Services Provider and AFSCME Council 13 member, said: 

“I provide services for adults with intellectual disabilities. All of the people that are under our care rely on Medicaid, relying on the program to pay for their medications and their doctor visits. If Congress cuts these services and forces work requirements on a population that is unable to find employment, it will be devastating. It’s not right to punish our most vulnerable communities just so a few billionaires can get a tax cut. This is truly a life-or-death situation, and I urge my representatives to make the right choice.” 

 Thank you to everyone who came out and participated! See photos below!

Learn more here: afscmego.org