Social Security workers protest proposed cuts | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and Social Security workers are  protesting for the second time in a month.

Demonstrators in Grand Rapids are voicing their opinion about proposed federal budget cuts during an informational picket Wednesday.  The government workers are angry about House Republicans proposal to cut $1.7 billion in Social Security funding.

If that passes, union leaders say it would lead to a month of furloughs for employees at the Social Security Administration. They also say it would mean longer wait times for people to receive Social Security benefits and it would create backlogs of pending disability claims.

Kenneth Keillor, president of the AFGE Local 3272, says "This office here gets 1,500 people a week for service. That's 300 a day. And if we're not here, they're not served."

Union leaders say they hope they are able to convey to the public and lawmakers how serious of an impact the proposed cuts could have on the Social Security Administration.

So far, it is still unclear if f the senate will accept the house's proposed cuts to Social Security funding.

Similar protests were held across the country.