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Postings of interest to Social Security workers...
In March AFGE Council 220 held its annual Executive Committee meeting in Jacksonville FL. Commissioner Astrue was invited to attend but he declined the invitation.
Instead the Agency offered to send Mary Glen-Croft, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, to the meeting to substitute for Commissioner Astrue. The union accepted SSA's offer. Later SSA demanded that Ms. Glen Croft be accompanied by Ralph Patinella, management's de facto contract chief negotiator. In addition, the Council subsequently learned that Ms. Glen-Croft intended to bring Paul Barnes, Atlanta Regional Commissioner, and a member of the Atlanta region labor relations staff with her. The union was also asked to submit questions that Ms. Croft would be asked at the meeting to her in advance. We sent the questions but objected to the appearance of her uninvited entourage. Deputy Commissioner Glen-Croft decided to cancel her trip to Jacksonville without explanation. To date we have received no reply to the questions that the Union submitted in writing at the Agency's request. The Council did ask Ms. Glen-Croft to respond in writing since she didn't attend the meeting.The following are the unanswered questions that the union submitted to Ms. Glen-Croft:[open document containing questions]
SSA fails to submit an acceptable plan for complying with EO 13522. Witold Skwierczynski for the AFGE/SSA General Committee submitted this letter to Commissioner Astrue requesting full compliance by SSA with EO 13522.
On May 5, 2010 the National Council on Federal Labor-Management relations met regarding implementation of Executive Order 13522. The EO called for the creation of Labor-Management forums in the federal sector. One of the issues addressed by the Council was to review the resubmitted plans for creating forums from the 21 Agency's that had their plans rejected by the Council on April 7, 2010. At the May 5, 2010 meeting the Council again rejected three of the resubmitted plans including the plan submitted by SSA. ...
AFGE's April 15th testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security.
On April 15, 2010, AFGE's National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals, President Witold Skwierczynski presented testimony to Congress concerning service delivery in SSA Field Offices. [click here to read testimony] OR [click here to VIEW testimony by VOD]
AFGE Local 3438 EVP Daniel Woosley presented testimony to Congress also. [click here to read testimony] OR [click here to VIEW testimony by VOD]
AFGE Local 3937 President Steve Kofahl presented testimony for the record detailing shortcomings of iClaims - SSA's internet application process. [click here to read testimony]
Executive Order 13522: Creates Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services
"Executive Order 13522 creates Labor-Management Forums to Improve Delivery of Government Services. The (EO) required agencies to develop a plan for implementing the EO in consultation with their unions and submit those plans to the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations by March 9, 2010 ... " according to AFGE.
Here is SSA's proposal as required by EO 13522.[Click here for agency plan]
Here is AFGE General Committee's response to the agency proposal. The response is written by AFGE C-220 Council President, Witold Skwierczynski.[Click here for AFGE response]
"A Roadmap for killing Social Security" By Michael Hiltzik, February 17, 2010.
This is link to an article in the Los Angeles Times. "Like a zombie tromping through a Hollywood gorefest, the idea of privatizing Social Security still walks among us. ... "
"Paul Ryan's Killing of Social Security and Medicare Will Never Fix the Deficit" By Stephen Herrington, February 11, 2010.
This is link to a post on The Huffington Post blog. "[They have] hated Social Security and Medicare from day one, they just know they can never be elected on a platform of destroying these very effective and popular programs. ... [They have] been so enraptured by and [have] fantasized and even romanticized for so long about the idea of destroying Social Security and Medicare that they have apparently switched off the part of their lizard brains that can calculate the outcome of doing so. ..."
President Skwierczynski's Letter to Commissioner Astrue regarding SSA's response to H1N1 Influenza.
"AFGE has serious concerns regarding SSA's recent decisions to jeopardize employee health due to its inadequate response to the swine flu pandemic. ... "
Testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and Income Security and Family Support.
On March 24, 2009, SSA Commissioner Astrue submitted answers to questions from House Committee members. Steve Kofahl, President of AFGE Local 3937, added his rebuttal to the Commissioner's answers. Here in one document are the questions (in bold), Astrue's answers immediately following, and Mr. Kofahl's rebuttal to each answer (in italics).[open document]
Council President's Email to Agency concerning unilateral change to Contract to implement IVOL -- despite arbitration decision!
Council 220 Second VP James Campana files UMG concerning IVOL "... in order to protect those members of the bargaining unit ... ." who may have missed the 09/24/09 filing deadline.
"The Agency shall discontinue future use of IVOL effective immediately. All new competitive actions subject to Article 26 of the Master Agreement shall revert to the paper process previously in place, except that the Agency may continue to announce vacancies on the Internet as well as the SSA Intranet, and it may allow employees to submit paper SSA-45s or file them electronically. The electronic questionnaires may no longer be used. ... "
In an arbitration decision, AFGE SSA General Committee won a sweeping decision concerning the Agency's use of IVOL which disadvantaged many pursuing vacancies. If you were harmed by the Agency's use of IVOL you should file a grievance before close of business on 09/24/09. [Read the entire decision, click here.]
Council President's Letter to Congressman Rangel Requesting Investigation of Phoenix Management Meeting ... and nine more meetings!
President Skwierczynski's Letter to Commissioner Astrue regarding Management's $700,000 meeting.
"Recently SSA has received a great deal of adverse publicity as a result of the Management Tango Conference in Phoenix AZ the week of July 6, 2009. 700 SSA management personnel attended a 3 day conference in Phoenix AZ at the exclusive Biltmore resort. ..." [more]
A myriad of problems facing the Social Security Administration, including underfunding and eroding leadership, were addressed on AFGE's "Inside Government" June 12th radio show.
Two leaders from AFGE's National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals, President Witold Skwierczynski and Legislative Chair Dana Duggins, break down the agency's issues. .... [Listen to the entire broadcast]
Council President's Response to Regional Commissioner Bea Disman re "Going Green"
I found the regional memo that you [Disman] issued regarding SSA's "Going Green" initiative particularly disingenuous. ... [View full text]
Regional Commissioner Bea Disman's regional memo. [View full memo text]
Council President's Follow-up Letter to Commissioner Astrue re SSA Stimulus Hiring and Promotions
Economic Stimulus Plan ... [View full text]
Council President's Letter to Baltimore Sun re Astrue Malfeasance
It's curious that Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Michael J. Astrue enjoys his job and intends to finish his 6 year term [View full text]
SSA General Committee Spokesperson Skwierczynski replies to Commissioner Astrue's agency-wide email regarding unilateral modification or closure of EAA facilities at SSA Baltimore HQ.
Council President Skwierczynski calls for President Obama to ask for Commissioner Astrue's resignation.
[View full text]White Paper on the Social Security Administration for the Transition Team for the President-elect Barack Obama
Extensive analysis and recommendations. 36pages. [White Paper 2008]
SSA General Committee Spokesperson Skwierczynski asks for additional $1.71B to create jobs at SSA, address backlogs, and improved public service.
"Current staffing levels are the lowest since 1972 [and] ... have been directly responsible for current service deterioration." Spokesperson Skwierczynski calls for President Obama to ask for Commissioner Astrue's resignation and reassignment of top agency officials. [View full text]
Commissioner Astrue ignores commitment to improve communications and work with AFGE. SSA General Committee Spokesperson Skwierczynski notifies Senators.
"I feel compelled to notify you that SSA Commissioner Astrue is refusing to respond to correspondence from AFGE regarding key issues. ..." [View full text]
[General Committee] designees raised several grave concerns about proposed Internet claims policies and procedures ... .(10/06/08)
"We ask that you [Commissioner Astrue] immediately cease any further implementation of the iClaims and Ready Retirement initiatives... ."[iClaims letter full text]
Bipartisan group of U.S. Senators ask key Senate leaders to provide $240M additional SSA funding for FY09
"We write to ask you to include $240 million more than the President requested for FY 2009 for the administration costs of the Social Security Administration (SSA) when you develop tour Subcommittee's appropriations bill. ..." [more]
Forty-three organizations ask Congress to provide $240M additional SSA funding for FY09
The undersigned organizations represent many of the stakeholders of the Social Security Administration (SSA). We respectfully request that your Subcommittee provide no less than $240 million above the President's Budget Request for SSA's administrative expenses in the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. This additional funding is critical for SSA to address an ever increasing number of service delivery issues. ... [more - House] [more - Senate]
President Skwierczynski's Statement before the Senate Committee on Finance, May 8, 2008 on deteriorating service due to inadequate funding.
Thank you Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member Grassley and Committee Members for the opportunity to present this statement... [more]
President Skwierczynski's Statement before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Clearing Disability Backlogs, Giving the Social Security Administration the Resources it needs to Provide Benefits ...
I thank Chairman Rangel, Ranking Member McCrery and members of the committee, for the opportunity to present this statement regarding the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) large backlog in disability claims and other deterioration in public service due to years of inadequate funding of the Agency's administrative expenses. ... [more]
President Skwierczynski's Letter to the Editor, New York Times.
Deteriorating disability claims program caused by failure of Congress and the President to adequately fund SSA's administrative expenses. [more]
Help with the new SSA Appraisal System.
Council 220 continues to issue alerts as SSA implements its new appraisal system. They're on our Library page... [more]
Send E-mail to Commissioner Astrue!
Budget cuts? Work piling up? Lists? Processing Shortcuts? -- Long waiting lines?... [more]
President Skwierczynski's Testimony before Ways and Means Subcommittee on Disability Service Improvement
Chairman McCrery, Ranking Member Levin, and members of the Social Security Subcommittee, I respectfully submit this statement regarding Social Security's Disability Service Improvement (DSI).... [Press Release] [BNA Story] [more]
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