EPA Workers Demand End to Shutdown

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Their chants of “We want to work” and “End the shutdown” echoing off the stone walls of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters, more than 50 federal workers marched and rallied yesterday to demand an end to the government shutdown, now in its third week. “We’re really worried about the widening impact on the entire country,” said AFGE 3331 President Nate James, whose members work at the EPA. “Here at the EPA it means serious delays in emergency response and even if we went back to work tomorrow, it’ll likely take months to catch up on our work protecting the environment and people’s health.” Members of AFSCME Council 26 locals also turned out yesterday, their bright green shirts mingling in the welcome sunlight with the blue and gold AFGE shirts. “It’s really very simple,” said AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman. “Our folks just want to get back to work for the American people. That’s what they do best and it’s time for Congress to do its job and let us do ours.” - report/photo by Chris Garlock