SF city workers take over City Hall in urgent rally against service cuts and layoffs
City workers disrupt city hall, drop banners, and call on the mayor to protect public services
As the City’s budget process gears up, city unions—including IFPTE Local 21, SEIU Local 1021, and the SF Building Trades—held an emergency rally last Wednesday, May 14. City workers expressed deep concerns that Mayor Daniel Lurie’s soon-to-be-released budget might make drastic cuts to public services while big tech companies continue to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.
Over 1,000 San Francisco city workers gathered for a rally on the front steps of City Hall and heard from various speakers, including union leaders and District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder. Meanwhile, a more disruptive demonstration was taking place inside the rotunda. San Francisco city workers dropped large banners from the balconies aimed at Mayor Lurie.
“We know that right now the deficit is being driven by lawsuits from Airbnb and other rich corporations. This budget will be balanced by them paying their fair share and we will insist on that. We will also hold the mayor accountable for holding Airbnb and these corporations accountable,” SEIU 1021 President Theresa Rutherford, who has worked at Laguna Honda Hospital for over 20 years, said at the rally. “The budget will not be balanced on the backs of the working people of San Francisco who keep this community running. We run this. Without us, this city does not move. Without us, this city does not address the mental health challenges, all the stuff the mayor says he wants to do — he will not be able to do it without us. Mayor, be warned: We are your friends if you do the right thing. Hold your friends accountable.”
“We need a budget that puts working people first, not giant tech corporations,” said Chung Park, business representative for International Union of Operating Engineers & Stationary Engineers Local 39. “If the mayor didn’t hear us before, he heard us today.”
“In my district, we need the services that San Francisco city workers provide,” said District 11 Supervisor Chyanne Chen. “We will stand united against Airbnb and any other corporation who thinks they can avoid paying their taxes.”
San Francisco city employee and IFPTE Local 21 SF Vice President Sarah Perez said: “If the mayor lays off city workers, then who’s going to provide services to San Franciscans? Greedy contractors from out of state who cut corners at the expense of our residents. This is the DOGE playbook.”
[Click here for photos and videos of the rotunda banner drop and rally.]