What to know about VA workers on Long Island, nationwide, losing union protection

Thousands of workers for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Long Island are being stripped of labor protections after the agency announced it was ending union contracts nationwide.

Terminating collective bargaining agreements will make it "easier for VA leaders to promote high-performing employees, hold poor performers accountable, and improve benefits and services," the VA said last week. The claim is disputed by union officials. 

The announcement followed a March presidential executive order that excluded many agencies from federal labor-management relations programs, citing security interests. 

Here are some questions and answers about the VA's actions and the potential affect on Long Island.

What has been the reaction from leadership for unionized Long Island VA workers?

Robert Dennis, union president of the American Federation of Government Employees' Local 1843, said he was ordered to vacate the union office at the Northport VA Medical Center by Tuesday. Dennis said he received an additional memo Tuesday notifying employees they can't belong to any union. 

"This is ridiculous, they're telling people they can't join a union. This is our freedom. They're causing chaos and fear so that people will not want to be part of the union," Dennis said Tuesday. 

American Federation Government Employees president Everett Kelley said in a recent release "the action by VA Secretary Doug Collins was a clear case of retaliation against AFGE members for speaking out against the illegal, anti-worker, and anti-veteran policies of the Trump administration."

Why is this happening now?

After the Trump administration issued an executive order in March terminating labor contracts for most agencies, labor unions filed lawsuits, with a lower court issuing a temporary injunction and pausing the initiative. Last week, a panel of three judges at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth District overturned the lower court decision, paving the way for agencies to follow. Previously, the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, part of U.S. Office of Personnel Management, had advised agencies not to terminate union contracts until litigation ended, according to court papers. The Office of Personnel Management is the federal government’s main human resources agency.

Why is the Department of Veterans Affairs ending labor contracts?

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the move will free up workers to focus more on veterans instead of on "taxpayer funded union time." The VA also said: "Labor contracts have restricted managers’ ability to hire, promote and reward high-performing employees, hold poor performers accountable and implement reforms to better serve." Labor unions like the AFGE disputed the administration's claims. Timothy McLaughlin, who is based in Mastic Beach as an AFGE national representative, told Newsday thousands of employees will be unable to challenge unfair actions from bad managers, unable to negotiate changes to working conditions and left without union grievance rights. 

Who is affected on Long Island?

According to McLaughlin, about 5,000 VA employees on Long Island work at facilities, including in Northport, the Veterans Benefit Administration, Long Island National Cemetery, Calverton National Cemetery and other facilities in Queens and Brooklyn. Employees potentially affected are medical professionals, benefits specialists, housekeepers, food service workers, cemetery workers and janitors.

Police officers, firefighters or security guards are exempt from the order, according to a fact sheet issued by the VA. The local unions represent both paying and nonpaying members. Many have already received orders to vacate their union offices, which were housed within the VA facilities, and to return any equipment.

What’s next?

McLaughlin said AFGE will continue to challenge the matter in court, raise public awareness and engage in congressional outreach.

"AFGE has been around for 100 years, we did not ink our first labor contract until the late 70s. We will survive. We are not going anywhere and will continue to speak up when things are not right ... when injustices are occurring to the nation’s workforce," McLaughlin said in an email.

By Lorena Mongelli

lorena.mongelli@newsday.com

Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.