AFGE members from the Social Security Administration staged 25 public events in front of SSA offices across the country on Wednesday, Jan. 14, to support the agency and its mission.
Long-term structural issues of understaffing, overwork, and low pay remain an immense barrier to the agency being able to effectively serve the millions of Americans who rely on and are entitled to Social Security. Budget uncertainty also adds to the stress – the government will shut down for the second time this fiscal year if Congress doesn’t extend funding past Jan. 30, when the current continuing resolution expires.
At each event, AFGE members called for three things:
AFGE members made their voices heard loud and clear during these events, saying that Social Security workers will not sit on the sidelines as the Trump administration attempts to dismantle the vital program bit by bit.
“We carry the weight of this mission every single day. Even when the system is strained, even when we are exhausted, we continue to serve with professionalism, dignity, and heart,” said Donna Winston, executive vice president of AFGE Local 3448 in Cincinnati.
But employees are at their breaking point. The Trump administration has made clear statements and taken pointed action to undermine Social Security by maintaining a year-long hiring freeze and circulating a plan to reduce field office visits by 50% this year.
“We called for this Day of Action ahead of the Jan. 30 federal funding deadline to make it clear: Social Security and its front-line workers cannot afford another government shutdown,” said Jessica LaPointe, president of AFGE Council 220, representing SSA field office staff.
Last week’s day of action was the second coordinated by the AFGE Social Security General Committee in six months under the banner of its national campaign, Social Security Workers United. In August, the group organized more than 50 events across the country, from Littleton, N.H., to San Francisco and everywhere in between.
“We need a groundswell of support from membership to get this done,” said Rich Couture, president of AFGE Council 215, representing SSA hearings and appeals staff. “For far too long, this union has operated with a leadership-only driven approach. We noticed early last year that that approach would not get us the gains we need.”
In addition to the in-person rallies, Social Security Workers United held an online event on Jan. 14 for others to show their support. During the virtual event, AFGE National President Everett Kelley applauded SSA members for speaking out against policies that undercut their ability to serve the public.
“AFGE members have been at the forefront of the fight against Donald Trump’s attacks on the Social Security system and its workforce. We will continue fighting on behalf of our co-workers, our retirees, and the American public,” Kelley said. “Brothers and sisters, we must stand together, as one union, and push back and raise our voices. Because the people, united, will never be defeated.”
Follow Social Security Workers United on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the campaign.
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