State Employees Rally as Special Session Begins

More than a hundred state employees from various agencies and members of local nonprofits rallied in front of the Grant Sawyer Building at noon on the day the special session began in Carson City.

As legislators began reviewing bills to fix a $250 million state deficit, the rally, organized by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), signified state employees’ call to prevent budget cuts from creating layoffs, or cutting Cost of Living increases also known as COLA.

Ultimately, the Legislature did not cut COLA but instead asked each state agency to cut 3.2 percent of its budget, on top of a 4.5 percent cut implemented earlier in the year. While protecting COLA was the primary cause for the rally, state employees also issued cries to protect state agency’s budget from future debilitating costs.

Gov. Jim Gibbons has also asked state agencies to prepare for a 14 percent cut to next biennium’s budget in expectation of the state’s growing deficit.

State Controller Kim Waller addressed the crowd, soliciting their feedback on where any cuts in the state budget should occur.

“I want to hear from you guys. You are the ones who know what’s going on; You are the ones who know where we can cut,” she said, advocating against cuts on COLA and layoffs. Someone in the crowd shouted that she could cut the governor’s cell phone and texting services.


CSN Student Government President David Waterhouse shows his support for state employees.

CSN Student Body President David Waterhouse, along with other students and CSN employees, joined the noon rally. They were joined by students from UNLV. Nevada State College was also represented at the rally, along with workers from the Grant Sawyer Building, located on 555 E. Washington Ave., and employees from other agencies.

“To me as a student, it was important to attend the rally because I want Gov. Gibbons and the state Legislature to understand that students fully support their faculty and administration. Higher education is the key to the door of economic growth and recovery in the state of Nevada. The more we as students get out there in the eyes of the public through rallies, protests, and media interviews, the more pressure our state government will feel in regards to safe guarding what every state requires, a highly accessible education system,” Waterhouse said.

Protestors marched up and down Washington Avenue, wearing green AFSCME shirt and holding signs protesting budget cuts.

CSN Adjunct Professor Kevin Boyle used his lunch break to walk the picket line.

“The rally was important because in hard economic times, people return to college to improve their chances of getting a job. We have to be there for them when they need us. Education is more important now than ever,” he said.

“It’s really important to have our opinions heard,” said Erica O’Toole from CSN Student Affairs.

Staff members from Every Child Matters Education Fund, who along with AFSCME members also attended CSN President Michael Richards’ town hall forum about the budget cuts in June, were also among the crowd.
“We’re trying to make child and family issues a political priority,” said staffer May May Luong. “Obviously the budget cuts are a really huge issue. It affects education.”

 

 

 
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