A sea of SEIU purple highlighted with patches of AFSCME green filled the steps of the Oregon Capitol and its surrounding streets on Friday, May 20th to tell legislators and state officials they're tired of bearing the burden of the state's troubled finances.
On May 20, 2011, more than 5,000 union members & community allies protested proposed cuts to Oregon public workers' wages and benefits
"We need a balanced budget that is also a balanced solution, exacting sacrifice from everyone, not just workers, the vulnerable Oregonians we serve and the middle class," said SEIU Local 503 Executive Director Heather Conroy.
Members are calling for lawmakers to adopt the recommendations from an SEIU report, which proposed alternatives to service cuts including more aggressive tax collection and trimming management.
» Read news coverage from the Associated Press, The Statesman-Journal and The Oregon Daily Emerald.
» Video of the rally here.
» More photos from SEIU Local 503 on Flickr here.
