Is the Social Security Administration an Equal Opportunity Employer?

The Coalition For Change, Inc., (C4C), Inc., sent a letter to the commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) questioning and challenging his commitment to a fair and equitable workplace — free of discrimination.

 Earlier this year, the SSA was accused of breaching a 2002 racial discrimination settlement agreement that provided for $6.35 million to be distributed to African- American male class members.  According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission the agency breached the Settlement Agreement when it “failed to ensure that its policies and practices for granting performance awards and quality step increases were fair and equitable and consistent with merit principles.  The EEOC remanded the case to an Administrative Judge (AJ) to administer relief.   In addition to the class action law suit involving African-American males , the SSA is also currently embroiled with two other class action discrimination law suits involving African- American female employees and a third  class action suit involving disabled employees. 

 In its letter, C4C’s Acting President, Mr. Philip Taylor, questioned how these law suits are impacting the Agency’s morale and work productivity.  The C4C challenged the SSA’s ability to successfully meet its mission and to effectively and efficiently serve the American taxpayer when so much time and resources are devoted to addressing three discrimination class action law suits.  As a result of these three suits, the C4C accused the SSA leadership of a “callous indifference” toward ensuring that all of its employees are subjected to a workplace of fairness, dignity and equal opportunity.

 The C4C is requesting the commissioner to respond to what steps, during his four years tenure have been taken in addressing employment discrimination at the SSA; ensuring that a fair and equitable work environment is achieved; and holdingSSA managers accountable for violating employees’ civil rights. 

   The Coalition For Change, Inc. (C4C), a public interest group, serves as an informational support network for present and former Federal employees injured as a result of workplace discrimination. The C4C’s mission is to expose and eradicate racism in the Federal government thus fostering efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in Federal programs and operations. To learn more about the C4C go to www.coalition4change.org