By Saniya Ghanoui -- June 30, 2010
City workers are rallying to save their jobs Wednesday, the same day the city and state budgets are slashing aid.
The rally, organized by the Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, is in response to the city's 2011 fiscal budget that would cut library jobs, city printers and community centers.
Jobs with Justice's mission is to "defend working people's standard of living, fight for job security, protect our right to organize and support contract campaigns and strikes."
The two rallies focused on the jobs of library workers.
Despite the recent contribution by the city to save four libraries from closing this summer, the allotted $654,000 will only get the libraries to the winter, which will allow the communities to figure out what to do with the buildings when the branches close down.
Amy Ryan, president of the Boston Public Library, said "we've been listening to the community, and we understand the desire for more planning time. This extension demonstrates the commitment of the city to keep these facilities open and accessible to the community. We believe that with continued input from the public, a new use for these buildings can be found."
The branches scheduled to close are Faneuil in Brighton, Lowers Mills in Dorchester, Orient Heights in East Boston and Washington Village in South Boston. The state will not give the city any money to help the libraries and has cut the library budget from $8.9 million in 2009 to around $2.4 million for the next fiscal year.
In addition to libraries, the tight budget is forcing Boston's printing department to close down. This means items such as business cards and death certificates will be outsourced, saving the city an estimated $1 million annually.
The printing department, located in a red brick building in the North End, has been in business for over 113 years. It will close today.
Gov. Deval Patrick signed the state budget today, the same day as the deadline for the city budget.
