Labor union, others protest government shutdown in Lakeland
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A small group of activists gathered outside Congress member Scott Franklin’s Lakeland office today.
They called on Franklin and others to act to end the government shutdown.
The government remains shut down as Republicans and Democrats refuse to agree on a spending plan to send to President Trump.
Speakers criticized how Congress members are still getting paid as thousands of federal workers in Florida are being forced to work without pay or face furloughs.
Several of the demonstrators signed a letter requesting that Franklin “negotiate a solution to the coming healthcare crisis before it fully materializes and end this shutdown.”
Stephanie Yocum is the President of the West Central Florida Labor Council. She says workers working without pay or being furloughed is “unacceptable.”
“We need our representatives to work for us, the working people,” Yocum said.
The letter emphasizes how Florida will be particularly affected, stating that almost one and a half million Floridians are left with a Medicaid coverage gap—earning too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford insurance.
Representatives from West Central Florida Labor Council and Indivisible Polk – FL spoke at the rally.
Protestors signed and delivered the letter to Franklin’s office.
Congress member Franklin has not responded to WMNF’s request for comment.
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