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NTEU, Coalition Support O’Malley as SSA Head

NTEU joined with 16 other unions in urging the Senate to swiftly confirm former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to serve as commissioner of the Social Security Administration. 

This important agency, where NTEU represents employees at the Office of Hearings Operations, has operated without a confirmed head for eight of the last 10 years.

“We are sure that you and your staff hear every day from your constituents about the issues at SSA that arise from the agency operating for the better part of a decade under leadership that has neither the ability to address the agency’s immediate needs nor the authority to implement long-term reforms,” the Federal Workers Alliance wrote in an Aug. 25 letter to senators.

The letter praised O’Malley’s respect for civil servants and their work, and strong support of collective bargaining during his tenure as mayor of Baltimore and Governor of Maryland.

“During his time in Annapolis, the number of Marylanders who had the right to bargain collectively expanded more than under the tenure of any other modern governor,” wrote the coalition, which collectively represents more than 550,000 federal and postal employees.

There is no confirmation hearing set for O'Malley.