The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued final approval to a $22.7 million settlement in which they are involved in a class-action lawsuit against the Social Security Administration (SSA) that was filed by some of the agency’s youngest workers. Issues include employee rights, promotions, and workers’ compensation.
According to Esset Tate Jr., it has been a difficult and troubling 20-year struggle, when a conversation was held for the first time, seven years ago, he detailed the reasons why he and others filed the class action lawsuit against the SSA, “The agency is missing out on the contributions of African-American men at headquarters due to the current perception that it is an inferior group of people,” Tate expressed at the time.
Social Security Paying $22 Million to Thousands of Beneficiaries
The class action against the Social Security was mirrored by hundreds of African-American employees who had been on the job between March 2002 and December 2019.
“My hope is that this agreement will resolve the structural and institutional things that have been going on at the agency for so long,” Tate said. “I think the message is that you will be responsible and you will remain responsible.”
African-American men who worked at the SSA headquarters in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, at any time between the year 2003 and the year 2023 are eligible to make a claim for compensation from the settlement.
Jeremy Wright, the attorney representing the workers, said he hopes the settlement will help ensure that the job performance of SSA employees of any race, gender or background is judged and recognized in an equal manner.
“The SSA has come to the agreement to be transparent about what goes on in its award bonus system, so it is expected that in the next two years, every decision in every office will make a report of what awards were awarded, which people receive and at what rate, and that will allow everyone to take a look and make a decision about whether the system is working correctly and fairly,” Wright commented.
A Lawsuit In Favor or Social Security Beneficiaries
When a report on the lawsuit was first made in 2017, they stated “The Social Security Administration is committed to equal employment opportunities for everyone and makes decisions that include promotions and awards, according to the principles of merit systems, regardless of race, sex, color, nationality, origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other non-meritorious factor.”
“Correct the problem, don’t deny there’s a problem there,” Tate said. Ten years later, even with trepidation, the workers continue to press for the problem to be solved soon. Cummings’ office said he can’t get involved because policy states that members of Congress don’t interfere with cases that are in litigation.
In a parallel case of breach of agreement, the EEOC ordered Social Security to pay 2,000 black male workers $2,300 each. The SSA can appeal.
