Hundreds of AFSCME members marched in front of the War Memorial Building yesterday, to declare      “Save Our Jobs” to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake.  Wearing T-Shirts that read “I am a Public Employee and Proud of It” members demanded that we will not accept anymore cuts.

Under the proposed plan to cut 250 jobs most in which would include City positions, Rawlings Blake unveiled that the new budget plan would offset the $121 million shortfall.  This is the second budget plan that Mayor Rawlings Blake has released. The first budget plan included cutting 600 positions some in which included police and fire departments. AFSCME Maryland Council 67 Director Glen Middleton stated “The jobs in which our employees provided are vital to this City just, as public safety. Our members live and work in the City of Baltimore.”

The mayor issued nine proposals to the City Council members that would increase income, telecommunications, energy and parking lot taxes and raise parking fines.

The proposals included the passage of two new taxes which is estimated to generate $15 million – $350 annual tax on hospital and university beds and a four cent tax on some beverage containers.

Also, the plan includes spending $70 million in mandatory furlough days and increased costs for prescription plan premiums for employees.

AFSCME’s City employees provide the most crucial positions to maintaining the quality and preservation of this City and yet we are the first to lose our positions. Our employees are residents that pay taxes in this City and we have to continue to distribute our message to the council members and the mayor that “We are the cities primary service provider.”  We cannot allow this to take place! We have to stand up in Solidarity to support our brothers and sisters against theses layoffs and furlough days.  These budget cuts affect our families our community services and our livelihoods. SAVE OUR JOBS!