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Keeping In Touch Monthly Newsletter

Your story matters. We’d like to hear from you! Help us in our fight to secure a stronger contract at the VA, and inspire National VA Council members around the country with your story. Through actions, big and small, you make a difference in the lives of veterans each day - and we want to hear about it. Please take a few minutes to answer this survey, which can also be accessed by scanning the QR code below.

One Year of Contract Negotiations and a Major Win for Us

In a major victory for AFGE National VA Council, an arbitrator recently ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs has engaged in bad faith bargaining and ordered the agency to cease and desist its pattern of unlawful conduct and go back to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith with the largest union of VA workers.

After a historic settlement agreement in July 2021, NVAC and the VA have engaged in contract negotiations for a "limited reopener" of the 2011 Master Agreement since March 2022. However, the VA negotiators are demanding concessions in almost every contract article rather than fulfilling the Biden-Harris Administration's promise to expand collective bargaining rights and empower federal workers.

After 19 weeks of bargaining and almost 100 counterproposals, the parties have not agreed on a single article due to the VA's bad faith bargaining, led by Secretary McDonough. The AFGE National VA Council is still renegotiating the VA Master Agreement for 291,000 VA workers, advocating for improved collective bargaining rights, fair employee treatment, and safer working conditions.

AFGE National VA Council is not giving up. We remain committed to fighting for you and all VA workers nationwide who are devoted to delivering quality care to veterans and deserve adequate protection and necessary support in the workplace.

Updates from AFGE National VA Council 

Celebrating Women's History Month

Happy Women's History Month! This month, the AFL-CIO is recognizing National VA Council President Alma L. Lee for her outstanding work in serving veterans and protecting the rights of VA workers. As a trailblazer for women and minorities, President Lee has been dedicated to fighting for rights of workers and women for over 36 years. President Lee credits her success to the strong bond between AFGE National VA Council members who stand united for workplace rights, and her greatest accomplishment is helping create the strongest master collective bargaining agreement in the nation. Read more about the AFL-CIO’s 2023 Women Labor Leaders here.

President Alma Lee Stands up for VA and Federal Workers in Federal News Network

President Lee wrote a Letter to the Editor in response to Federal News Network’s Tom Temin, who authored a dismissive piece about federal workers, specifically about AFGE’s recent rally for fair pay for federal workers and our support of the FAIR Act which would provide workers with a much needed 8.7 percent pay adjustment.

“Respectfully, I must reject Temin’s assertion that federal workers enter public service ‘with the understanding that neither the best nor the worst of private sector employment practices and benefits happen in the federal government.' That is an excuse for valuing federal workers less than their counterparts in the private sector — with real consequences for the workers and their families and those they serve.”

Read the full piece here.

NEXT MONTH: AFGE NVAC’s Health and Safety Conference 2023

The AFGE National VA Council's Health and Safety Conference, supported by VA Secretary McDonough, is approaching and will take place in Portland, Oregon, from April 17-21, 2023. The conference aims to empower members with the necessary skills and information to become effective leaders and ensure workplace safety, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn more about the conference. Official time has been granted for this event.

Great news, you still have time to join the fun in Portland! Registration has been extended to April 7th.

New Member Rebate

By joining the AFGE National VA Council, members gain access to legal, legislative, technical, educational and union-building assistance. Join us in making our workplace safe and fair. We need your help to grow our membership and strengthen our influence. You have until June 30 to earn up to $75 for each new member you successfully recruit. Help spread the word and empower individuals to shape their futures by signing up through our website. Let's keep recruiting and creating change together!

Legislative Updates

Spotlight: Equal COLA Act

Housing, food, and healthcare costs go up yearly, and an adequate Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) (S.4221) is critical for workers and retirees to afford these rising costs. Without an adequate COLA, hard-earned pension benefits will be eroded over time and the retirement security of federal retirees will be at risk.

However, rather than receive the full COLA to keep up with inflation as measured by Social Security and under the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) face an arbitrary 1 percent reduction in their COLA in years when inflation is over 3 percent and smaller deductions when inflation is between 2 and 3 percent. This unfair penalty is compounded over several years of high inflation, placing FERS retirees farther away from keeping pace with the cost of living.

Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to eliminate this one percent penalty. Use this form to write to your elected officials and urge them to support the Equal COLA Act.

Tell Congress to Raise the Debt Limit

We must prevent a catastrophic default and ensure critical programs like Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits and the U.S. military are funded. The priority must be to avoid a default that harms families, retirement savings and America's credibility worldwide and raises borrowing costs. Despite some members of Congress calling for spending cuts, including Social Security and Medicare, the White House will not negotiate such an arrangement.

There should not be any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, federal employee compensation or retirement. Click here to tell your lawmakers to act responsibly and raise the debt limit.

President Biden Proposes Federal Pay Increase

President Biden is set to propose the largest pay increase for federal employees since the Carter administration, with a 5.2 percent raise in his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The proposal would take effect in January 2024, benefiting 2.1 million employees of the executive branch including 291,000 VA workers. While this increase would be significant, it falls short of the 8.7 percent raise called for in the FAIR Act. We appreciate President Biden’s proposal, but we also will continue fighting for fair pay.

Tell your lawmaker to cosponsor the FAIR ACT!

Member Spotlight: Tiffany Milder

This month, we’re highlighting Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Tiffany Milder of Iowa City. Tiffany shared some of her experiences as an LPN and how a stronger and better contract would positively impact her. She says that the pay in the private sector is higher compared to what VA nurses receive, and there’s also a long wait for promotions.

Tiffany says the current promotional system feels like a slap in the face.

“I came back to the VA with 3.5 years of experience and new skills but was stuck in the same position. If I took a job in the private sector, I would make at least 10 dollars more an hour. But I don’t because I enjoy working with veterans and giving back to our nation’s heroes. It would be great to see changes in the upcoming contract negotiations that allow LPNs to move up to GS 7, as we do all the required work.”

Tiffany's words resonate with the core mission of the AFGE National VA Council - to have the backs of every member by fighting for their workplace rights. We are dedicated to making a meaningful impact and will continue to work tirelessly until our members' voices are heard and their needs are met.