NEW YORK UNIONS TO NEW YORK STATE LEADERS: RAISE $7-9 BILLION IN TAXES ON THE RICH THIS YEAR

NEW YORK UNIONS TO NEW YORK STATE LEADERS: RAISE $7-9 BILLION IN TAXES ON THE RICH THIS YEAR
Unions Call for $7-9 Billion in Increased Revenue this year to Prevent Devastating Budget Cuts

NEW YORK — Ten unions and the NYS AFL-CIO representing well over 2.5 million workers in New York call on Albany to return to session now to raise $7- $9 Billion in revenue through higher taxes on the wealthy to address the state’s dire fiscal crisis.

“It is encouraging that legislators are considering returning to session this month to ask the wealthiest New Yorkers to do their fair share to address the deep state budget crisis brought on by the pandemic. But now is definitely the time for bold action. Without billions of dollars in additional revenues, there will be disastrous cuts in schools, health care, and public services—and not nearly enough funds to bail out those devastated by the pandemic—renters, small landlords, small business owners, restaurant owners.

“The stock market has soared in 2020 despite the pandemic, and the gap between rich and poor continues to grow. The impact of the pandemic has fallen most heavily on poor and working New Yorkers, especially communities of color. Our leaders must ask the richest New Yorkers to truly step up to the plate. The Legislature must enact a package of revenue increases, starting with increased taxes on billionaires and ultra-millionaires that adds $7-9 Billion to the state coffers—anything less will not come close to meeting the state’s desperate needs and is unacceptable.”

Signed,
New York State AFL-CIO
Communications Workers of America (CWA)
District Council 37, AFSCME
New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)
New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF)
New York State United Teachers Union (NYSUT)
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East (SEIU)
Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC)
Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
United Auto Workers Region 9-A (UAW)
United University Professions (UUP)