“Our Families Come First:” Thousands of New York’s Essential Workers Join National Day of Action to Expose the Impact of $4.5 Trillion in Cuts to Essential Services
National budget will slash health care for 17 million people and gut essential food aid and school programs to fund immigration enforcement and tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.
Photos/videos (credit: 32BJ SEIU and 1199SEIU):
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uJyBoXTcKkfrTz0B2si3slAIchvWO1-n?usp=sharing
New York, NY – July 26, 2025 – Today, thousands of hospital workers, cleaners, home health aides, doorpeople, security officers, and other essential workers took to the streets to protest the recently passed national budget. Marching down Billionaires’ Row in Manhattan, members of 32BJ SEIU and 1199SEIU revealed the devastating impact that the $4.5 trillion transfer of resources – including cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school lunches, and child care, while expanding ICE immigration enforcement and providing tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy – will have on working families.
“Extremist Republicans, beholden to their billionaire donors, voted to rip healthcare away from 17 million Americans and slash food assistance that millions more depend on to avoid going hungry–just to put more money into ICE and expand tax breaks for corporations and the super-rich. We are bringing these empty wheelchairs and shopping carts to Billionaire’s Row to raise our voices against this outrageous transfer of billions from those who can least afford it to those who have no need for more,” explained Yvonne Armstrong, the president of 1199SEIU, which is the largest healthcare workers union in New York and the country.
“The Trump Administration and congressional Republicans have shown time and time again where their loyalties lie – and it is not with working people. While most Americans are struggling with the rising cost of groceries, diapers, medications, and other basic necessities, this administration has chosen to gut the essential health care, food, and child care programs that millions of working families rely on — all to give tax cuts to corporations and the ultra-rich. As a union of essential workers, we are taking to the streets to let these leaders know: there will be a price to pay. While the budget may have passed, this fight is far from over,” said 32BJ President Manny Pastreich.
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With 185,000 members in 12 states and Washington D.C, including 90,000 members in New York, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New York and nationwide. We represent over 450,000 members throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.
