As the shutdown entered Day 6 on Oct. 6, a group of federal employees, union members, and community allies gathered at El Presidio Park in Tucson, Ariz., to demand an immediate end to the ongoing lockout.
AFGE Local 2391 Vice President Omar Algeciras from the Department of Labor delivered the keynote speech, calling the shutdown “a failure that hurts working families and weakens the services Americans depend on.”
“Shutdowns don’t solve problems. They make them worse,” Algeciras told the crowd. “Right now, federal employees are locked out of their jobs or forced to work without pay. Families are wondering how to pay rent or buy groceries.”
Algeciras noted that 34,460 federal workers in Arizona are going without pay, including nearly 28,000 in Tucson’s two congressional districts. They work in the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Transportation Security Administration, the Department of Defense, the Census Bureau, and other federal agencies.
“These are not statistics,” he said. “These are families right here in Tucson. Veterans. Neighbors. Public servants who keep this country running.”
Algeciras reminded attendees that the last major shutdown under the Trump administration lasted 35 days, costing the U.S. economy more than $11 billion, with nearly $4 billion never recovered. “Every week of a shutdown means $5 billion in delayed paychecks,” he said. “That’s money drained from local businesses, diners, and grocery stores right here in Tucson.”
The rally highlighted how critical services are already strained. Social Security has cut staff by 12 percent. Veterans face longer waits for benefits. Food safety inspections and airport security are slowing down.
“We show up to work every day,” Algeciras said. “Why does this administration think they don’t have to? If federal correctional officers at BOP can’t call in, why do congressional leaders think it’s acceptable to call out of their duty?”
He urged Congress and the administration to return to work and fund the government. “Congress and this administration must do their job so we can do ours,” he said. “They need to stop delaying, get back into session, and fix this. And while they’re at it, they must swear in our chosen champion, Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva.”
Rep.-elect Grijalva won the special election to fill the vacant House seat representing Arizona’s 7th District on Sept. 23, but the Republican-led House has refused to swear her into office. She addressed the rally crowd in Tucson, emphasizing support for federal workers and their families.
“I want to thank all our federal employees for being here today — not because it’s easy, but because it’s right. You are showing up for your families, your coworkers, and yes, this nation — even as Washington has failed to show up for you. This government shutdown is not an accident. It’s a choice. One made by Republicans who would rather score political points than do their jobs,” Grijalva said. She pledged to represent Southern Arizona’s working families in Washington once sworn in.
AFGE Local 2391 President Aliyah Levin from the Department of Labor addressed the toll on workers and families.
“Federal employees are the backbone of every community and workplace,” Levin said. “We inspect workplaces, protect wages, ensure veterans get support, and keep essential programs running. When Congress plays politics with our jobs, it’s the people who pay the price. We need a government that respects work and funds the services Americans rely on.”
In closing, Algeciras thanked the crowd for their solidarity. “You showed up when federal workers are under attack, when services are being gutted, and when our voices need to be the loudest,” he said.
“Our fight does not end today,” Algeciras continued. “Tomorrow, we keep calling our representatives, especially Juan Ciscomani and Speaker Mike Johnson. Tell them to stop pointing fingers and do what’s right for American workers.”
As the event concluded, rallygoers prepared to march around the federal building before returning to the park.
“Look around you,” Algeciras said. “This is power. When we organize, when we refuse to be silent, we win. This is not the end. It is the beginning of a stronger movement. Stay strong, stay united, and keep fighting.”
AFGE Local 2391 thanked the organizations and leaders who made the emergency rally possible. The local recognized the Arizona AFL-CIO, Pima Area Labor Federation, Arizona Jobs with Justice, and local leaders Maria Cecilia Valdez (Commissioner at the Industrial Commission of Arizona), Steven Valencia, Paul Stapleton-Smith, and Pima County Supervisor Andrés Cano for their coordination, leadership, and standing in solidarity with Arizona’s federal workers.
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