Social Security Union Leaders Plan to Discuss Future of Social Security

Social Security Union Leaders Plan to Discuss Future of Social Security

WHAT: Social Security Union Leaders to discuss the future of Social Security

WHO: Dana Duggins, Vice President of Council 220, representing Social Security field staff and the teleservice center (1-800#) employees

Katrina Lopez, President of the San Francisco Regional Social Security Council, AFGE Council 147

WHERE: KURS 1040 am (San Diego) or http://www.thesoulofsandiego.com

WHEN: Thursday, March 17th, 2005, 5:00 - 7:00 pm PST

SAN DIEGO, March 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Social Security union leaders will discuss the future of Social Security on a 2-hour live radio call in show broadcast out of San Diego and live on the Internet. Vice president of Council 220, which represents field staff and the teleservice center (1-800#) employees, Dana Duggins along with Katrina Lopez, president of the San Francisco Regional Social Security Council, AFGE Council 147, will take questions from the public on the San Diego station KURS 1040 am and on the Internet at http://www.thesoulofsandiego.com/ next Thursday, March 17th, 2005 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm PST.

Duggins and Lopez will address the issue of solvency and proposals by President Bush and members of Congress to divert payroll taxes from the Social Security trust into privatized accounts. They will also discuss what they say is the real crisis for Social Security -- inadequate staffing to support today's beneficiaries while the agency workload increases due to the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug program and a lack of a plan to service baby boomers as their retirements further tax the system.

In mid-January, national media attention focused on Social Security Administration employees and resources being used in a public relations campaign to promote the idea that Social Security is in crisis and that privatized accounts are the answer. Leaders of Council 220 testified before Congress, in January, on propagandizing by SSA.

To join this discussion, please tune in to 1040 am (San Diego area) or visit http://www.thesoulofsandiego.com/. Listeners can submit questions and comments by calling (619) 570-1040 or emailing enriquemorones@cox.net.

Source: American Federation of Government Employees

CONTACT: Kurt Gallagher or Enid Doggett of the American Federation of Government Employees, +1-202-639-6419

Web site: http://www.afge.org/ http://www.thesoulofsandiego.com/

------- Profile: Ent