DARBY — JoAnne Sessa chanted into a purple megaphone as she paced in front the of the 20 people standing in front of the Delaware County Assistance Office Tuesday afternoon.
The cheers reflected what Sessa, as a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 668, and her cohorts thought about the status of the state budget and their ties to it.
“Hey, hey, ho, ho, Corbett’s budget’s got to go,” they said, along with, “What do we want? A fair budget. When do we want it? Now.”
Sessa, a member of Local 668’s mobilizing committee, said the union members want a fair and responsible state budget in place as their three-year contract expires June 30.
Although Local 668 members have been using their lunch breaks to demonstrate weekly since the beginning of April, Tuesday marked the start of bargaining for them.
“Today is a statewide breakout because we started negotiations today,” Sessa said. “First things first. Get a fair budget. If we can get a fair budget, we can get a fair contract.”
And, she stressed, they don’t want services for their clients to be cut.
Sessa said the state could save $500 million by closing the Delaware loophole, which she said allows corporations that operate in Pennsylvania to list their offices in Delaware to avoid Pennsylvania taxes.
In addition, she said another $200 million could be realized through the Marcellus Shale initiative that would permit drilling in the natural gas reserve.
Eric Shirk, spokesman for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, said challenging decisions had to be made.
“The state is facing a $4.2 billion deficit,” he said. “These are difficult times in a difficult economy. Difficult choices had to be made.”
In the rain Tuesday, workers carried signs, reading, “Fight for a Fair Economy!” and “Fight for a Fair Contract.”
In between whistle blows, chants and claps, cars, trucks and even an ambulance beeped in support.
“We want a fair contract,” Sessa said. “We need to protect our clients and our community so that they receive the best services possible. We need a responsible budget that protects public services and holds corporations accountable.”
She said 80 employees inside the Darby office are part of the more than 20,000 workers employed by state, county and municipal governments in Pennsylvania represented by SEIU Local 668.
As people walked in and out of the building on Main Street, Sessa said the union members thought of those who rely on them.
“Our concerns lie with the services we provide,” Sessa said. “(The clients) think we’re out here for ourselves. It’s not about that. It’s for them.”
The cheers reflected what Sessa, as a member of the Service Employees International Union Local 668, and her cohorts thought about the status of the state budget and their ties to it.
“Hey, hey, ho, ho, Corbett’s budget’s got to go,” they said, along with, “What do we want? A fair budget. When do we want it? Now.”
Sessa, a member of Local 668’s mobilizing committee, said the union members want a fair and responsible state budget in place as their three-year contract expires June 30.
Although Local 668 members have been using their lunch breaks to demonstrate weekly since the beginning of April, Tuesday marked the start of bargaining for them.
“Today is a statewide breakout because we started negotiations today,” Sessa said. “First things first. Get a fair budget. If we can get a fair budget, we can get a fair contract.”
And, she stressed, they don’t want services for their clients to be cut.
Sessa said the state could save $500 million by closing the Delaware loophole, which she said allows corporations that operate in Pennsylvania to list their offices in Delaware to avoid Pennsylvania taxes.
In addition, she said another $200 million could be realized through the Marcellus Shale initiative that would permit drilling in the natural gas reserve.
Eric Shirk, spokesman for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, said challenging decisions had to be made.
“The state is facing a $4.2 billion deficit,” he said. “These are difficult times in a difficult economy. Difficult choices had to be made.”
In the rain Tuesday, workers carried signs, reading, “Fight for a Fair Economy!” and “Fight for a Fair Contract.”
In between whistle blows, chants and claps, cars, trucks and even an ambulance beeped in support.
“We want a fair contract,” Sessa said. “We need to protect our clients and our community so that they receive the best services possible. We need a responsible budget that protects public services and holds corporations accountable.”
She said 80 employees inside the Darby office are part of the more than 20,000 workers employed by state, county and municipal governments in Pennsylvania represented by SEIU Local 668.
As people walked in and out of the building on Main Street, Sessa said the union members thought of those who rely on them.
“Our concerns lie with the services we provide,” Sessa said. “(The clients) think we’re out here for ourselves. It’s not about that. It’s for them.”
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