RESOLUTION TO REMOVE MICHAEL J. ASTRUE

AS COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

WHEREAS Social Security Administration Commissioner Michael J. Astrue has refused to work with the exclusive representatives (AFGE, ALJ/IFPTE) of the employees towards effecting the mission of the Agency to provide outstanding service to the American public; and

WHEREAS Commissioner Astrue has implemented policies and procedure changes without sufficient testing and employee input, thus placing the public at risk of being disadvantaged in their benefit choices; and

WHEREAS Commissioner Astrue has disadvantaged unrepresented claimants in disability hearings by not providing sufficient staff to explain new electronic processes, such as the electronic disability file; and

WHEREAS trained SSA workers are now being instructed not to question an applicant’s choice of when to start benefit payments, even when the choice may be disadvantageous to the applicant; and

WHEREAS SSA employees are now being instructed in some sites to direct applicants to file for benefits on the Internet, even though the applicants  have come into a field office to be interviewed by an SSA employee;  and

WHEREAS, on March 3, 2009, the AFL-CIO Executive Board urged immediate Presidential action to remove Michael J. Astrue as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration for his neglect of duty in administering the Social Security Administration and its programs, and for his hostility towards SSA’s unions;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this body will stand with the AFL-CIO, with the American Federation of Government Employees, and with the Association of Administrative Law Judges/International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers in calling upon the President and the Congress to remove Michael J. Astrue as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration for his neglect of his duty to carry out the mission of Social Security as mandated by law and by Congressional intent.

Signature                                                                               Date

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State and Title of Affiliate Organization

The following state AFL-CIO's and affiliate organizations have signed this resolution showing thier support.

State:        Title:                                                                                                      Date:

CA           San Mateo County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO             07/15/09
CO           Denver Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO                             07/14/09
CT           Danbury Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO                            07/14/09
ID            Idaho State AFL-CIO                                                          07/07/09 
IL            Illinois AFL-CIO                                                                  07/13/09
KY           Kentucky AFL-CIO                                                             07/10/09
MD          Western Maryland Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO              07/07/09 
NY           Dutchess County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO                07/10/09
NY           Syracuse Labor Council, ALF-CIO                                       07/09/09 
NY           Troy Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO                                     07/17/09
NC           Triangle Labor Council, AFL-CIO                                         07/07/09 
NC           Western North Carolina Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO       07/13/09
OH           North Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO                       07/07/09 
OH           North Shore Federation of Labor                                           07/07/09 
PA           Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO                                     07/07/09 
PA           Washington/Greene County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO  07/07/09 
TX          Tarrant County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO                    07/09/09 
VA          Northern Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO                         07/07/09 
WV         Marion County AFL-CIO                                                       07/09/09