Veterans and members of the American Federation of Government Employees have been rallying across the country to protest Trump’s attack on unions and VA workers’ rights. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) represents about 260,000 VA workers across the country. They have been fighting for nearly a year to get a contract with the VA that preserves some of the rights and workplace protections that they’ve managed to win in previous negotiations. The VA, headed by secretary Robert Wilkie, has insisted on contract terms that would bar VA workers from negotiating shift changes and wages and make it harder to go after workplace abuse, discrimination, and unsafe conditions.
Trump has already limited VA workers’ access to union representation and membership. These attacks are part of a longstanding effort to get private profiteering corporations to take over the VA and other government agencies which most veterans and workers oppose as it would result in a loss of benefits, lower wages, and worse care.
The most recent move by Trump and Wilkie has been to force negotiations to be decided by a panel stocked with Trump appointees. Predictably, the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) sided with Wilkie and Trump. Among other attacks, the FSIP removed all provisions regarding the pandemic including the requirement that employees be notified about safety protocols and that workers aren’t forced to use their leave time when they’re sent home because of a pandemic.
The union is fighting the decision in the courts. Outside of the courts, the struggle continues. Federal workers deserve our support as they fight back against the attacks of profit hungry vultures like Trump and his cronies.