Furloughed federal employees picket Fort Necessity
WHARTON TWP. — Carrying signs that read “Will do government work for food” and “Congress, we want to work,” furloughed federal employees conducted informational picketing at the entrance of Fort Necessity National Battlefield on Thursday to let the public know they want back on the job.
“We want our people to go back to work. We consider this a lockout,” said Leroy Renninger, who is vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3034.
The employees were forced off their jobs in the federal government shutdown that went into effect Tuesday after Congress reached an impasse on a bill to fund the government. The AFGE, according to its website, is the largest federal employees union and represents 670,000 workers. Local 3034 represents employees of national parks in western Pennsylvania.
The shutdown is affecting 50 employees among the five national parks in western Pennsylvania, including Fort Necessity in Farmington and Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Springhill Township, along with the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County and Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial, both in Cambria County.
“We’re going to hold the administration to its promise not to negotiate with congressional bullies,” said Renninger. “Our people just want to go to work. They want to provide services to the American people. They want to provide for their families. There are 800,000 American workers and their families without work and income today — 70,000 in Pennsylvania alone.”
“Make no mistake regarding what this is about,” he continued. “There aren’t two sides that just can’t do their job. This is about a desperate faction of greedy people who are concerned that once the people start to see the benefits of Obamacare, they will never be able to defeat it.”
Amy Morris, campaign coordinator for western Pennsylvania of the national AFL-CIO, joined in the picketing Thursday.
“All the unions in the AFL-CIO are supporting the AFGE to get back to work,” Morris said. “This is about Obamacare and the Republicans blocking what’s going through. It’s a shame they have to do this to try to get their way, and, hopefully, they won’t get their way.”
The furloughed employees held signs and waved to drivers along Route 40.
“I would guess 60 percent of the people going by are honking their horns in support,” said Renninger.
Morris said, “I think people are fed up and tired of it.”
Renninger has been employed with the park service for 30 years and manages construction and design projects for the five national parks in western Pennsylvania.
“I was around for the last one of these 17 years ago,” he said, referring to the federal shutdown for 28 days in 1995 and 1996. “Then I had a young family. I had a smaller mortgage, and I didn’t have student loans for my children. That one lasted two weeks, and it impacted our personal finances in a big way.”
Today, Renninger and his family are worrying about paying their bills again. And while Congress voted to give retroactive pay to furloughed federal employees in 1996, Renninger pointed out there’s no guarantee they will do the same this year.
“It’s affected people’s abilities to pay their mortgages, pay their student loans, pay their credit cards. We depend on this paycheck,” he said.
The shutdown also affects the public as all national parks are gated and no one is allowed on the grounds.
Tom Markwardt, a park ranger who has worked for the park service for 27 years, said, “We have a woman who has been planning her wedding at Friendship Hill for nine months at least. She applied for the permit and paid her fee, but we can’t allow her to have her wedding. What’s this bride supposed to do?”
He noted October events also include a joint meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of American Colonists at Fort Necessity.
The Friends of Fort Necessity has also scheduled its popular “Legends” program for Oct. 12, a retelling of local legends in a nighttime tour that is held by the friends group in partnership with the National Park Service.
Contacted by phone, Debbie Miller, president of the Friends of Fort Necessity, said the “Legends” program was going to be held this year at the Braddock’s Grave section of the Fort Necessity National Battlefield to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the monument.
Miller said, “We’re uncertain what’s going to happen. It may have to be postponed or possibly not held this year.”
Toni L’Hommedieu, a board member of the Friendship Hill Association, which is the friends group for Friendship Hill National Historic Site, said, “To shut down the national parks is unconscionable. They belong to us. It’s the responsibility of Congress to run the government, and they are not doing it.”
Renninger noted in a press release, “Each day the 401 national parks are closed, the U.S. economy loses $30 million that would have been generated by visitors to the national parks and businesses in the parks. The Western Pennsylvania National Parks are a million-dollar economic stimulus to this region, and, with the five parks closed, that money is not being spent in local and regional business. October is the second busiest month of the year for national parks.”
Renninger said the union will try to have pickets out daily until the shutdown is over.
He said, “If we could settle it today, we’d be happy.”
In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Pittsburgh District announced this week that it closed all recreation areas because of the lapse in appropriations which resulted in a government shutdown.
The Corps explained in a press release, “All district-operated recreation areas, including campgrounds and day-use parks, are officially closed. Recreation sites are no longer accepting reservations. All areas with public access will be posted as closed and physical barriers are being put in place.”