ST. LOUIS–(KMOX)–Claire McCaskill supporters demonstrated outside her local office, calling on the Senator to vote against any budget-cutting ideas that might endanger their way of life.

The crowd of some 50 included labor union members, teachers, U.S. Postal workers and clergy.

Jim Sahaida of Metropolitan Congregations United says they fear the fiscal cliff will lead to austerity measures similar to what’s happening in debt-ridden European countries.

“We think there can be a whole lot of cuts made in defense,” Sahaida said, “and also it’s about time that the two-percent rich pay their fair share. Those Bush tax cuts that help the very wealthy, that didn’t trickle down.”

Postal workers were represented by Fred Wolfmeyer, President of the American Postal Workers Union in St. Louis. They’re upset with existing cuts that have resulted in slower mail delivery.

“One-day, overnight mail now takes anywhere from two-to-three days,” Wolfmeyer said, “And two-day mail takes anywhere from two-to-five days.”

Wolfmeyer says there are some 6,000 postal workers in the St. Louis area also concerned that budget cuts will do away with Saturday mail delivery.

Senator McCaskill’s office issued a statement in response to the protest:

“Claire just won a hard-fought reelection race in which her commitment to Missouri’s seniors, and her opposition to privatizing Social Security and Medicare, were front and center. She looks forward to keeping up her fight to get our fiscal house in order, without handing Social Security over to Wall Street, or turning Medicare into a voucher program.”

Copyright KMOX