Each of the Democratic Senators has now signed a letter urging that Andrew Saul, the new Commissioner of Social Security, end the unilateralism and return to the bargaining table to work out new contracts with employee unions.
The Senators have these pointed questions for Saul:
1. Did the White House. Office of Management & Budget (OMB), or any entity outside of SSA provide direction or guidance on any proposals SSA negotiators have submitted? If so, please describe the nature and source of this direction or guidance.
2. Please explain the demonstrated need for each of these proposals:
a. setting contracts for all three unions at SSA to be for seven-year terms;
b. requiring the unions to submit unfair labor practices (ULPs) to the agency before filing with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA);
c. adding new requirements for information requests from the union;
d. putting telework at the sole discretion of the agency; and
e. limiting the ability to file grievances
3. What discretion did your negotiation team have in deviating from the seven-year contract term, the grievance proposal, or guidelines the White House, OMB, or any other entity may have issued to SSA management?
3 comments:
Historically, all executive branch agencies receive guidance on the labor-management policies emanating from other branches, as well as the White House. Initially many are set forth in Executive Orders (EO), advice from OMB and other agencies. It was not that long ago that a then incumbent administration advised and directed Agencies to discontinue bargaining on permissive subjects, create partnerships and then eliminate partnerships, etc. Nothing really new here, and matters are before the Impasses Panel vis a vis the AALJ contract and others have already been decided by the Panel for AFGE. The letter is interesting but without a Majority in the Senate it is probably DOA.
Sounds like AALJ talking points in the letter. Pretty sure the bargaining unit is nowhere near 1500 judges currently. Also interesting, at least per the AALJ posting of the parties' signed articles (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4qt9q0vqmh2co7r/AACPhG2I5JIc6WH_f07S9SFJa?dl=0
), that the letter asks about ULPs and Information Requests because it appears that the parties agreed to strike those articles in their entirety.
If the Dems win in 2020 they can reverse/deTrump the world.
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