Saginaw County federal employees stand up to sequestration - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(03/20/13) - Federal employees in Saginaw County are standing up against the federal sequestration.

Wednesday, they protested outside the Social Security Administration Office on Genesee Avenue in Saginaw.

They want to send a message that across the board cuts will be dangerous for everyone.

Only a small number of people showed up for the protest in Saginaw, but they were hoping to send a big message to Washington.

The demonstration was one of 100 rallies that took place across the nation Wednesday, mostly involving federal employees who are not happy with the across the board cuts the sequester brings.

The American Federation of Government Employees organized the mass protest across the country.

It's meant to bring attention to the valuable work that federal employees provide at military bases, Social Security offices and other federal workplaces.

Protestors hope these protests will help lawmakers and citizens realize that the sequestration will hurt everyone.

They say if federal employees are furloughed without pay, cuts are made, offices and plants shut down, then federal employees won't be able to do the work the public expects them to do - and they believe the effects will trickle down to local businesses.

"Hurting federal workers and their families will also hurt the American public in the services that we provide. For example, this office right over here closed at 12 noon, so if you've got to conduct business with social security on Wednesday, if you're not in by noon, you gotta wait," said Alan Story, AFGE Local 3272.

There was also a protest held Wednesday in Bay City.