SSA Commissioner buckles under pressure: AFGE wins grievance, protects taxpayer's interests

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2071-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner~y2009m8d1-SSA-Commissioner-buckles-under-pressure-AFGE-wins-grievance-protects-taxpayers-interests?cid=exrss-DC-Special-Interests-Examiner

August 1, 8:50 AM

Once again workers with collective bargaining rights in the federal government won a victory for American taxpayers as Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astrue is forced to do the right thing. The American Federation of Government Employees has achieved an impressive victory in the fight for Social Security employees' rights to increased transit subsidies. AFGE Local 3615 filed a grievance against the SSA for failing to follow Presidential Executive Order 13150, in which qualified Social Security employees are provided with an increased transit subsidy to cover commuting costs.
Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael Astrue had once claimed that there was no money available to subsidize an increase in transit benefits. Yet in the past month he has faced intense public scrutiny after sending SSA executive officials to an extravagant three-day "Management Tango" at the Arizona Biltmore. The controversy surrounding SSA employee transit benefits was another misstep he couldn't afford.

"AFGE is pleased to see Astrue made one right decision by choosing to grant SSA employees the transit subsidy they deserve," said AFGE National President John Gage. "However, his perpetual disregard for SSA employees while he has been commissioner continues to be inexcusable."

AFGE along with AFL-CIO and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers stand together for Commissioner Astrue's removal from the SSA office. "Commissioner Astrue has worn out his welcome at the Social Security Administration. It is time he make another good decision and step down from office," concluded Gage.