By NAJEE WALKER
PEF stands with NYS AFL-CIO, NYSUT, CWA and other unions to urge leaders to Share Our Wealth
PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings addresses the crowd at the Share Our Wealth rally at the Capitol in Albany on Jan. 27, 2025.

January 30, 2025 — PEF Vice President Bruce Giddings journeyed to the State Capitol on January 27 to stand in solidarity with other union leaders, faith leaders and community activists as part of a new coalition to push New York State to increase taxes on the highest earners and wealthiest corporations. The revenue realized would then help fund the critical public services PEF members and others provide.  

The Share Our Wealth coalition is advocating for tax reform in the 2025-2026 State budget. The number of New Yorkers and corporations that earn between $5-25 million has grown over the past few years, and the coalition says that a tax increase of just half a percent on individuals and 1.75 percent on corporations would generate as much as $3 billion that could be invested in the lives of working- and middle-class New Yorkers. 

State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) said that this is simply about basic fairness.  

“If you buy gold bars in the state, you get a tax break. If you have maintenance on your private plane, you get a tax break,” said Gounardes, who chairs the Senate Committee on Budget and Revenue. “But what do working-class New Yorkers get? They get high childcare costs, they get high housing costs and they get a pittance of money in terms of child tax credit.” 

The coalition is pushing back against the narrative that a tax increase on the wealthy would push those earners and corporations out of the state. Instead, the coalition said that it is working-class and middle-class families who are looking for a way out of the state as costs continue to skyrocket. 

Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-Queens) said it is not too late to stem the migration and reinvest in communities that need it most. Currently, there are several bills working through the Budget and Revenue committee to address tax inequality.  

“When we talk about the price of eggs, when we talk about the price of child care, we’re talking about building a tax code that is fair for all,” said Solages. “I am advocating for this bill because I want to ensure that we are being fair and smart with our tax dollars and our budget and ensuring that New Yorkers are able to stay here in this state.” 

This increased revenue stream would also help PEF do their jobs. Vice President Giddings urged the Governor and Legislature to make fair taxation a priority so that the services provided by state employees can be better funded. 

“Why do you think these amazing and successful New Yorkers stay here and flourish? Because of things like our great public schools, and our fantastic public universities,” said Vice President Giddings. “And because of the proud professional, technical and scientific state employees like me who work every day to do things like make sure our air and water are clean and our roads and bridges are safe, treat the mentally ill and provide supports to get them off the streets, and rehabilitate and support at-risk youth and incarcerated individuals looking for a better tomorrow.” 

Ahead of the rally outside the senate gallery, PEF President Wayne Spence signed on to a letter to the governor and legislative leaders making clear that this is a priority for many New Yorkers and PEF members. 

“Governor Hochul has advanced several important proposals to put more money in the pocket of middle-class working families in this budget,” said President Spence. “We need to build upon those initiatives with sensible changes to our tax code to ensurethe state has sufficient resources to provide SUNY Downstate the capital and operational monies it needs, to keep New York’s public employees safe on the job and to enhance state-operated mental health and other services for all who need it.” 

PEF stands with NYS AFL-CIO, NYSUT, CWA and other unions to urge leaders to Share Our Wealth
NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-Queens), and concerned community members at the Jan. 27 rally.