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  • Keeping In Touch Monthly Newsletter
    Updated On: Apr 10, 2023

    Keeping In Touch Monthly Newsletter

    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

    President Biden Proposes Federal Pay Increase

    Member Spotlight: Tiffany Milder


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