Keeping In Touch Monthly Newsletter

Your story matters. We’d like to hear from you! Help us 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.

The Tentative Agreement is Ratified — Now What? 

After more than five years of unwavering dedication, the AFGE National VA Council has successfully ratified the 2023 Master Agreement with the VA. This significant achievement showcases the relentless pursuit by the Council for a fair contract that prioritizes VA employees and veterans.

This agreement is a remarkable milestone as it not only preserves the 2011 Master Agreement but also modernizes Article 23, specifically focusing on Title 5 Merit Promotion. The changes to Article 23 are designed to enhance and streamline the promotion process, ensuring a more equitable and merit-based system for VA employees.

So, what’s next?

With the ratification completed, the VA has been notified and will now initiate a 30-day VA agency head review process. This review will ensure the final contract aligns with relevant laws and regulations. When VA Secretary Denis McDonough approves, the much-anticipated 2023 Master Agreement will go into effect, ushering in a new era of collaboration and progress.

Thank you for fighting relentlessly for the rights of all AFGE National VA Council members. Your negotiating team is endlessly grateful for your support over the last five years, and we are excited to present the VA with a ratified agreement that treats us with the dignity, fairness and respect we deserve.

Updates from AFGE National VA Council 

2023 PORT Leadership Academy Recap; Congratulations, President Lee!

This month, we held our 2023 PORT Leadership Academy, hosted by AFGE Districts 6, 10, 12, and 14 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. There were VA-specific classes, such as Title 38 training, Master Agreement training, a dinner to discuss our new contract, and more. This advanced-level continuing education program develops leaders into subject matter experts and mentors in unionism.

At a luncheon during this year’s PORT Leadership Academy, National VA Council President Alma L. Lee was recognized with the Living Labor Legend Award, which began in 2017.

National VA Council’s First Executive Vice President, MJ Burke, accepted the award on behalf of President Lee. In President Lee’s acceptance message, she extended her gratitude to National VA Council members like you.

"It's on your shoulders that I stand, and I can only accept this Living Labor Legend Award because of what you all do for the rights of employees. Our work is more meaningful because of our solidarity in the fight for justice.”

Aside from President Lee, Barbara Jackson and Dorothy James also were recognized for the award since the last three years were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We congratulate all winners!

Register for the 12th Annual New Local Presidents' Training

We are pleased to announce that registration is now open for our highly anticipated 12th Annual New Local Presidents' Training in Roanoke, Virginia. This comprehensive training program is scheduled to run from August 20 to 25, featuring class days from Monday to Thursday, while travel days are set for Sunday and Friday. We extend a warm invitation to new Local Presidents who have yet to experience such training, as well as those who have recently been elected. Your participation would be greatly valued and appreciated. Please fill out this form and email it to Communication@afgenvac.org.

2023 Sister's Keeper Summit & Human Rights Training Conference

The AFGE Women’s and Fair Practices Departments are 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. Click here to register.

Happy Pride Month!

June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other gender and sexuality-expansive individuals celebrate and reflect on progress made and what lies ahead for the community.

As of this month, America’s largest LGBT+ civil rights organization, Human Rights Campaign, has declared a national state of emergency for community members for the first time in 40 years due to the unprecedented increase in anti-LGBT+ legislation and targeted violence and discrimination. Over 400 anti-LGBT+ bills have been introduced nationwide this year alone.

AFGE National VA Council stands with our LGBTQIA+ members and recognizes what the community is going through, and we hope progress prevails nationwide to ensure safety and equity for all. We also hope you all had a safe and enjoyable Pride Month!

Check out this video from AFGE National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices, Jeremy Lannan.

AFGE National VA Council Celebrates Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s “Emancipation Proclamation” freed Black enslaved people, Union troops arrived in confederate-controlled Galveston Bay, Texas and freed more than 250,000 people by executive decree. This momentous day became known as “Juneteenth” and has been long celebrated by members of the Black community, becoming a national holiday in 2021. Juneteenth signifies the value of keeping hope during dark times and remaining resilient in times of struggle—a value embraced deeply by AFGE NVAC.

We invite you to view a special Juneteenth video message from AFGE National President Everett Kelley.

AFGE Members Center Stage at Biden-Harris Rally

This month, AFGE endorsed President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for reelection next year. 

Diana Quiñones, member of the VBA at Local 940 in Philadelphia, spoke on behalf of AFGE at the Labor for Biden-Harris rally on June 17 and Marilyn Salcedo of the same Local delivered the pledge of allegiance.

Read what AFGE National President Everett Kelley said about the endorsement here.

Master Agreement Training Recap

In May, the fourth one-day joint in-person Master Agreement training was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the shared objective of fostering a cooperative atmosphere to enhance understanding of the VA/AFGE Master Agreement. The training proved successful once again. Going forward, these one-day sessions will be integrated into the quarterly National Training and Education meetings, and plans are already underway to schedule the comprehensive three-day course.

Help Grow AFGE Membership 

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!

Help spread the word. Share this video and empower individuals to shape their futures by signing up through our website. Let's keep recruiting and creating change together!

Legislative Updates

Spotlight: AFGE National VA Council Testified on VBA Subcommittee 

AFGE National VA Council Representative Dave Bump testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, and the Subcommittee On Technology Modernization this month.

The hearing, titled “From Months to Hours: The Future of VA Benefits Claim Processing,” was an opportunity for the AFGE National VA Council to discuss the challenges facing the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and offer suggestions for improving the use of technology at the VBA.

In his remarks,  Bump raised concerns about the VA’s modernization plan and the negative impact of replacing human processors with technology and highlighted system failures that lead to delayed claims, among other issues. He also called on the VBA to survey its employees as it pursues IT modernization and to integrate employee feedback.