SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW) Call Residents in 12 Districts Throughout California to Garner Support for Maintaining Existing Revenues

Effort Aimed at Trying to Close Nearly $10 Billion Gap in Governor's Budget

LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing effort to garner support for maintaining existing revenues to balance the budget, members of SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW) participated in a phone bank this week that targeted residents in 12 districts throughout California.  The phone bank was intended to communicate to residents the importance of maintaining existing revenues to avoid severe cuts to public education and safety programs.  

"We told people that these cuts would hurt everyone, no matter their income.  It would cause teachers to be laid off, and reduce the number of firefighters and police in their neighborhoods.  We want them to tell their lawmakers to support these middle class programs, and to stop giving tax breaks to the wealthy oil companies," said Jerry Jackson, SEIU ULTCW Executive Board member in Los Angeles.  

The phone bank efforts will run through June 30, 2011.  

California is currently facing a nearly $10 billion gap in revenue for the state budget.   Governor Brown has offered his budget with billions in cuts, but there is no way to close the gap completely without maintaining current revenues.  Without existing revenues, residents across California could see drastic cuts to state programs that affect education, health care and public safety.  

SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW) is California's leading long term care organization dedicated to providing and protecting quality care for some of our most vulnerable residents. SEIU ULTCW represents 180,000 in-home care providers and nursing home workers throughout California, making it the largest union of long term caregivers in California and the second largest SEIU Local in the nation.

Contact:  Kerry Townsend Jacob, Communications Director, 213-280-9496

SOURCE SEIU United Long Term Care Workers