State proposes massive cuts for education - build a campaign to stop the cuts!

By ECFF

With the strain of a recession bearing down upon students and workers alike, Washington state has recently declared that it will cut up to 5 billion dollars from the state budget. Over $600 million - 20 percent - will be cut for higher education. This means massive layoffs for teachers and college workers, higher tuition and book prices, reduced student services and choice of classes, and more restrictive entry requirements for both community and four-year colleges.

Not enough money?

While federal and local officials claim that these cutbacks are the result of a state budget shortfall, they have no trouble finding billions of dollars for the disastrous occupation of Iraq or the corporate bailout of Wall Street. The proposed cut of $600 million is equal to 20% of our state higher education budget, but equals only 0.09% of the recent bailout for Wall Street.

These cuts cannot stand. We need to organize a campaign with the following demands:

-Stop the budget cuts
-No layoffs
-No cuts to classes or services
-No increase in tuition
-No to more restrictions on admission requirements
-Hands off open enrollment for community colleges
-No attacks on wages, benefits or working conditions for employees

How can we fight back?

If students, teachers, and staff are firmly united, organized, and are mobilizing to win public support, these cuts can be defeated. That’s why it is important to absolutely reject the argument that, “There isn’t enough money." The second we accept this logic, the politicians will begin dividing students against faculty, faculty against administrators, and staff against teachers -- for crumbs. United we win, divided we beg.

We demand that our federal government fully fund quality education. Any state budget shortfall should be made up through taxes on the wealthy and big corporations, not cuts in our education. We can't afford cuts, but the rich can afford to pay more taxes.

Join us in building a campaign to mobilize enormous pressure on the politicians in Olympia. A successful campaign must rely on our power in numbers, not on the good will of politicians or administrators. Ultimately, defeating these cuts will require the massive united action of students, staff, and teachers, with demonstrations, rallies, walkouts and strikes.

Get Involved:

evergreencff@gmail.com