Shredding of V.A. Employees' Union Contract Harms Veterans

The Veterans Administration employees and the Maine AFL-CIO condemn the Trump administration’s decision to terminate the master collective bargaining agreement between V.A. and AFGE National VA Council, which represents about 2000 V.A. employees in Maine. The move eliminates contracts for V.A. nurses, doctors, benefits specialists, housekeepers, electricians, painters, food service workers, lawyers, dentists, pharmacists, crisis responders, mental health specialists, cemetery workers, janitors, and more.

“The U.S. Department of Veterans Affair decision to eliminate our legally negotiated contract is not only an attack on V.A. employees, but also our nation’s veterans. This is a blatant effort to strip workers of union protections so that the V.A. can carry out its plan to eliminate 30,000 positions at our facilities at a time when veterans’ claims have been surging. This will only cause delays in processing veterans’ services and benefits such as disability compensation and pensions,” said Liz Harkins. Tri-State President of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2604, which represents V.A. employees in southern Maine and serves many veterans from southern Maine. “Contrary to V.A. Secretary’s absurd claim that unionized workers harm veteran’s care, it is the nurses, physicians and other union employees who have always advocated for the best possible care for the men and women who have put their lives on the line to serve this country. Eliminating our union protections will prevent us from advocating for our patients without fear of retaliation.”

Veterans make up about 25 percent of the V.A.’s workforce thanks to policies that recognize the skills veterans bring to the workplace and give preference in hiring to veterans in the federal sector.

“The Trump administration’s shredding of union contracts for thousands of V.A. workers will hurt Maine veterans and is an attack on the dedicated public servants who care for our veterans,” said Maine AFL-CIO Executive Director Matt Schlobohm. “This action is a clear case of retaliation against unionized employees who have used their collective power to challenge the Administration’s illegal attacks on workers’ rights. This is not how we should treat the people who care for our veterans."

Schlobohm continued, "This is a dangerous step. Throughout history the road to authoritarianism always includes repealing workers' collective bargaining rights and limiting the role of trade unions as a check and balance on corporate and authoritarian power."