A bill has been referred to the House Veterans Affairs Committee that would expand the number of workplace issues VA managers have to bargain over.
An amendment in 1991 allowed medical professionals to negotiate, file grievances and arbitrate over working certain working conditions — but not those related to pay, direct patient care, or clinical competence, which are exceptions that the American Federation of Government Employees says VA managers have used to block bargaining over "virtually all significant workplace disputes."
According to the union, the bill — introduced by Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif. — would repeal previously listed exceptions, set a deadline for final review for grievances, and clarify requirements for disciplinary appeals.
"It was never the intent of Congress to grant collective bargaining rights for VA employees and then water them down with so many exceptions that no workplace dispute could be bargained over," said AFGE president John Gage.