The VA Accountability Act is a Threat to VA Workers and Veterans

Veterans across the nation face a grave threat to the quality of care they receive at VA hospitals. Conservative Members of Congress are pushing to revive the failed 2017 Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, now known as the Restore Veterans Affairs (VA) Accountability Act of 2023. Despite claiming to address past flaws, a closer examination reveals that this new version aims to undermine the rights and job security of dedicated VA workers and endanger the care level we provide to veterans. It seeks to make it easier to fire VA employees and shifts the blame for failed leadership onto workers like you.

The new legislation's provisions for easy termination, weakened employee protections, and limited focus on professional growth undermine the quality of care our veterans can expect to receive nationwide.

Stand up for yourself, your colleagues and veterans by sending a letter urging lawmakers to oppose this harmful legislation.

Click here to learn more about VA Accountability Act.

Updates from AFGE National VA Council

We Sign Our New Contract Next Month!

AFGE National President Everett Kelley, National VA Council President Alma L. Lee, National VA Council Chief Negotiators and VA Secretary Denis McDonough will convene in Salem, Virginia, on August 8 at 11 a.m. ET to sign the new 2023 Master Collective Bargaining Agreement that NVAC members recently ratified. This exciting moment is a testament to the dedication of our union and members like you who helped win this victory for the betterment of VA workers and veterans.

Join us in the celebration by tuning into the live stream to watch the signing ceremony!

AFGE National VA Council Celebrates Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month which honors disabled individuals who embrace their disabilities as essential aspects of their identity, reclaim visibility in society and openly engage with their disabilities. 27% of all veterans have a service-connected disability, and here at the National VA Council, we proudly support our disabled veterans, colleagues and loved ones.

Click here to learn more.

Registration is Open: Master Agreement Training

Save the date for upcoming union-only Master Agreement training from December 4-8 in San Diego, California! The training will feature three tracts: Master Agreement, Title 38 Basic, or Title 38 Advanced.

2023 Sister's Keeper Summit, Human Rights Training

The AFGE Women’s and Fair Practices Departments is holding their 4th annual Sister’s Keeper Summit and Human Rights Training Conference at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland, from July 28-August 4, 2023. It will feature some of our most popular training courses, including EEO Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, Legal Writing, Racial Justice, DEI, Conflict Resolution, Workplace Bullying, Worker’s Compensation, and more. Registration has closed.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Legislative Updates

Spotlight: Veterans' True Choice Act of 2023

The Veterans' True Choice Act of 2023 (S.1644, H.R.214), introduced by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Rep. Gregory Steube (R-FL), enables eligible veterans to receive coverage under the Department of Defense's TRICARE Select health care program. This coverage extends to veterans with service-connected disabilities, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, Medal of Honor recipients, individuals discharged due to disability, and those entitled to disability compensation.

Community Care Access Standards

The National VA Council opposes the three bills codifying the Trump Administration's community care access standards which burden the VA with one-sided requirements, forcing referrals to community providers without imposing the same standards on them. These standards drain the VA's budget and accelerate privatization. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee held a legislative hearing on July 12 to discuss the draft and consideration of the Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act and the Veterans HEALTH Act of 2023. The Veteran Care Improvement Act of 2023 advanced from the House Veterans Affairs Committee subcommittee to the full committee on July 18. We will continue to oppose these bills throughout the legislative process.

Member Spotlight: Lori Schmidt

This month, we’re spotlighting Lori Schmidt of AFGE Local 1969 in Minneapolis, Minnesota! As a nurse with 40 years of experience, Lori believes addressing grievances and advocating for better pay are vital issues for AFGE National VA Council members, and a streamlined grievance process would promote timely resolutions and improve the worker experience by fostering support and transparency. Lori also believes better pay is essential for recognizing the value of work at the VA, which would help with retention and staffing.

Lori says that being a member of the AFGE National VA Council has allowed her and her local to receive support to advocate for fair wages and uplift their mission of caring for veterans.

Member Recruitment Drive

We love to highlight our outstanding members, so we urge you to participate in our 2023 recruitment drive, which has been extended through the end of September! AFGE ended June with another overall net increase of 1,362 members, so let’s keep up the momentum. Help us grow even stronger by sharing this link with your colleagues and friends at the VA who deserve to experience the benefits of joining our union -- and you can get some extra cash while you’re at it. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create a brighter future for all.

We're Hiring! National VA Council Positions Open

The National VA Council has two National Safety Representative positions open. Both are appointed positions that fall directly under the President of the Council on issues of national scope. There is some travel involved, telephone work and dedication to working on issues for our members. Applicants should be self-motivated and able to work productively and independently. The Master Agreement provides 50% official time for performing these duties.

If you or a member of your Local are interested in applying for these positions, please send a resume and a brief description of your qualifications to:

Alma L. Lee, AFGE/National VA Council

Salem VA Medical Center

RE: National Representative Application

Bldg. 76, Suite 106

Salem, VA 24153

We request that your resume and brief description be received in our office no later than Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

In the News

New legislation will scapegoat working veterans for leadership failures, Harming VA care

The Hill

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