On Tuesday, June 11, hundreds of SEIU members from across the state marched and rallied  alongside community allies at the California State Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for their vision of a fair budget for Californians.

The updated state budget as of May 10 reduces one-time spending by $19.1 billion and ongoing spending by $13.7 billion until 2025-26. 

The proposed budget cuts could directly impact SEIU members. The plan to eliminate 10,000 unfilled state positions could significantly reduce job opportunities within the public sector, affecting current and potential hires. Additionally, the nearly 8% cut to state operations might lead to decreased resources and support for essential services, potentially affecting the workload and working conditions of our members who provide these services.

As SEIU 1021 Los Rios Community College Chapter Vice President Andy LaTorre said, “We have to let the governor know we are paying attention and won’t allow major cuts to vital services while big corporations are off the hook. Schools are still struggling after the pandemic, and budget reductions will only worsen our schools’ challenges. It’s our students who will pay the ultimate price.”

Despite the triple-digit temperatures, SEIU members showed up in droves, listening to inspiring speeches by Assemblymember Liz Ortega, SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford, and other community leaders, reminding California Governor Newsom that he needs to hold big corporations accountable for paying their fair share instead of gutting the programs that serve us all.

Check out more in this coverage of Tuesday’s rally by CalMatters!