AFSCME Members in Phoenix Protest Against Public Service Budget Cuts

Public Service Workers Rally Against Proposed Budget Cuts in Arizona

PHOENIX – Over the weekend, members and retirees of AFSCME gathered to voice their opposition to budget reductions intended to facilitate tax advantages for billionaires.

Jason Henley from AFSCME Local 2384 addressed the crowd of approximately 80 attendees, saying, “We’re watching the whole-cloth hostile takeover of America’s middle class in real time by billionaires.”

Henley joined U.S. Rep. Yassamin Ansari and other AFSCME members at the event, criticizing the ongoing public service cutbacks attributed to Elon Musk and his political allies.

Under Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, thousands of crucial federal employees have been laid off. Now, proposals are on the table to significantly reduce funding for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to benefit the wealthy through tax cuts.

These potential cuts pose a significant threat to communities relying on public services, as well as to the employees who deliver them.

“We are out here every day making sure that trash gets picked up, that your 911 calls get answered, that all children get to go to school and have an education,” stated Frank Piccioli, president of AFSCME Local 2960. “And the ultra-wealthy billionaires are trying to take all that away, for what? To line their own pockets with tax breaks for themselves on the backs of all of us.”

Retirees, potentially facing severe impacts on their income and healthcare, also shared their concerns at the rally.

“I checked all the boxes, paid my dues, and now my hard-earned Social Security benefits are at risk while health care costs skyrocket,” remarked Patti O’Neil, from the AFSCME Arizona Retirees Chapter 97.

Louisa Pedraza, first vice president of Retirees Chapter 97, emphasized the crucial role of Social Security in her life. She said, “The real fraudsters are the billionaires who are trying to gut Social Security to line their own pockets. It’s despicable and wrong.”

This gathering in Phoenix is part of a broader movement by AFSCME members nationwide to resist threats against public services. As Congress members take their spring break, AFSCME members are actively organizing to defend their communities and support working families and retirees.

The actions by Musk and anti-union figures highlight the need for AFSCME members to Get Organized. The AFSCME GO initiative is focused on ensuring members understand the stakes and join the fight to safeguard public services.

With greater numbers, AFSCME members aim to amplify their influence, advocating for a future where working people not only survive but thrive.