VA Ends Most Union Agreements to Enhance Employee Focus

The Veterans Affairs Bureau has announced the termination of most collective bargaining agreements with unions, aiming to concentrate more on employee performance.

Doug Collins, the VA secretary, stated, “Often, unions representing our employees protect underperforming workers and hinder efforts that truly benefit veterans.” He emphasized that the aim is to ensure VA resources are aligned with their core mission: providing outstanding care and services to service members.

Last year, approximately 1,900 employees engaged in negotiations spent around 750,000 hours of taxpayer-funded time on union activities. This decision to end the contracts was influenced by President Trump’s executive order from March, which directed various federal agencies to limit labor-related programs.

Data from the US Personnel Management indicated that in 2016, the VA allocated more time to union activities than any other federal agency, totaling $49 million. The VA is recognized as the second largest federal agency.

In terms of taxpayer-funded union time, the last figures available from 2019 showed the VA spent $21 million.

Under the Federal Services Labor Management Law, federal unions are restricted from negotiating benefits and salaries. However, they can still address workplace conditions.

Following the March executive order, the VA has ceased withholding union fees from the majority of salaries since April. On Wednesday, the VA informed various employee organizations, including the United States Federation of Government Employees, about the termination of these contracts.

It’s worth noting that around 4,000 security personnel, police officers, and firefighters connected to the VA are not affected by this termination, as their positions were not part of the executive order.