{"id":23272,"date":"2019-06-07T18:53:26","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T18:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/06\/07\/va-and-union-contract-fight-escalates-to-nationwide-rallies\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:58:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:58:07","slug":"va-and-union-contract-fight-escalates-to-nationwide-rallies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/management\/2019\/06\/07\/va-and-union-contract-fight-escalates-to-nationwide-rallies\/","title":{"rendered":"VA and union contract fight escalates to nationwide rallies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negotiations for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/2019\/05\/06\/va-and-union-clash-in-negotiations-for-a-new-contract\/\" target=_blank>newly proposed contract<\/a> between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees reached a head June 5, as members of the union took to town halls, rallies and meetings with legislators to protest what they call a \u201cplot\u201d to strip workers of their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The VA proposed a new contract May 2 that would cut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/2018\/05\/25\/official-time-use-vital-for-feds-or-a-waste-of-time\/\" target=_blank>official time<\/a> use by 99 percent while removing 42 articles from the previous agreement that concern employee training, workplace health and safety, and protection from whistleblower retaliation, according to the union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Negotiations over that contract began May 27.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis latest Trump administration plot not only strips VA workers \u2014 about one-third of whom are veterans themselves \u2014 of their rights; it also threatens quality care for veterans and paves the way for a scheme to outsource veterans\u2019 health care that no one wants,\u201d said Alma Lee, president of AFGE\u2019s National Veterans Council, in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis administration\u2019s proposal sets up VA employees to fail and will likely lead to worse care for our veterans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The June 5 \u201cVA Day of Action,\u201d included 60 locations across the country under the rallying cry of \u201cDignity. Fairness. Respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The contract disagreements between the VA and its union are just a part of longstanding tensions between the Trump administration and unions, which were exacerbated when President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/2018\/05\/25\/trump-targets-feds-in-latest-series-of-executive-orders\/\" target=_blank>signed three executive orders<\/a> that targeted federal unions and employee management policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Significant sections of those orders were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/2018\/08\/26\/judge-rules-trump-overstepped-with-union-executive-orders\/\" target=\"_blank\">overturned by a district court judge<\/a> in August 2018, and the case is currently awaiting an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federaltimes.com\/management\/2019\/04\/04\/is-a-court-authorized-to-kill-union-targeting-executive-orders\/\" target=\"_blank\">appeals court decision<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is not the Trump administration\u2019s first attempt to gut workers\u2019 rights for President Trump\u2019s own political gain. Many of the VA\u2019s proposals are lookalike anti-labor policies President Trump tried and failed to implement governmentwide last year,\u201d said AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe will do everything in our power to make sure that the Trump administration does not dismantle health care for our nation\u2019s veterans. Our veterans can\u2019t and won\u2019t be political footballs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But VA Press Secretary Curtis Cashour said in a statement that the opposition to the contract is part of a larger opposition to change:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Whether through its condemnation of the MISSION Act or its efforts to repeal the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, AFGE has consistently fought for the status quo and opposed attempts to make VA work better for veterans and their families. Now AFGE is taking the same approach with its refusal to accept commonsense improvements to its collective bargaining agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>This article has been updated to include comments from the VA.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The contract offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs would make significant changes to the current bargaining agreement between the agency and its 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