New York State News Service shot this video of the rally outside of the state capitol in Albany that drew an estimate "more than a thousand" members of NYSUT, UUP, UFT, CSEA and other union and union-supporting groups on Tuesday afternoon, March 22, to oppose cuts to education programs and the sunsetting of the state income tax surcharge on high-income New Yorkers. The rally, which started at noon in West Capitol Park, saw speaker after speaker noting that education budgets have been cut enough already in recent years, and that shortchanging this sector now could lead to long-term costs. “We must speak against the special interests who put their greed ahead of New York’s greater cause,” said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. “The unions, the students, the advocates for the poor, the teachers, thousands of state and local workers and others who have protested here in Albany … are being ignored,” added PEF President Ken Brynien. “It turns out that those that vote with large amounts of cash are the ones being heard loud and clear.” “What they want to do to our schools is despicable,” said Kathy Garrison, president of CSEA’s Capital Region branch. CSEA and PEF are going into contract negotiations with Cuomo’s team. Video by Kyle Hughes.