(Cleveland)- A broad based community/labor coalition gathered this afternoon at the office of the North Shore AFL-CIO to call for no sequestration and no cuts to vital programs.

Speakers ranging from social security, education, mental health and the US Postal Service illustrated the seriousness and dimension of the cuts to take effect if Congress fails to act.

The coalition said there's wasteful military spending that produces far fewer jobs than education, healthcare or other government services.

"We are concerned that people are not aware of the devastating breadth and depth of these cuts," said Harriet Applegate of the AFL-CIO. "They are not necessary and they will hurt both the poor and the middle class as well as negatively impact our entire economy. We want people to know just what havoc they will wreak."

One example Applegate gave of the across the board cuts is to social security. They'll only be open 3 1/2 days a week only until 3pm.

In the last two years, Congress has passed laws that will reduce the deficit by $2.3 trillion over 10 years. Three quarters of that came from cutting spending. Policy Matters Ohio reports non defense discretionary funding will be at its lowest levels relative to the economy in 50 years by 2017.

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