SEIU Calls on Budget Surplus to Go to Essential Workers, Not Corporate Tax Cuts

SAINT PAUL, MINN – Following the November forecast that showed the state of Minnesota having a $7.7 billion budget surplus ahead of the 2022 legislative session, the leaders of the SEIU Minnesota State Council released the following statement: 

"The 60,000 SEIU members across Minnesota have worked incredibly hard in healthcare, schools and property services throughout this pandemic to keep our state safe and healthy. No matter our job, race or zip code, we showed up and kept our state running as we continue to face down a global pandemic that has killed almost 10,000 Minnesotans. This budget surplus was built on the backs of SEIU members and other essential workers who kept Minnesota running so we could avoid an economic downturn.

“We are calling on our elected officials to use this money to respect, protect and pay the working families who have done so much during the last two years while corporations and CEOs have seen their wealth skyrocket while working from home. Talk of giving away our surplus via a tax break to corporations and CEOs who already have seen their wealth skyrocket during this pandemic is not OK. We have a chance to do right by working families in our state and we call on elected officials to make sure our surplus funds policies that help essential workers and working families, not corporate tax cuts.” 

Use this quick, easy tool to send a message to the Governor and your elected officials that we need to use our surplus for helping essential workers and working families, not corporate tax cuts: https://seiu.mn/surplus