Standing Together to Protect Our Jobs and Services
The City of San Jose is facing a critical budget shortfall, and layoffs of active staff are on the table. You may have seen City Manager Jennifer Maguire’s January 30th email confirming that the City is implementing cost control measures to address an alleged $60 million General Fund shortfall. This includes exploring the possibility of cutting occupied positions, not just vacant ones.
As public service workers, we know firsthand that when staffing levels are reduced, our community suffers. Poor staffing leads to longer wait times, delayed services, and reduced support for the families who rely on us every day. That’s why, as a first step, we’re calling on you to sign the pledge to protect public services and fight against layoffs.
➡️ [Sign the Pledge Here] https://tinyurl.com/sanjose4us
By signing the pledge, you commit to:
Organizing, mobilizing, and engaging your coworkers to ensure strong participation in union coalition activities.
Helping strengthen communication, increase involvement, and drive collective action in the critical budget fight ahead.
We’re not fighting this alone. MEF-AFSCME Local 101 is working in close coordination with all the other unions representing City workers to push back on these cuts. We’re insisting that the City prioritize existing resources and reserves before considering layoffs:
$61 million in the Budget Stabilization Reserve: The Mayor and City Council have the ability to access this reserve through a majority vote.
$14 million in Salaries and Benefits Reserves included in the adopted budget.
A $661 million beginning General Fund balance, with $132 million reported as unassigned.
$291 million in expenditure and transfer savings from FY 2023-24, part of which the City chose to allocate $350,000 to a single position coordinating the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl 55 events.
An average annual surplus of $32.2 million over the past decade, despite previous predictions of budget deficits.
Executive Salaries: The top 10 paid executive management positions alone received a combined $4.1 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the Mayor employs speechwriters and social media staff as he proposes cuts to essential services.
This is not just a fight to protect jobs—it’s a fight to protect the future of San Jose. We need a City that works for all of us, not one that balances the budget on the backs of its workers and the services they provide to the community.
Join us. Sign the pledge today and help us defend the public services that San Jose depends on.
➡️ Sign the pledge now: https://tinyurl.com/sanjose4us
