VA Begins Canceling Collective Bargaining Agreements
On August 8, 2025, MedPage Today reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun canceling collective bargaining agreements for a significant portion of its workforce. This includes contracts for approximately 16,000 nurses and affects multiple unions such as National Nurses United (NNU) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). In total, around 400,000 VA employees are impacted by this decision.
Exceptions and Legal Challenges
Interestingly, contracts for 4,000 police officers, security personnel, and firefighters will remain unaffected. The VA clarified that these actions are a response to an executive order that revoked collective bargaining rights for numerous federal employees. This move has sparked legal challenges from the unions involved, which are currently progressing through the judicial system.
Purpose of the Policy Shift
According to a VA press release, this policy shift aims to allocate more time for staff to dedicate to patient care and other essential duties, though specific details remain under discussion.