PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Federal workers affected by the ongoing government shutdown rallied across South Florida on Thursday.
IRS workers rallying in Port St Lucie to end government shutdown and get back to work. pic.twitter.com/Y8hUlQ0zmS
— Matt Sczesny WPTV (@WPTVMatt) January 10, 2019
Employees from the Department of Treasury held demonstrations at several locations, calling for an end to the shutdown.
In Port St. Lucie on Thursday, around a dozen people gathered at an intersection and held signs reading "Federal Workers Matter" and "Still on the job, still no pay."
They said the shutdown is having a severe impact on furloughed workers, as well as those who are required to work but aren't getting paid.
We want to come back to work,” says Jorge Carreras, who is a member of the union representing IRS workers.
Carreras too part in a rally outside the IRS office in Port St. Lucie. Other rallies were held in West Palm Beach and Plantation, Florida.
"We got our savings but they're depleting,” Carreras said.
On Wednesday, WPTV spoke to the president of the South Florida chapter for the National Treasury Employees Union, who organized those rallies.
"Historically we have been paid, but in the interim we have mortgages, rent, car payments, and those things need cash today, not eventually," said Donna McGowan.
She added that some employees have filed for unemployment, and some aren’t sure when there next meal will be.
Many IRS offices have been closed since the shutdown started 20 days ago and Friday will mark the first missed paycheck for many federal workers.
“Morale is down,” says Lynette Roux, vice president of the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter 93 which represents about 400 IRS workers.