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New Legislation Seeks To Give Full Bargaining Rights To VA Employees

If passed, new legislation will grant full bargaining rights for pay for employees under the Title 38 personnel system. The legislation (S. 572) would force the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to follow its own laws, according to representatives from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

Along with other VA health care professionals, this bill applies to:  

 

• dentists;
• physicians; and
• registered nurses.  

 

More than 200,000 VA employees are represented by the AFGE, and about 66% of those work in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). According to the AFGE, the VA broadly interprets Section 7422 of Title 38. Interpreting it as they do prevents them from being able to bargain over compensation issues, such as incentive pay for physicians and overtime for nurses.

The VA's interpretation has been ongoing for 8 years, and has lead to a singling out of medical professionals covered under Title 38. Therefore, those employees are essentially being deprived of their right to bargain over what are routine compensation matters, according to the AFGE.

VA Sec. Eric Shinseki has recognized the extent of pay abuse within the VA for medical professionals covered by this regulation.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.