The American Federation of Government Employees has lauded the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee for approving language to amend Title 38 of US Code to permit VA health care professionals to grieve and negotiate over some compensation-related disputes.
“The current law hampers VA doctors, dentists, registered nurses, physicians’ assistants, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, and dental auxiliaries from exercising their collective bargaining rights when management withholds overtime or weekend premium pay, or wage survey data or does not properly implement performance pay systems enacted by Congress,” according to AFGE.
It said the amendment would allow unions that represent these Title 38 employees to negotiate over certain compensation matters, but rejected opponents’ arguments that the amendment would actually grant employees the right to bargain over basic pay.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote, while a companion bill, HR-5543, is pending in the House VA committee and is expected for a vote following the Congress summer recess.
