The unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), District 1199 launched their latest TV ad this week taking aim at Governor Jodi Rell for protecting the wealthy in a time of crisis. The unions are delivering a hard-hitting response to Gov. Rell making good on her threat to veto the state budget Democrats pushed through the legislature late last week that would have asked those most able to pay to step up and help solve the economic crisis while preserving vital services.

On Wednesday, over a hundred members of SEIU Local 1984 in New Hampshire joined state employees at the Concord Statehouse for a Tax Day protest against possible public employee layoffs and cuts in pay and benefits. Union members passed out "currency" representing the $6 billion dollars they generate a year in taxes, fees and purchases which boost the local economy.

The version of the State Budget recently passed by the House would impose a mandatory 2 percent "tax" on 51,000 public workers, pulling $100 million out of the New Hampshire economy even as local retailers are really struggling. See the impact this version of the NH state budget would have on public services.

Members who attended the event received stickers and certificates to use when they shop, to remind businesses that public workers are customers and taxpayers too.

More photos from the rally here.

SEIU Local 1984, the State Employees' Association of NH (SEA), represents over 10,000 public and private sector workers in New Hampshire.