Union Says Biden Administration Violated Labor Rules With New Transgender Policy

An employee union of the Social Security Administration demanded that the Biden administration eliminate a new Social Security Administration. “pronoun policy” This is targeted at transgender workers. It forces members to adopt political views.

American Federation of Government Employees Local 25,05 filed a Union-Management Grievance Friday based on a Wednesday internal policy. “Policy on Prohibiting Discrimination, Including Harassment, Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression,” The Pronoun Policy, as the agency refers to it, is the shorthand for the policy. 600 employees at low levels in Oklahoma and Arkansas represented by the union said the policy altered the access to the restrooms and the dress code. “created a new form with the employee’s name, gender identity, pronouns.”

“All of the changes are violations of Article 1, Section 2 as they changed existing terms and conditions of employment,” The grievance was raised. “Having made these changes without advanced notice and the opportunity to bargain, in addition to SSA violating 5 USC 71, SSA also violated Article 1, Section 2.”

The grievance went on to say the policy violates employees’ freedom of religion and free speech rights by forcing workers to address people by their preferred pronouns and creates a hostile work environment for employees who do not agree for political or religious reasons.

“This new policy will create a chilling effect on them and is essentially forcing them to agree with this political view in spite of their own personal political or religious beliefs,” It was also added.

Kilolo Kijakazi (SSA Acting Commissioner) announced the policy on March 1 to employees. “Building an Equitable and Inclusive Culture: Gender Identity.”

“Soon, you will receive notice of a mandatory training to help you prepare for full implementation of the policy, which will happen on March 31, 2023. Available starting March 2, this training will increase your knowledge of using pronouns and gender-neutral language and supporting employees and colleagues in the workplace,” The email stated.

The Daily Wire obtained a 27-page policy. It defines gender diversity, cisgender and genderfluid. The agency also provides many ways to support employees who want to change to one of these categories.

“The agency makes note that every transition is different, and some employees may want none of these changes, all of these changes, some of these changes, or additional changes not listed in these procedures,” It was.

It includes a form in 19 parts that can be used to help an employee transition to a new gender, as well as an email template for managers to use to notify employees of their new gender. “The agency supports [PROPER NAME] in their transition/affirmation… If you are interested in learning more about how SSA supports gender transition/affirmation, I invite you to refer to [insert link to policy/COSS statement of choice].”

It states that transgender employees can use the bathroom they choose. “continued intentional misuse of an employee’s name or pronoun could… lead to disciplinary action.”

“At meetings, employees, managers, and supervisors can introduce themselves with the pronouns they use, which may prompt others at the meeting to share the pronouns they use, e.g., ‘Hello, my name is Michael. My pronouns are he/him.’ Additionally, employees, managers, and supervisors should consider including their proper names, pronunciations of their names, and pronouns in their email signatures, e.g., Brianne (Bree-anne) Doe (they/theirs),” It is a bonus.

Ralph Dejuliis is the union’s local president. He said that two employees had already requested a religious exemption. He told The Daily Wire that under Kijakazi, social justice initiatives were distracting the agency from basic issues that were preventing it from serving needy Americans efficiently.

“SSA has already put out a video for all the employees to watch on gender transition. How many people have been working on this… when it takes six months to get an initial disability decision?” He said.

Dejuliis stated that his personal politics are progressive and liberal, but he believes it is inappropriate to force people into any kind of politics through a government job.

“It’s forcing everyone to have a liberal socially work position,” He said. “I represent people in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Half the people I represent have concealed carry permits. They are not woke.”

The policy has been “a name for people who don’t like gays and transgender: transphobic. You make up a special name to demonize people? Why don’t you call me sinner because I don’t go to your church?” He said.

A spokesperson from the Social Security Administration denied the complaint of the local chapter.

“The allegations in this locally filed grievance are inaccurate,” The Daily Wire interviewed Mark Hinkle “We have resolved the bargaining obligations associated with the referenced policy with all of the unions representing Social Security employees, at the national level.”

In Kijakazi’s email address to staff, she wrote: “I want to thank everyone including the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) workgroup, our union partners, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + (LGBTQ+) Advisory Council for your collaboration.”

Dejuliis claimed that he was blindsided and unable to understand the policy.

“No one higher up in the union seems to know anything,” He said. “[The agency’s] idea of a union partner is when the union says ‘hey boss, that’s a great idea.”

“The union’s role is to enforce its contract. When SSA acts like they have here, implementing stuff with no consultation with the union, failing to provide data, we have to file a grievance,” He added. “When they’re telling our members we will discipline you for not following this new policy, that’s a violation of this contract and protections of constitutional rights. You can’t order me to say certain things that are not related to my job.”

Kijakazi added this to his email “In my Pride Month video message last June, I discussed the agency’s work to increase equity and equality for gender-diverse and transgender customers. In October, the agency began offering people the choice to self-select their sex in their SSN record, without needing to provide medical or legal documentation of their sex identity… Our new internal Pronoun Policy marks the latest milestone in our work to support President Biden’s Executive Order on Preventing and Combatting Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.”

From Union Says Biden Administration Violated Labor Rules With New Transgender Policy

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