AFGE Council 220 President Witold Skwierczynski rallies SSA employees in Baltimore against budget cuts.
With momentum still flowing from the successful March country-wide picket, AFGE Social Security workers held another informational picket at Social Security offices across the country on April 6 to continue their education of the American public as well as local legislators on the devastating impact to the retired and disabled of the potential government shutdown and proposed FY 2011 budget cuts.
House Republicans have proposed a $1.7 billion reduction in SSA funding for the remainder of FY 2011. The budget cuts would lead to a month of furloughs at the Social Security Administration resulting in longer waits for benefits, backlogs of those with pending disability claims and hearings could reach record levels, and waiting times at field offices and busy signals at SSA’s toll free number would increase dramatically. “We are fighting any cut in SSA’s operating budget. Any cuts will have a dire impact on public service, with the greatest impact felt by seniors and people with disabilities,” stated Witold Skwierczynski, president of AFGE Council 220.
