A protest is planned for Wednesday afternoon at the Social Security office in Charlotte.

It's part of a protest that's happening around the nation Wednesday.

Members of the local Social Security workers' union are protesting at the office against proposed cuts that they say would be devastating to beneficiaries and workers.

They say the current budget proposal already means reduced office hours starting Jan. 2, and workers will face 15 to 40 furlough days.

And they are also worried the Social Security Administration could become a bargaining chip in the fiscal cliff negotiations in Washington.

Earlier this week, the GOP proposed cuts to cost-of-living increases for Social Security beneficiaries and pushing back the retirement age.

Eyewitness News asked a union representative why the Social Security Administration should not be cut when lawmakers agree something has to be.

“We understand that. But we’re asking not to have it done on the backs of the disabled and the elderly. These people to rely on us to be able to help them,” Ryan Gurganious said.

The protestors plan to be at the office until about 1:30 p.m.