womp womp womp, union leaches can have all the representation they want without mooching space rent free from the taxpayers...
Posted on 07/17/2018 7:02:50 PM PDT by mdittmar
Unions evicted from federal offices, denied time to meet with employees
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees is obligated under the law to represent all employees covered by our negotiated contracts, but the Social Security Administration is deliberately and illegally restricting the union’s ability to uphold this obligation, AFGE leaders say.
“The agency is attempting to wipe all traces of our union from SSA offices and deny workers their legal rights to representation,” AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said.
On Monday, July 9, SSA management unilaterally implemented extensive changes to the contract that had previously been negotiated with AFGE Council 220 to execute President Trump’s May 25 executive orders, which gut federal employees’ workplace rights and protections. The union attempted to negotiate with the agency but SSA managers walked away from the talks after just three days.
“SSA has evicted union representatives from their offices and stripped them of their access to computers, phones, personnel files, and other tools that are vital to effective representation,” said Witold Skwierczynski, president of AFGE’s National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals (AFGE Council 220).
“Bulletin boards that provide employees with information on their rights and how to contact their union representative were ordered to come down at all SSA offices,” Skwierczynski said. “Employees are being denied their right to meet with the union stewards during the workday to address workplace disputes, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, and other issues.”
On Dec. 7, 2017, SSA gave written notice to AFGE that they were terminating the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement. On March 19, 2018, SSA and the union signed a CBA ground rules agreement that would allow them to exchange contract article proposals on August 9, along with a mutually agreed upon bargaining schedule that would extend over the coming year.
On May 25, President Trump issued 3 executive orders weakening employee unions and eliminating employee civil service protections. On May 30, AFGE filed suit in federal court arguing that the Trump directives violate federal law and the U.S. Constitution. Department of Justice lawyers argued to the court that the EOs constituted only guidance to federal agencies and it was up to each agency on whether they follow the guidance.
“SSA followed the Trump administration’s executive order ‘guidance’ with gusto, joy, and clear purpose,” Skwierczynski said.
On June 5, SSA reneged on the ground rules agreement, in the form of a letter to the union, stating that they were unilaterally applying the executive orders to 21 of the 44 existing Contract Articles. This will in turn allow SSA to:
The union attempted to bargain the changes with SSA from June 27-29, but three days was not enough time to negotiate the extensive changes and contract cuts. No agreement was reached but SSA stated in violation of the law that it would unilaterally implement its proposals on July 9. The union filed an Unfair Labor Practice grievance on June 29 asserting that SSA’s unilateral implementation of its proposals is illegal.
“AFGE will continue to fulfill our legal obligation to represent all employees in the federal government – no matter how ruthless the administration is in trying to shut us down,” Cox said.
Good! Out the door with em
I don’t agree with Trump on everything, but he is kicking Dubya’s ass on getting stuff done.
What is “Official time?”
Banks are not legally required provide office space to Willie Sutton.
AFSCME if I care.
Long over do. If people want to unionize, do it on their own time!!!
womp womp womp, union leaches can have all the representation they want without mooching space rent free from the taxpayers...
As a member of a union, I say that government employees local, state, and especially federal should have zero union representation.
Maybe they’ll all go on strike or quit , how many Billions will we save everyday.
What is “Official time?”
That would be time that they’re clocked in and supposedly working IE our time.
1. Use union money to Rent, lease, or purchase a Union office. Use union dues to pay for staff and supplies.
2. The unions have a huge amount of time to meet with employees. Before work hours, after work hours, holidays, and weekends.
Government unions need to die yesterday.
Government unions need to die yesterday.
The honest truth!
Winning.....
That cannot be right since they are to CUT Official Time by 88%. Most federal employees do not punch Time clocks.
Government employee unions. Biggest conflict of interest in history.
Government employee unions. Biggest conflict of interest in history.
Is there an echo in here?
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