Coalitions Forming To Battle Budget Cuts

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Yesterday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Alliance for Progressive Solutions (MAPS) featured a thorough briefing by AFSCME’s Michele Lewis and Sian Lewis from AFSCME 67 on the statewide coalition forming around budget cuts. The dozen MAPS attendees discussed the coalition’s efforts -- which include a major AFSCME rally on March 14 in Annapolis -- as well as MAPS’ goal of mobilizing communities in the metro area around protecting and preserving the quality of life for working families and strengthening public services. The group focused on the need for resources and the impact of budget cuts on local communities and for rank-and-file workers to speak out on those impacts. The coalition will meet on a regular basis; watch Union City for updates. – photo: workers in Montgomery County rally against proposed budget cuts in 2010; photo by Andy Richards