VA terminates key union contracts

[BumRushDaShow]

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

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Just in time for Labor Day. . . . . nt

[mdbl]

2. It's the ole' "unions are protecting bad workers" argument.

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

[BidenRocks]

3. Great!

I filed a disability claim yesterday.

I guess they will give it to Helen.

If you want something done, go to Helen Waite!

[angrychair]

4. Strike.

That's how you fix that sisters and brothers.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. It's for sure how they'd be fired n/t

[angrychair]

6. That's the beauty of collective bargaining

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]

7. I'm saying that it's up to them...

...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.

[erronis]

8. And this regime wants to get rid of the VA --- perfect!

[angrychair]

9. PATCO is not this situation

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]

10. First, it is absolutely legal...

...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. Lots of union agreements

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]

13. A no-strike clause is one thing...

...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]

14. So boot licking it is I guess

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

[SickOfTheOnePct]

15. I personally find it hard to negatively judge...

…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]

16. I get that

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]

12. So Doug Collins is shilling for TSF?

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.