Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
I Like
My
I.C.E.

CRUSHED


Support
Graham
Platner
For Senate
Maine
I`m calling
out YOU:
MAGA repugs,
complicit
MSM,
+ corporate
sycophants
And how many
times can a
man turn his
head, and
pretend that
he just
doesn`t see?

STUPID
is
as
TSF
Does
An island of
Sanity
In a sea of
Insanity


Check out
all the stickies
on Grovelbot's
Big Board!

BumRushDaShow

(158,595 posts)
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 07:50 AM Aug 7

VA terminates key union contracts

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Aug 6, 2025, 9:09 PM ET


Washington — The Department of Veterans Affairs is terminating collective bargaining agreements with several key government unions representing its employees. In an announcement Wednesday, the VA said the move is in response to an executive order President Donald Trump signed in March that nixed collective bargaining rights for many federal workers in the name of national security.

The agency’s decision comes after a federal appellate court lifted a lower court ban on the ending of union contracts on Friday, although the Trump administration previously issued guidance that agencies should not terminate any collective bargaining agreements until litigation challenging the order is over.

“Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of Veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. “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.”

The VA said it notified five major unions that their contracts for “bargaining-unit employees” were being terminated: the American Federation of Government Employees; the National Association of Government Employees; the National Federation of Federal Employees; the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United; and the Service Employees International Union. Contracts covering the roughly 4,000 VA police officers, firefighters or security guards represented by those unions will remain in place, the agency said.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/06/politics/va-terminates-key-union-contracts

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
VA terminates key union contracts (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Aug 7 OP
Just in time for Labor Day. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Aug 7 #1
It's the ole' "unions are protecting bad workers" argument. mdbl Aug 7 #2
Great! BidenRocks Aug 7 #3
Strike. angrychair Aug 7 #4
It's for sure how they'd be fired n/t SickOfTheOnePct Aug 7 #5
That's the beauty of collective bargaining angrychair Aug 7 #6
I'm saying that it's up to them... SickOfTheOnePct Aug 7 #7
And this regime wants to get rid of the VA --- perfect! erronis Aug 7 #8
PATCO is not this situation angrychair Aug 7 #9
First, it is absolutely legal... SickOfTheOnePct Aug 7 #10
Lots of union agreements angrychair Aug 7 #11
A no-strike clause is one thing... SickOfTheOnePct Aug 7 #13
So boot licking it is I guess angrychair Aug 7 #14
I personally find it hard to negatively judge... SickOfTheOnePct Aug 7 #15
I get that angrychair Aug 7 #16
So Doug Collins is shilling for TSF? Seinan Sensei Aug 7 #12

mdbl

(7,205 posts)
2. It's the ole' "unions are protecting bad workers" argument.
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 09:17 AM
Aug 7

Anyone covered by those unions that voted for Dump are going to see what it really meant to FAFO the last election.

BidenRocks

(2,031 posts)
3. Great!
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 10:17 AM
Aug 7

I filed a disability claim yesterday.

I guess they will give it to Helen.

If you want something done, go to Helen Waite!

angrychair

(11,020 posts)
6. That's the beauty of collective bargaining
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 10:31 AM
Aug 7

You are all in it together.
What is the point of a union if you are not willing to stand in solidarity with each other?

So your saying they should just "keep their head down" and "do what they are told" and "just be thankful they have a job from their benevolent great leader". Is that it?

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,351 posts)
7. I'm saying that it's up to them...
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 10:35 AM
Aug 7

...if there is a strike, I have no doubt in my mind that employees who participate in the strike will be fired, and it will be perfectly legal to do so.

This wouldn't be a normal strike where they can anticipate that there will be an end to it and they'll have their jobs back, this would be more along the lines of the PATCO strike, and we know how that turned out.

angrychair

(11,020 posts)
9. PATCO is not this situation
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 10:45 AM
Aug 7

Over 400,000 people work just for the VA. If even half to two thirds strike or hopefully more, most are medical professionals that do not have any replacement for what they do. None. Even if you mobilized the military medical core it would still be impossible and would dramatically impact military readiness.

I know a lot of people think crazy stuff like "they will just fire everyone" that is likely not legal and no matter what the rhetoric is, impossible to do for a host of reasons.

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,351 posts)
10. First, it is absolutely legal...
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 10:53 AM
Aug 7

...to fire federal employees who strike.

Second, while it would certainly negatively impact veteran care, the VA already has a mechanism to farm out medical care to private doctors/hospitals.

You obviously believe this administration would care enough about veterans to not impede their care with large scale firings...I don't believe that.

angrychair

(11,020 posts)
11. Lots of union agreements
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 11:07 AM
Aug 7

Have a "no strike" clause. Even in my state with state employee unions. That hasn't been fully tested in modern times.

Yea, they might be able to get away with trying to farm out some of the care but in no way are most hospitals, especially rural ones, equipped to care for the type of injuries and conditions many veterans have.
Yes, I completely agree, this administration doesn't give a shit about veterans. That's true. But there are laws around veteran medical care and significant public support for veterans, no matter their politics. It would end up being very bad for this administration.

I'm suggesting some sort of action because what is the alternative? They just need to become Mango Mussolini's sycophants and start licking his boots?

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,351 posts)
13. A no-strike clause is one thing...
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 11:16 AM
Aug 7

...a federal law that prohibits federal employees from striking is another animal altogether. And that law has been tested in federal court (PATCO strike).

A strike is one alternative, one in which will thousands of people lose their livelihoods, and if they're ok with that, then absolutely, they should take that action. But many of thousands that aren't doctors and nurses may not be able to easily find another job, and they might not have the resources to help them make it through while they look for new work.

angrychair

(11,020 posts)
14. So boot licking it is I guess
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 11:24 AM
Aug 7

Got to say I'm absolutely horrified by the willingness of people to give in to dictators for a little coin.

SickOfTheOnePct

(8,351 posts)
15. I personally find it hard to negatively judge...
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 11:34 AM
Aug 7

…those for whom that “little coin” is literally the difference between having a roof over their head and food on the table and not having those things.

angrychair

(11,020 posts)
16. I get that
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 02:42 PM
Aug 7

But what is happening is being artificially imposed on us by fascists.
Nothing about what is happening is in anyone's best interest.
Even him and his billionaire buddies. Its self destructive.

Far as I can tell, given the current direction of things. The idea that you can just keep your head down and be quiet and it will all go away eventually, is just not viable. It may buy you a little time but given what is happening it will be short lived.

Seinan Sensei

(1,108 posts)
12. So Doug Collins is shilling for TSF?
Thu Aug 7, 2025, 11:10 AM
Aug 7

Well damn. Collins knows better.
Collins himself is a veteran, and also he is a chaplain.
So now he’s taking away the voice of rank-and-file VA workers, many of whom are his fellow vets.
So it’s a two-fer
Getting rid of unions lets down veterans AND misses a central tenet of the Gospel of Jesus.
Go back and re-read The Beatitudes, Chaplain Collins.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»VA terminates key union c...