VA Nurses Could Gain Full Collective Bargaining Rights

• Recently introduced legislation could give VA nurses collective bargaining rights.
• If approved, the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 would give VA’s Title 38 healthcare workers the same rights as its clinicians and federal employees.
• The measure has support from National Nurses United and other union organizations. 

Nurses who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs could soon have full collective bargaining rights. 

Recently introduced legislation, if approved, would give VA’s Title 38 healthcare workers the same workplace rights as the organization’s clinicians and federal employees.

“All VA health care workers should have a voice in the workplace and the freedom to advocate for their patients. It’s good for workers, and it’s good for veterans,” Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who introduced the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024, said in a news release. “This legislation will allow the VA to recruit the most talented staff and allow these essential workers to advocate for patient safety and improved healthcare, which will ensure that the VA is doing its job serving those who sacrificed so much to serve us.”

The legislation, S. 4046, has bi-partisan support and the backing of National Nurses United, among other union organizations.

“National Nurses United commends Sen. Brown for reintroducing the VA Employee Fairness Act, which would allow those of us who care for our nation’s heroes to bargain over the issues that directly affect patient care in VA hospitals,” Irma Westmoreland, RN and NNOC/NNU VA division chair and NNU vice president, said in the same release. “Being able to advocate for our veteran patients to ensure they get the highest-quality care possible is an essential part of our jobs as nurses who care for those who have sacrificed so much.” 

The VA Employee Fairness Act was introduced in the previous legislative session but failed to become law. 

History of Collective Bargaining for VA Employees

VA employees gained collective bargaining rights in 1991, but healthcare providers were exempt “on matters of professional conduct or competence, peer-review, or changes to employee compensation,” the release stated. 

Last May, VA and NNU entered into a “national master collective bargaining agreement” following passage of the The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act – a measure that expands VA benefits and coverage for service members and veterans who were exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange or other toxic substances.  

The PACT Act, according to VA, is “the largest expansion of veteran healthcare and benefits in decades.” 

VA expected to hire more than 10,000 in fiscal year 2023, which it said the NNU agreement would help with as it relates to hiring and retention. 

“Nurses are the bedrock of VA health care, saving and improving veterans’ lives every day,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a news release. “This agreement with NNOC/NNU helps us hire, support, retain, and onboard VA’s incredible nurses — which, in turn, will help us continue delivering world-class care to our nation’s veterans.” 

As of April 5, The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024 had not moved beyond introduction. 

Importance of VA Nurses

McDonough said in a roundtable discussion with Emory University nursing students that nurses are “key” as VA works to move care closer to the nation’s veterans. 

“That care will be outpatient driven, so we are going to need more and more nurses to lead that care,” he said. “That’s good news for us because we think nurses provide the best care.” 

VA employs more than 119,000 nurses, according to the VA Office of Nursing Services 2023 Annual Report, including: 

• 79,616 Registered Nurses 
• 15,460 LPNs/LVNs 
• 14,174 NAs 
• 8,705 NPs 
• 1,173 CRNAs 
• 257 CNSs 
• 3 CNMs 

In addition to its RN Transition to Practice Program, VA has established nursing academic partnerships, a post-baccalaureate nurse residency program and has a travel nurse corps.

The Bottom Line

Though VA employees have had collective bargaining rights for more than three decades, recently introduced legislation would give healthcare providers full bargaining rights. The measure, the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2024, has received bipartisan support. As the largest employer of nursing personnel in the U.S., VA Secretary McDonough said nurses are the bedrock of VA health care. 

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