National VA Council

Now THIS is union power! Pass the Protect America's Workforce Act and restore collective bargaining rights for federal employees.

Meet Your NVAC Officers President, MJ Burke 1st Executive Vice President, Barbara Whitson-Casanova 2nd Executive Vice President, Tinita Cole 3rd Executive Vice President, William Wetmore Treasurer, Monica Fultz

Congratulations to our new NVAC Officers.

President, MJ Burke
1st Executive Vice President, Barbara Whitson-Casanova
2nd Executive Vice President, Tinita Cole
3rd Executive Vice President, William Wetmore
Treasurer, Monica Fultz

Employees are receiving renewed furlough notices as shutdown enters second month, this time without back pay guarantees The shutdown is heading into November, sparking new, altered furlough notices to 650,000 employees.

Federal employees are receiving renewed furlough notices, and this time, there’s no guarantee of back pay in them. Sr. Correspondent Eric Katz explains it all here: buff.ly/Ildewii #FederalEmployees #Furlough #BackPay #shutdown

NG: 10/20/25 - National Grievance against the Department of Veterans Affairs for its removal of the Union from VA Facility Committees.⁠
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NG: 10/21/25 - National Grievance against the Department of Veterans Affairs for its exclusion of the Union from New Employee Orientation.

Shutdown layoffs indefinitely blocked following new court injunction Trump administration attorney says guarantee of back pay justifies issuing widespread reductions in force, but judge finds the layoffs unlawful.

A federal judge on Tuesday indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from carrying out layoffs during the government shutdown, saying the president’s actions were likely unlawful and taken for the purposes of political retribution. buff.ly/kZmOMtr

It’s Past Time to End This Shutdown This week, Congress pushed our nation into the fourth week of a full government shutdown – an avoidable crisis that is harming families, communities, and the very institutions that hold our country to...

Read more here: www.afge.org/article/its-...

I hosted a roundtable with federal workers impacted by furloughs, and AFGE 1128 President Alton McDonald offered to share his thoughts about this administration’s treatment of federal workers. Listen to his story:

Let's go, Local 1012!

Senate to vote on immediately paying feds working during shutdown as funding deal remains elusive Democrats appear to oppose the idea, while Republicans suggest a long-term stopgap bill is possible if government does not reopen soon.

Even amid a shutdown stalemate, federal workers could see paychecks without waiting if the Senate moves forward. Senior Correspondent Eric Katz has the story here: buff.ly/QB4c7Xk #Shutdown

Many federal employees bring 9 months of frustrations to ‘No Kings’ protest Removals of government workers was one of a litany of issues brought up by attendees at the anti-Trump rally.

A crowd of thousands gathered in downtown Washington, D.C., Saturday as part of the nationwide anti-Trump 'No Kings' rallies with a long list of White House actions they were protesting against. buff.ly/uIRp0YK

🐸 Saturday, October 18th. Nationwide. 🐸

We honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities, whose dedication and leadership strengthen not only our union but also our nation.

Judge blocks shutdown layoffs after finding Trump's actions are likely illegal The Trump administration is leveraging the shutdown to declare "the laws don't apply to them anymore," judge says, adding, "they can't do that."

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the Trump administration from implementing any new or existing layoffs in relation to the shutdown, saying the cuts were likely illegal. buff.ly/kOQysWW

AFGE President Everett Kelley Condemns Trump Administration Illegal Mass firings Largest federal employee union demands Congress end the government shutdown immediately.

www.afge.org/publication/...

Democrats float immediately paying feds working through shutdown as Congress again rejects bill to reopen government In addition to the military, some senators say air traffic controllers and other civil servants should get their paychecks on time even as shutdown drags on.

"I don't want folks to miss a paycheck, but I don't want just the military not to miss a paycheck," said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. “I want other government employees not to miss their paycheck too." Senior Correspondent Eric Katz has details here: buff.ly/5HVsHjs

Cabinet leaders detail how the government shutdown is impacting their agencies President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his threat that he would use the appropriations lapse to justify cutting “Democrat programs.”

While Vance added that the Trump administration is prioritizing making “the shutdown as painless as possible on the American people,” the president reiterated his threat to use the lapse in funding to eliminate parts of the government that he objects to. buff.ly/1oqeXxQ

As they should. Federal employees should not have to live in fear while serving our nation.

On Tuesday, the Trump admin said furloughed feds were not guaranteed back pay. On Wednesday, it sent notices saying they were Just one day after taking a different argument, the Trump administration notes federal law guarantees back pay for employees sent home during a shutdown.

The Trump administration initially said furloughed federal workers weren’t guaranteed back pay. Within a day, it sent notices affirming that the 2019 law requires payment. Here's what happened: buff.ly/PmJyhK1 #FederalEmployees #Backpay #Shutdown

Trump administration’s claims against automatic furloughed worker backpay lack legal, historical basis Experts say the White House’s new theory that the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act does not guarantee feds backpay following a shutdown fails a basic tenet of legal analysis.

The Trump administration has raised legal questions about automatic backpay for furloughed fed workers, but experts say the claims lack historical and legal basis.
Details here: buff.ly/kSuzQKf #FederalEmployees #Backpay #Shutdown

Trump says he can pick and choose which feds get back pay. Republicans in Congress mostly disagree. Asked if furloughed workers will get retroactively paid, Trump say “it depends.”

Lawmakers of both parties on Tuesday pushed back on OMB’s view, suggesting all federal employees were guaranteed back pay when the government reopens. buff.ly/tsgLuwh

OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance An Office of Management and Budget FAQ document now states that only excepted employees forced to work without pay are guaranteed backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations.

OMB quietly removed language from its #shutdown guidance that referenced the 2019 law guaranteeing retroactive pay to furloughed federal employees. buff.ly/P0AsxeZ

Why are unions indispensable during federal shutdowns? They ensure workers aren't left defenseless in political games that play with their livelihood. ⁠
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VA employees want to serve our nation's Veterans without fear for their families' financial security. ⁠
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#currentevents #governmentshutdown

Trump is threatening to fire federal workers during a shutdown, that’s not how shutdowns work

We’re proud to represent AFGE & @afscme.bsky.social to push back against this lawless abuse of power

We won’t let Trump invent new laws to hurt working ppl

I explained on @briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social

Who's Really Responsible for Government Waste & Fraud?

We delve into this topic and more on this episode of Voice of the VA with union activist, Niki Omanidze.

Find us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@VoiceOfTheVA

#VoiceoftheVA #VOTVA

Illegal, immoral, and unconscionable. 💯

We won’t let VA Secretary Doug Collins gut workers’ union rights without a fight.

Veterans, VA workers and allies gathered at the Veterans Affairs headquarters in Washington D.C. to tell Secretary Collins to stop privatization and restore VA workers’ collective bargaining rights NOW!

Read Senator Blumenthal's Statement: www.veterans.senate.gov/2025/9/blume...

On September 19, 2025, NVAC filed a National Grievance, NG-9/19/2025 (VA CBA Termination 6.0—Arbitrability Procedures), over the Department’s unilateral and unlawful imposition of arbitrability procedures.