2010 AFSCME Day on the Hill

“For A Better Minnesota."

 

"Uncle Russ" Scheidler of Local 2181, who wrote a polka song, "King Tim",  for AFSCME's rally about Tim Pawlenty's decision to put his national ambition ahead of the health and welfare of working Minnesotans.

At the rally, Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide said AFSCME members will hold elected officials accountable when they go to the polls in November.

“If we lose our jobs, you’re going to lose yours,” he vowed.

“We’re down to the bare bone,” said Jean Diederich, President of AFSCME Local 34, which represents more than 2,000 human service workers, public health nurses and other employees of Hennepin County.

“These cuts mean layoffs of workers, insane workloads and erosion of public services.”

 

"Public Services Make Our Communities Strong"

 

"King Tim"

1st verse
So, he acts like a little bully
It’s my way or the highway, says King Tim
He will not count your vote fully
Unless you vote Republican like him

2nd verse
He insists on "no new taxes"
He’ll create new jobs by laying people off
He will kill your health and welfare
And the blood on his hands won’t wash off

3rd verse
If you’re a proud homeowner
You will pay for all Tim's budget bill
He decided corporations get a free ride
Under Time, the rich will never pay their fill

Chorus
King Tim of Minnesota
Doesn’t care about democracy
King Tim of Minnesota
He wants to be president, you see

© 2009 by Uncle Russ

 

AFSCME Council 5’s Executive Director Eliot Seide challenged state legislators to “Get a spine!” We expect the politicians we elected to raise revenue fairly and take action to help working families get ahead. If they don’t protect our services and jobs, then we won’t protect their jobs at election time.

 

• Raise revenue, including fair taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations.

• Protect the essential public services that families need most during tough times.

• Save and create good jobs to jumpstart economic recovery.

• Restore aid to state and local governments to stabilize property taxes.



• Rescue General Assistance Medical Care.

• Stop privatization that threatens the quality of public services.

• Defend pensions so public employees can retire with dignity.

• Mitigate layoffs with an early retirement incentive for state employees.

 

AFSCME Council 5 represents 43,000 public and non-profit workers across the state.