CWA 1180 - Political Action

What part of "share" don't you understand?
by Arthur Cheliotes
January 2003

One of the first lessons any five-year old learns in kindergarten is to share. Perhaps it's the failure of this lesson to sink in for so many business and political leaders that leads them to decry the ineffectiveness of public education. Who knows. At any rate, the concept of sharing is clearly alien to those at the top.

When times were good, corporate profits were soaring and city coffers were full, working people did not share in the wealth. CEO salaries went through the roof, while workers' wages barely kept up with inflation. The rich got showered with tax breaks by the Giuliani Administration while municipal workers got shafted with the 1995 double-zero contract.

Now times are tougher and budgets tighter and the calls for workers to give up hope for improvements are louder. We are asked to "share the pain." Never mind that we didn't get to share in the wealth. Suddenly "we're all in this together."

But even now the meaning of the word share seems to elude our leaders. Because when they say they want us to share the pain they really mean they want us to bear the pain. In fact, whenever you hear the phrase "share the pain" being piously uttered by business leaders, pundits or City Hall officials you can be pretty sure that what is about to transpire isn't an act of solidarity to help ease the hardship for all, but an act of theft. The working class is about to be robbed. Again.

Here's the current proposal for "sharing the pain" from City Hall:

$830 million in cuts in the midyear budget modification, taking desperately needed funds away from schools, libraries, public health and hospitals and more. These cuts will not be felt by those who use private hospitals, private schools and private computers.
Layoffs at the Department of Education and the School Construction Authority, further compromising public education as well as leaving hundreds of families without a paycheck.
An unprecedented 18.5% property tax hike that will create hardship for many modest-income homeowners, and an even greater burden for renters, to whom the increase will be passed.
A transit fare increase to $2, which of course won't affect those who take a limo to work.
Tax cuts for the rich. Hard to believe in the middle of a budget crisis, but yes, the mayor actually wants the rich to have more money while the rest of us get less. The combined effect of the proposed income tax cut and the property tax hike would mean that homeowners and renters making less than $85,000 will pay hundreds of dollar more every year, while a $250,000 a year condo owner will pay $1,300 less every year and the average New York City millionaire will pay $24,500 less a year.
$600 million in concessions from municipal workers, and 0% raises in our next contract.

The idea that this is "sharing" the pain would be laughable if it weren't so outrageous.

New York City's working people are willing to share the pain, do their part and help the city through tough times. Local 1180 members and others love the city; we are civic-minded and dedicated to making our city better. But we won't be played for fools: Don't come to us and tell us we must sacrifice, again, while those can truly afford it aren't asked to do the same.

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