Social Security Workers (AFGE 1164) Win TA, Organize to Keep Rural Maine Offices Open

AFGE has reached an agreement with the Social Security Administration (SSA), allowing 42,000 SSA employees nationwide, including 70 employees in Maine, to enjoy new workplace rights and protections. AFGE and SSA agreed on updates to six articles of the contract, originally ratified in 2019, covering such issues as employee training and career development, employee rights, child care and elder care, disciplinary and adverse actions, and employee details to alternative duty stations.
 

The entire contract also will be extended until Oct. 25, 2029. The new contract agreement is subject to a ratification vote by the members. Union leaders say the updated contract not only benefits employees but also the American public they serve as several provisions directly affect customer services.

A few highlights of the updated contract include:

• A new definition of workplace bullying, which will better protect employees.
• Temporary Compassionate Assignments up to 60 days to an alternate duty station for a temporary personal situation outside of their control for reasons such as the illness of a parent.
• Language advising employees of their rights to request reasonable accommodation during training.
• Improvements to lactation space for new mothers, including a mini fridge provided by the agency to store expressed milk separate from the general use break-room fridge.
• Virtual details, which are special projects or assignments that can be done remotely and would allow for new career opportunities within and between components.
• Extension of the Jan. 23, 2023 Memorandum of Understanding regarding eligibility of telework for workers such as trainees, probationary employees, and employees with minor discipline.
• Adequate time for employees to read emails such as agency transmittals, Human Resource Internal Communications, and PolicyNet transmittal updates.
• Funds for emergency backup care needs up to five days per calendar year starting October 2024 for those with dependent minors and/or adults.

"This agreement certainly is a breath of fresh air and takes some of the pressure off of us,” said Greg Lalak, President of AFGE Local 1164, which represents over 70 members in Maine.

Lalak said the improvements to the agency’s workplace bullying policy is important because after the Trump administration issued a series of union busting executive orders in 2018 to weaken federal employee unions, some members of management took them as “their marching orders to trample on the rights of the employees and in some cases engage in bullying.”

The Social Security Administration’s mission is to provide a safety net for retirees and people with disabilities. There are nine Social Security Administration offices in Portland, Bangor, Auburn, Augusta, Waterville, Saco, Rockland and Presque Isle. Eight of them are field offices where Mainers go to apply for benefits. AFGE 1164 members include customer service representatives, technical experts and claims specialists who interview applicants for retirement, disability, survivor’s benefits and Medicare benefits. There are also union members in hearing offices who provide legal assistance for judges to adjudicate cases on behalf of the agency.

In addition to handling grievances and contracts, AFGE has been working actively to prevent closures of small rural offices like Rockland and Waterville. The Rockland office has also been very understaffed, which could cue it up for closure, said Lalak. In 2019, the union proposed legislation that would apply the same kind of safeguards and protections required for post office closures.

“Closing one of these rural offices would really negatively impact elderly Mainers and people with disabilities,” he said. “The agency tries to push everybody to do everything online but the agency website's business processes are not very intuitive and unfortunately a lot of people have issues navigating it.”

AFGE is pushing for funding for the Social Security Administration that would keep pace with inflation, though it appears doubtful that Congress will pass a budget before October 1st due to partisan resistance.

“The agency itself is admitting that the outlook for a robust budget for hiring and such for FY 2024 is not going to be enough,” said Lalak. “We need our Representatives and Senators to understand that the agency needs to be properly funded.”

Lalak said his members will need some support from other workers to urge our elected officials to properly fund the Social Security Administration.