SUSPENSION REDUCED TO REPRIMAND
In an SSA case, an arbitrator has overturned a five day suspension, with the employee getting her pay back for this period.
The employee had worked for the Social Security Administration for more than 35 years. During that time, she had never been disciplined. In fact, she was an effective and conscientious worker. Nevertheless, in 2008 the agency gave her a five day suspension for minor alleged misconduct.
The employee filed a timely grievance, and the union took the case to arbitration. The agency pointed to a number of alleged facts as justifying giving a five day suspension for a first offense. The union disproved the alleged facts, and, so the arbitrator overturned the suspension on the ground that the agency had failed to follow progressive discipline. The maximum penalty allowable was a reprimand.
The employee has been reimbursed her five days’ pay.
Our President
Cynthia Ennis
Cynthia Ennis has served as Executive Vice President of Local 1923 for over 20 years and was elected as President in August, 2003. Cynthia is fervently committed and dedicated to the labor movement.
In her position, Cynthia will move full speed ahead and address some of the serious challenges currently facing the federal workforce. Issues such as personnel reform, contracting out, pay parity, the stripping away of bargaining rights, and continually rising health insurance premiums are just to name a few. Cynthia intends on tackling these and many other issues in order to provide federal employees the rights they so richly deserve.