AFGE Joins with Progressive Groups at Jobs Not Cuts Rally on Capitol Hill

The American Federation of Government Employees, the country’s largest federal and DC employee union, joined hundreds of people in the American Dream Movement at the Jobs Not Cuts rally on Capitol Hill today. AFGE and the American Dream Movement are urging Congress to focus on creating good jobs, and making the tax system work for all Americans, not just the super rich.

Barbara Jackson, vice president of AFGE Local 3615, who has spent the last 42 years working at the Social Security Administration delivering benefits for retirees, the disabled and survivors, spoke at the event about the cuts facing the Social Security Administration.

“I entered the federal workforce for one simple reason – to serve the public. And I have done that proudly. I love my job. I have also been very active in my union, AFGE as a member and a proud officer.

But Congress is making it nearly impossible for me to do my job,” said Jackson. “They are cutting the Social Security operating budget – the money that pays for the staff that delivers Social Security services every day. That spells disaster for those that depend on Social Security. It’s also destroying thousands of good jobs.”

The rally was organized by the American Dream Movement and comes as the culmination of the progressive “Take Back the American Dream” conference put on by the Campaign for America’s Future, in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.

“I’ve been in the federal workforce for 42 years. I can retire today. But my job isn’t done,” concluded Jackson. “I’m going to keep working on behalf of those who need Social Security. And I’m going to keep working with every one of youhere to make sure that Congress gets it right. We need jobs, not cuts. We need to rebuild the American dream.”

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 625,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.