🐸 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.

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

"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

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

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

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

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 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. ⁠ ⁠ VA employees want to serve our nation's Veterans without fear for their families' financial security. ⁠ ⁠ #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.

Attorneys for the nation’s largest federal employee union warned that the August decision to allow President Trump’s executive orders stripping collective bargaining from two-thirds of the federal workforce would leave a “gaping hole” in the First Amendment if left in place. buff.ly/mZ528fJ

A bipartisan group of 48 senators introduced legislation Wednesday that would nullify President Trump’s executive orders aimed at stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights and restore union contracts. buff.ly/FBZfuDh

On September 16, 2025, NVAC filed a National Grievance, NG-9/16/25 (VA CBA Termination 5.0 – SharePoint Access), with regard to the Department unilaterally and unlawfully terminating the Union’s access to, and revising the procedures governing the future use of, the VA SharePoint system.

A federal judge rules that Trump’s mass probationary firings of ~25,000 were illegal, but employees won’t be rehired. Agencies must send notices clarifying the firings weren’t due to performance.

Probationary feds fired en masse are suing to force the Office of Special Counsel to probe their cases, after 2,000+ complaints were dismissed under new leadership. buff.ly/DfEhxn1

On September 9, 2025, NVAC filed a National Grievance, NG-9/9/25 (VA CBA Termination 4.0 – E-Dues) concerning the Department’s actions in encouraging and instructing employees to terminate their enrollment in AFGE E-Dues.

Today, we pause to remember the tragic events of September 11th. We honor the lives lost, the first responders who ran toward danger without hesitation, and all the families whose lives were impacted. Let us never forget.

President Trump’s order extending a ban on collective bargaining to additional agencies opened the door for more labor groups to continue representing employees at the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments. buff.ly/tnq3t4A

On September 5, 2025, NVAC filed a National Grievance, NG-9/5/25 (VA CBA Termination 3.0 - Official Time and Office Space) concerning the Department’s refusal to grant official time and provide official facilities to local unions.

On August 29, 2025, NVAC filed a National Grievance. This National Grievance (NG-8/29/25) concerns the Department’s refusal to recognize the Union’s designated representatives.

EXCLUSIVE: VA plans to set new staffing caps, cut positions above those limits, and tighten hiring controls. Details: buff.ly/KNmUxjf

✊ We stand with our AFGE brothers and sisters! When we're together, our strength is unstoppable! Do not give up the fight. We will win against this Administration's tyranny. Organize, mobilize, win!

A federal appeals court this week signaled that it may revisit a three-judge panel’s decision earlier this month to allow agencies to implement an executive order aimed at stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights. buff.ly/6nPsNLJ

"The survey is mandated under federal code and provides an annual snapshot of employee satisfaction. Administration officials have not said whether they will provide other avenues for tracking those metrics."⁠ ⁠ Read the article: www.militarytimes.com/veterans/202...

The Health and Human Services Department terminated its union contracts at more than half a dozen agency subcomponents, making it the latest to implement President Trump’s executive order aimed at stripping two-thirds of the federal workforce of their collective bargaining rights. buff.ly/EzVYJdP

President Trump has just nine days to issue his likely plan to freeze federal employees’ salaries in 2026, before sizeable automatic and across-the-board increases take hold. buff.ly/PaDlHXn

A recently enacted law aims to address two separate controversies that emerged within the VA in 2024, both surrounding the PACT Act. buff.ly/5P65Gls

On August 6, 2025, Secretary Collins terminated our collective bargaining agreement. This move was an illegal act of retaliation. For those of you who don't get the legal jargon, let's break it down... [1/5]

✊ TODAY join our brothers and sisters in peaceful protest as we stand up against the illegal actions of this Administration!

✊ We stand strong with our union families! A contract does not define our strength. The strength is with the people. Do not give up. Together, we can win! Read the whole article here: tinyurl.com/4jnx6bfh

NVAC Legal Team filed a national grievance on August 13th, 2025, against the Department of Veterans Affairs for refusing to comply with negotiated agreements concerning the provision of union office space and official facilities. #NVAC #Legal #UnionStrong #NationalGrievance

"Secretary Collins’ decision to rip up the negotiated union contract for majority of its workforce is another clear example of retaliation against AFGE members for speaking out,” stated AFGE National President Everett Kelley. #AFGE #NVAC #AFGEstrong

BREAKING: Secretary Collins strips collective bargaining rights from over 300,000 VA employees. Local leaders, be on the lookout for a Town Hall invitation through the President’s Briefing. Out of Many. One Union

"...hundreds of employees who interact with patients, including nurses, claims assistants, therapists, pharmacists, and psychologists, were also on the list."⁠ ⁠ Read the article: tinyurl.com/yjfccrp2 #Veterans #NVAC #AFGE

A Government Accountability Office report published Thursday found shortfalls in the Department of Veterans Affairs' monitoring of whistleblower cases, meaning that the whistleblowers may not actually receive their negotiated benefits. buff.ly/3NT46rS

AFGE's Rushab Sanghvi speaks on Legal AF. Watch the whole video on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9-s...