By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts
Tactical

VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: August 6, 2025 11:52 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published August 6, 2025
Share
SHARE

Veterans Affairs leaders on Wednesday announced plans to terminate nearly all of its collective bargaining contracts with federal unions, upending employment agreements for hundreds of thousands of department workers.

AFGE alone represents about 300,000 employees working for VA. About 80% of the department’s roughly 450,000-person staff are union members.

Department officials said the move was made to “make it easier for VA leaders to promote high-performing employees, hold poor performers accountable, and improve benefits and services to America’s veterans.”

In a statement, VA Secretary Doug Collins attacked the unions as inefficient and harmful to veterans’ care.

“Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers,” Collins said. “We’re making sure VA resources and employees are singularly focused on the job we were sent here to do: providing top-notch care and service to those who wore the uniform.”

RELATED

Members of President Donald Trump’s administration have fought with union officials for months. In April, VA stopped withholding union dues from most employee paychecks, citing an executive order excluding some federal agencies from labor-management relations programs.

Wednesday’s move does not impact unions representing 4,000 VA police officers, firefighters and security guards. Officials said the executive order does not apply to those positions.

Union leaders for months have protested against proposed cuts at VA and other federal agencies, arguing the smaller staffs will hurt delivery of benefits and health care. They’ve also accused Collins of working to “privatize” VA services by sending more money for medical appointments into civilian hospitals and medical offices, rather than VA clinics.

The unions have also filed numerous lawsuits against the president’s proposed changes to the federal bureaucracy. On Monday, a federal appeals court paused a preliminary injunction that had blocked department heads from making changes to collective bargaining agreements, allowing Wednesday’s contract terminations to move ahead.

At the time, AFGE National President Everett Kelley called the ruling “a setback for fundamental rights in America” and promised continued opposition to Trump’s proposals.

In a statement after Wednesday’s announcement, Kelley criticized Collins for attacking VA workers’ rights.

“[The] decision to rip up the negotiated union contract for majority of its workforce is another clear example of retaliation against AFGE members for speaking out against the illegal, anti-worker, and anti-veteran policies of this administration,” he said.

“We don’t apologize for protecting veteran healthcare and will continue to fight for our members and the veterans they care for.”

Officials from National Nurses United accused the Trump adminstration of “waging class warfare against working people of America” and similarly promised continued legal challenges.

“This president has made it clear he has no respect for the Constitution, but we believe strongly that our right to join together to collectively bargain is constitutionally protected,” the group said in a statement. “It cannot be swept away through an overreach of an executive order based on spurious claims.”

VA officials said that in addition to eliminating unneeded restrictions on hiring and firing policies, breaking union contracts will free up more than 187,000 square feet of office space currently being used by group representatives.

At the start of 2025, federal unions represented more than 1.3 million government workers across a host of agencies.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Air Force introduces new standards for physical fitness

Defense official disputes Iranian report of encounter with US warship

After meetings on Russia-Ukraine war, major obstacles to peace remain

First Look: High Speed Gear Dust Bag Insert for NVG Pouch

Ex-Syrian official claims Austin Tice was killed in 2013

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Michigan church shooter’s family reacts to viral fundraising effort by Latter-day Saint members
News

Michigan church shooter’s family reacts to viral fundraising effort by Latter-day Saint members

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 2, 2025
Two Delta regional jets collide on taxiway at LaGuardia Airport; 1 injured
War Department pushes back on ‘false’ narrative of internal strategy split
Drunk 13-year-old crashes stolen vehicle with 11-year-old passenger inside in Arizona
Portland police seek public’s help after ‘safe space’ officer loses track of assault suspect near ICE facility
How Mikie Sherrill’s family made millions after she was elected to Congress
Cavelle Yeah: New Prototype for We Knife Co.
Guns and Gear

Cavelle Yeah: New Prototype for We Knife Co.

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 2, 2025
Kim Kardashian says someone ‘extremely close’ to her put out a hit on her life
News

Kim Kardashian says someone ‘extremely close’ to her put out a hit on her life

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey October 2, 2025
STOP Wasting Money – These 10 Rounds Are CHEAPER Than Ever!
TacticalVideos

STOP Wasting Money – These 10 Rounds Are CHEAPER Than Ever!

Line45 Line45 October 1, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?