Join Sisters Organize for Survival,
a campaign of Radical Women,
in fighting to defend women and other poor and working people
against ongoing cuts to
health care, social services, jobs, and education!
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Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS) believes that the budget crisis can -- and must -- be solved without breaking the backs of poor and working people. SOS has launched a community-based campaign to shift the way funds are garnered and spent. In Washington State, Gov. Gregoire and the legislature have proposed to balance the budget by measures such as more regressive taxation, cuts to government workers' wages and benefits, tuition fee hikes, and reduced funds for Basic Health, food stamps, and other crucial public programs. According to SOS organizers, it's possible to preserve human services, education, and public employee compensation by addressing where the state gets revenue and how it spends it. The SOS brochure, "Flip the Funding," enumerates several alternative budget solutions that will not assault poor and working people. These include taxing windfall profits of oil companies, ending business tax exemptions, suspending interest payments on state loans, and ending the wars. As part of the campaign, SOS initiated a petition drive to "Unite to save jobs and services." The appeal requested that union leaders mobilize a massive labor and community rally against budget cuts at the state Capitol. The petition proposed a rally that would call on legislators to 1) tax the profits of huge companies and end the billions of dollars of corporate tax giveaways; and 2) petition Congress to end U.S. wars and reallocate war funds to public programs and education. SOS found great success with the petition drive. Volunteers presented the petition and SOS's "Flip the Funding" alternative to the all-cuts budget at dozens of labor and community meetings. Over 2,300 people agreed that it's time to stand together to fight for public education and services and the people who provide those services. SOS plans to keep the pressure on, and you should join the fight! Meetings are every second and fourth Thursday, 7pm at New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. All are invited to attend and participate. For more information, contact SOS, a campaign of Radical Women, at 206-722-6057, rwseattle@mindspring.com, or www.sistersorganizeforsurvival.org The SOS campaign is endorsed by: Allyship; Democracy Insurgent; Dyke Community Activists; Freedom Socialist Party; National Lawyers Guild-Seattle; Olympia Single Payer Action; Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity; Political Staff Workers Union Local 1; POWER (Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights); Retired Public Employee Council, Chapter 3; Retired Public Employee Council, Chapter 28; Seattle OUTprotest; Sistah 2 Sistah; Social Justice Fund Northwest; Washington Federation of State Employees, Local 304; Alton McDonald, President and Founder of New Century Justice Network; Patti Imani, home health care worker for the elderly; Lea Zengage, Justice Works* *For identification only  "Don't Scrooge Around on Basic Health" rally outside the state Democrats' annual holiday party (12/6/09). |
Fact sheet: Raising sales tax is no solution
State workers pass resolution against sales tax increase SOS budget brochure: Tax the 1%! Stop stealing from the needy! printable version OCCUPY THE CAPITOL Nov. 29-Dec. 3, 2011, Olympia --Photos and daily updates on Facebook --Time for militant action against cuts! --Occupy the Capitol leaflet --Occupy the Capitol calendar --Sample resolution in support of Occupy the Capitol KOMO radio interviews SOS Coordinator Gina Petry Video: SOS coordinator speaks at 11/19/11 Jobs Not Cuts Rally Testimony on DSHS Cuts, Oct. 2011 Statement: Democrats side with corporate fat cats Legislation session HOTLIST (Spring 2011) Act Now to Defend Jobs and Services (Spring 2011) April Week of Action, Olympia 2011 FLIP the FUNDING! SOS Alternative Budget SOS rallies outside all-cuts special session, 12/11/10 Oct. 16 Public Forum on I-1098: Fund Health and Schools – Tax the Rich! January 22 rally for abortion rights and Basic Health --interview on KBCS radio --News Tribune & Olympian story --photos & Olyblog story Jan. 12 - State of emergency rally for Basic Health -- photos from the rally (by ^Berd) Real Change puts SOS on the front page! 12/6/09 Rally says "Don't Scrooge" Basic Health --video clip 11/4/09 Tribunal Finds State Guilty of Neglect of the Poor --view public comments --view testimony on national plan (Videos by Elliot Stoller) --tribunal endorsers |