Federal offices to remain open during protests

Federal offices will remain open during the fall meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in downtown Washington later this month, the Office of Personnel Management announced Friday.

OPM urged federal employees to use public transportation on Sept. 27 to avoid disruptions in traffic caused by protesters.

Protesters are planning marches and demonstrations to denounce the Sept. 28 and 29 meetings of the two international organizations. On Sept. 27, the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (ACC), a District-based network of anarchists and anti-capitalist protesters, is calling for a citywide action to block traffic and disrupt the city.

In a Sept. 13 memorandum, Donald Winstead, OPM's acting associate director for workforce compensation and performance, told federal human resources directors that federal offices would not close on Sept. 27, nor would there be a liberal leave policy that day.

"We do not anticipate any special leave conditions for federal employees," Winstead said in the memo.

Instead, Winstead encouraged employees to telecommute, take advantage of alternative work schedules or schedule leave for that day with their supervisor.

Federal employees should watch the news for announcements about street closings, traffic disruptions or building closures on Sept. 27. Federal employees should also look for information on OPM's Web site, the memo advised.