Barring any unforeseen circumstances, 42,000 Social Security Administration (SSA) employees could have an updated contract on or before Nov. 26 following the employees’ ratification vote last month. The contract is currently at agency head review.
AFGE and SSA in July agreed on updates to six articles of the contract, originally ratified in 2019, covering such issues as employee training and career development, employee rights, childcare and elder care, disciplinary and adverse actions, and employee details to alternative duty stations.
The updated six-year contract not only benefits employees but also the American public they serve as several provisions directly affect customer services.
“Through this contract deal, we have secured our fundamental rights through 2029, protecting our workforce through any shift in the winds regarding labor rights in the federal sector,” said Rich Couture, chief negotiator for the AFGE SSA General Committee. The committee oversees AFGE councils representing SSA employees in field offices, teleservice centers, workload support units, hearings and appeals, payment centers, and quality review as well as AFGE locals representing employees at SSA headquarters and the operations center in Wilkes Barre, Pa. “This deal also improves several areas of the contract that are important to employees and lays a foundation for building further improvements in the future.”
SSA employees and activists hope that the new contract will help shore up morale that took a nosedive due to chronic staffing shortages, overwhelming workloads, lack of competitive pay and benefits, bullying and harassment, among other issues that plague SSA offices. Numerous surveys consistently show that many SSA workers are looking for and taking jobs outside the agency, especially if their telework remains uncertain, or is reduced or eliminated.
SSA used to be one of the best places to work in the federal government. Now it’s dead last.
“The new terms in this contract will go a long way toward improving working conditions for employees, which in turn will result in better customer service for SSA beneficiaries,” said AFGE Council 220 President Jessica LaPointe, who also led the union's contract action team and mobilization efforts. “Now we have to turn our attention to making sure Congress provides us with resources and support we need.”
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 to attend and complete assigned training.
- A new labor-management partnership effort to address issues affecting both employees and beneficiaries in a more proactive manner. These new union-management cooperation councils will be chaired and jointly run by union and agency leaders.
- Adequate time for employees to read emails such as agency transmittals, Human Resource Internal Communications, and PolicyNet transmittal updates.
- Funds for emergency backup care need up to five days per calendar year starting October 2024 for those with dependent minors and/or adults.
- Expanded rights for employees facing Weingarten investigations, including upfront notice of their right to a union representative, timely investigations, and copies of investigation notes.