Carrying signs that read "Who's taking care of our welfare?" and shouting "We want our pay, we work," about 25 workers at the South Philadelphia office, on Bainbridge Street near Broad, were sending a clear message to Gov. Rendell, the Legislature and local lawmakers.
"We are doing our jobs, the politicians need to do their jobs," caseworker Dennis Spisak said.
Employees will receive half their normal pay Friday and, if the budget impasse is not resolved, their pay will be cut off as of July 31, said Kim Hudnell, a rally leader.
Represented at the rally were members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union, Hudnell said.
Hudnell said that statewide protests were being held yesterday.
Jean Lucas-Allen, a representative of the service employees union, said that employees at 13 of the 15 welfare offices in the city protested at noon.
"We serve the most vulnerable people in our society and in our state, and we continue to give them their benefits," Spisak said. "We feel we are being held hostage by this budget crisis."
Rendell's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said in an e-mail yesterday that he understands the turmoil that the employees are experiencing but that the governor is trying to protect as many jobs as he can.
"We understand the employees' frustration and share it," Ardo said.
Understanding wasn't enough for the protesters.
"We have child-care expenses for our families," said Sharon Everett-Brown, an income-maintenance caseworker. "We have to pay our rent, we have to pay our mortgage, and how are we supposed to do that without a salary?" *
By CHRISTINE OLLEY
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