IFPTE Judicial Council 1 Holds Annual Education Conference

This week over 160 members and leaders from the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ/Judicial Council 1) gathered in Atlanta to attend the union’s 2022 Education Conference.  This year’s conference, which was chaired by AALJ/Judicial Council 1 President Judge Som Ramrup, included sessions focused on Long Covid as well as other medical disorders frequently seen in disability adjudicatory hearings, ALJ health and safety issues, and reviewing and discussing the landmark contract recently ratified by AALJ members with the Social Security Administration (SSA). 

Among the highlights of the conference, which was attended by IFPTE International President Matt Biggs, Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson, and Legislative Director Faraz Khan, was a contract signing ceremony in which SSA management negotiators and AALJ bargaining team members all signed.   AALJ President Judge Ramrup provided the following comments on the overall conference and the signing of the contract: “This year’s conference was one of education, connection, collaboration, and, above all else, delivering key workforce flexibilities and benefits for AALJ’s membership.  We were thrilled that we had the opportunity to celebrate our contract together – one that delivers on many of our priorities, including de-linking the scheduling of cases from the ability to telework; a recognition that our members play a vital role in the Agency’s mission, exercise independent judgment in accordance with the Social Security Act and Administrative Procedure Act; and achieving flexible bi-weekly work hours, among many other victories.  The solidarity of our members, and the strategy and good-faith proposals put forward by the AALJ stands as a testament to the toughness and perseverance of our bargaining team and our entire membership.” 

Next year’s education conference is scheduled for the first week of October in New Orleans.