President Biden often says that our Nation’s most sacred obligation is to prepare and equip the troops
After several emails to the VA Secretary from the VBA Mid-Term Bargaining Committee and Local VBA Union Presidents, VBA Management has decided to adjust the RVSR And DRO performance standards.
August 11, 2021The pandemic continues to create housing difficulties. Many families and landlords are challenged with getting caught up with mounting bills.
August 11, 2021President Biden often says that our Nation’s most sacred obligation is to prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they return home. The second part of the obligation belongs to us here at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as we work tirelessly to fulfil that obligation. I am proud of and grateful of your efforts to do so.
President's Briefing
July 29, 2021
To further improve communication lines and respond to the concerns between the National VA Council and you, our members, I have established a National VA Council Briefing. This NVAC Briefing will bring you the latest news and developments within DVA and provide you with the current status of issues this Council is currently addressing. This NVAC Briefing will significantly enhance how we communicate and how we share new information, keeping you better informed.
Alma L. Lee
National VA Council, President
In this briefing: MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY: Union Reset
MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY
Union Reset
President Biden often says that our Nation’s most sacred obligation is to prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families when they return home. The second part of the obligation belongs to us here at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as we work tirelessly to fulfil that obligation. I am proud of and grateful of your efforts to do so.
More than 79% of our workforce are bargaining unit employees, and as your Secretary, I am committed to cultivating strong, lasting relationships with the unions that represent so many of you. To that end, I am proud to announce today that I plan to take some key steps to chart a new path forward that will both empower VA workers and serve the Nation’s Veterans.
These steps include:
1. Reestablishing the National Partnership Council (NPC): Before it was disbanded in 2017, the NPC was a forum for open communication between labor leaders and VA leadership. Reestablishing it will provide a critical space for our leaders to build lasting relationships with our union partners, discuss employee concerns and make collaborative decisions.
2. Restoring official time for Title 38 employees: As of today, our Doctors, Nurses, Physician Assistants and other Title 38 employees can once again utilize “official time”—meaning that they can use work hours to conduct union business and advocate on behalf of their coworkers.
3. Continuing to deliver on President Biden’s promise to protect the Federal workforce: On just his second day in office, President Biden issued an Executive Order to empower and protect career civil servants. We are working tirelessly with our unions to fully implement that order across VA.
4. Addressing many pending grievances and civil suits filed by American Federation of Government Employees, National Association of Government Employees, National Federation of Federal Employees and National Nurses United: We worked with our unions to address their concerns in a number of pending disputes, allowing VA and our unions to refocus on the future and what matters most: serving the Nation’s Veterans.
We are taking these important steps because a unionized VA workforce is a strong VA workforce—and a workforce that delivers for the Nation’s Veterans.
Union workers built the middle class. They built America. And here at VA, they have helped build a Department that provides world-class care, timely benefits and services to the brave men and women who served in our Armed Forces.
I am proud to partner with each of you as we serve the Nation’s Veterans.
Thank you.
Denis McDonoughCheck out our social media pages for additional important NVAC news.
