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Social security workers opposed to proposed cuts

Social Security workers protest outside the Springfield Social Security office on West Main Street Wednesday, March 2. The workers are protesting the proposed federal budget cuts which would lead to a month of furloughs at more than 1,500 Social Security offices across the country.

Bill Lackey/Bill Lackey Social Security workers protest outside the Springfield Social Security office on West Main Street Wednesday, March 2. The workers are protesting the proposed federal budget cuts which would lead to a month of furloughs at more than 1,500 Social Security offices across the country.

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer Updated 12:40 AM Thursday, March 3, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — “Please let me do my job. Don’t shut my office down,” read the sign of one of a handful of protesters outside the local Social Security office Wednesday.

The Social Security Administration workers were protesting proposed federal budget cuts they say would lead to a month of furloughs and office closures.

“(This) would affect our service delivery to the public,” said Marshall Gray, claims representative at the office and representative with the American Federation of Government Employees.

Gray said his union represents about 15 people in the office of roughly 25 on West Main Street in Springfield. The office provides assistance to more than 52,930 people who receive more than $55,562 in monthly benefits, according to the AFGE.

“We feel if this were to happen, it would affect certainly people here in the local area and thousands nationwide,” he said.

The protest was one of many across the country Wednesday organized by AFGE. The union fears that House Republicans will try to cut $1.7 billion from the agency’s budget for the remainder of 2011. This, the union warns, could lead to a large backlog of unprocessed retirement and survivor claims for the first time in SSA history.

House Ways and Means Republicans say the proposed cut is only $125 million.

“Despite the Democrats’ irresponsible scare tactics, the facts show that the Republicans’ proposed 1 percent cut will not harm seniors’ benefits,” committee officials said in a statement.

“Furthermore, any decision to furlough workers — another highly misleading claim made by the Democrats — would result only if that decision were made by the administration,” the statement continued.

Federal lawmakers have stressed budget cuts — and even a government shutdown — won’t affect Social Security checks going out.

But local claims representative Pete Kinney, while on the picket line, said the agency is already under-staffed and any further cuts or closure will affect new claims and maintenance, such as changes of address.

While the SSA protest was unrelated to ongoing protests in Columbus over proposed cuts to collective bargaining rights for state workers, the federal employees said they were showing solidarity with the state workers.

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