Below is an e-mail which I just received from James Marshall of the American Federation of Government Employees, which has attached to it two e-mail which he recently sent to Commissioner Astrue:
I know you are quite interested in Social Security matters and I believe you have a blog where you post various information concerning Social Security news. I am also aware that Commissioner Astrue has not kept his commitments made during his confirmation process that he would work with the employees' union in addressing the disability backlog, as well as other problems facing the Agency. I have pasted two e-mails below that I sent to Commissioner Astrue this month regarding the Agency's Strategic Plan and the barriers we will be facing due to the continuing resolution and shortfalls in funding and staff this fiscal year. I also noted that Deputy Commissioner de Soto and/or Chief Administrative Law Judge Cristaudo have not even met with me to discuss how we can work together to eliminated the hearing backlog and improve the overall processing of disability claims and the quality of such decisions. For the record, I have been employed by the Social Security Administration for 50 years and the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (formerly Office of Hearings and Appeals) for 36 of those years and believe I can provide constructive input regarding the Agency's failures in eliminating the disability backlog in a more timely manner, improving employee morale and other critical issues facing the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review.
While I speak for approximately 5,000 ODAR employees, their constructive input to me has remained with me because the Agency's leadership does not wish to hear from its dedicated and outstanding employees as to how the Agency's quick fix changes are not the answer to decrease the backlog and improve quality of service. You may post this e-mail to your blog and/or question Commissioner Astrue directly as to his negativity towards AFGE which obviously affected the American people we serve.
James E. Marshall
Acting Spokesperson, AFGE General Committee and President, AFGE Council 215
From: Marshall, James
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:37 AM
To: Astrue, Michael J.
Subject: Pre-Senator Baucus (Strategic Plan FY 2008 - FY 2013 and FY 2009 CR)
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
Commissioner Astrue:
I note that approximately two weeks have elapsed since I sent the e-mail below to you without a response from you or any other individual in the Agency. Prior to referring this matter to Senator Baucus, as well as several other Congressional leaders, I am giving you a second opportunity as the head of the Agency to demonstrate some type of working relationship with AFGE, noting we represent over 40,000 Social Security employees. I still find it extremely difficult to understand why you have such reluctance to work with us to meet the challenges this Agency faces now and will face over the next several years. As you are fully aware, I have been extremely disappointed in the attitudes of Deputy Commissioner de Soto and Chief Administrative Law Judge Cristaudo in that neither of these individuals has met with me and/or has had the common courtesy to be responsive to me regarding a multitude of issues, as well as suggestions, many of which I believe would improve the overall processing of disability claims.
I would appreciate a timely response to this e-mail or I will proceed accordingly in the representation of the outstanding Federal employees who I represent.
James E. Marshall
Acting Spokesperson, AFGE General Committee and President, AFGE Council 215
FW: Pre-Senator Baucus (Strategic Plan FY 2008 - FY 2013 and FY 2009 CR) From: Marshall, James
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:48 AM
To: Astrue, Michael J.
Cc: Alfonzo, Carmen; Ennis, Cynthia; 'Ennis, Cynthia'; Fredericksen, Deborah; 'Fredericksen. Debbie'; Joseph, Agatha; Sipple, Cindy O.; Skayne, Susan; Tucker, Earl; 'witold1@attglobal.net'; Hicks, Cathy; Armet, JamesSubject: Strategic Plan FY 2008 - FY 2013 and FY 2009 CR
Good Morning Commissioner Astrue:
Importance: High
Sensitivity: Confidential
On behalf of the AFGE General Committee, I am submitting this e-mail in response to your e-mail broadcast dated September 24, 2008, to all SSA and DDS employees regarding Agency Strategic Plan FY 2008 - FY 2013. At the outset, AFGE notes that in your letter, you indicated that this plan had been developed in part by conferring with our unions which we presume meant AFGE was included. To our knowledge, the only contact that the General Committee had with the Agency regarding the Strategic Plan was a slideshow with notice that if we had comments they should be submitted in writing within 10 days of the slideshow. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet such mandated time frames for submission of any comments and thought that we would subsequently have the opportunity to sit down with you and your executive staff and have a full and open dialogue regarding the Agency's goals. It appears that again, our thoughts and vision for the future SSA have been buried without being heard. Shame on someone because as the representative of over 40,000 employees in this Agency, their voices should be heard through us, especially since they are the most outstanding Federal employees of any Agency.
We recognize that for FY 2009, there will be significant barriers to meet goals because of the continuing resolution and shortfalls in funding and staff. Having said that, we would have thought you would have arranged a meeting with the General Committee to discuss these shortfalls and how we can work together to eliminate the hearing backlog and to improve the overall processing of disability claims and the quality of such decisions, as well as improving all other services for our retirees. To allow the progress in our attempts to meet such challenges over the past several years to erode like the stock market, is unconscionable and you as the Commissioner should embrace the General Committee leadership for the American public we serve to ensure that such erosion does not occur. I await your response on behalf of the General Committee for a face to face meeting with you, your executive staff and our AFGE General Committee leadership.
In closing, please be advised that I, as the President of AFGE Council 215 representing ODAR employees, have yet to have any meeting with Deputy Commissioner de Soto and/or Chief Administrative Law Judge Cristaudo since they been in their positions.
"I still find it extremely difficult to understand why you have such reluctance to work with us to meet the challenges this Agency faces now and will face over the next several years."
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you start with getting the troops (ALJs)producing and stop whining about the Commissioner not kissing your butt.
To the previous comment. Wrong union.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Jim's memo, I have to wonder why he's signed only the acting representative rather than the permanent.
I am also fascinated as to why he is discomfitted by the agency's refusal to talk, is willing to submit these accusatory emails, but unwilling to tell the world what these spectacular improvements are.
In the history of Jim Marshall over the last ten years, his solution to everything was to promote all the clericals to paralegal status and have them writing rather than having folks in reception, docketing cases, scheduling hearings, copying. Yes there are people in these ranks who are qualified for promotions. But we already saw the backlog double when we tried to hpi up this same set of people. Without even requiring a writing sample.
hese emails to the administration assuredly came with the concerns and suggestions alluded to. Marshall probably doesn't have anything newer to propose than another wholesale hpi like promotion. So what's to make time for.
IF he had something better, I guess congress would love to hear about it. I know I would