Hundreds of city of San Francisco workers Street protested San Francisco Mayor Newsom's plan to eliminate an estimated 500 jobs, starting with a rally in front of City Hall and then blocking traffic on busy Market Street on November 23rd. Their protest shut down traffic; eighteen people were arrested by police.

Specifically at issue was the fight to hold on to $7 million won back from previous cuts as a supplemental budget appropriation which would prevent layoffs of CNA’s (Certified Nursing Assistants), clerical workers, and frontline health department workers.

Demonstrators said that school district employees may lose their jobs just as the winter holidays are upon them. Certified nurses who work for the city said that their jobs are being reclassified to lower paying positions and even those who keep their jobs will be forced to take pay cuts. Speakers from atop a hastily constructed stage in Civic Center said they want the mayor to save their jobs with federal stimulus funds expected in April.

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