Ramirez, Blumenthal Lead Legislation to Protect VA Workers' Right to Representation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continuing their efforts to protect the rights of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), House Veterans’ Affairs Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member, and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member,  introduced H. R. 6014, the Right to Representation for VA Workers Act. The legislation would restore VA employees’ right to have their choice of representation in inquiries with other Department staff that could lead to disciplinary action. 

The Weingarten right has been a long-held principle previously protected through collective bargaining agreements. Since the Trump Administration’s cancellation of union contracts, this right has consistently been infringed upon at the VA for employees across the nation. Blumenthal and Ramirez have heard from various unions and VA employees that Trump VA officials no longer allow employees to have the right to choose their own representation in investigation meetings.

 “VA employees are essential to ensuring the VA effectively serves veterans and meets its mission. Protecting VA employees and their rights ensures we retain the workforce that delivers on the promises we made to our veterans as a nation,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “As the Trump administration doubles down on their attacks on federal workers, we must reaffirm every worker's right to a voice in decisions that affect their work and to be protected from actions that would jeopardize their rights, safety, and dignity. I am proud to work with Senator Blumenthal on legislation that will defend workers' rights.”

“VA workers deserve to be represented by someone of their choice—a right that must be guaranteed by statute because the VA is routinely denying it in practice. It’s part of Secretary Collins’ assault on VA worker rights, including an illegal ban on collective bargaining. Ultimately, it harms care and benefits for veterans, and it must be stopped,” said Senator Blumenthal.

The Right to Representation for VA Workers Act is co-sponsored in the House by VA Ranking Member Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) and Representative Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Julia Brownley (CA-26), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Common Defense.

For the full text of the bill, CLICK HERE.

BACKGROUND:

The introduction of the Right to Representation for VA Workers Act follows Blumenthal and Ramirez’s introduction of bipartisan legislation to restore and protect VA employees’ collective bargaining rights in response to the Trump Administration’s cancellation of union contracts for 80% of VA employees. Their legislation, the VA Care and Benefits Accountability (VA CBA) Act, would restore union bargaining rights and protections for nearly 400,000 VA employees, among whom almost 25% are veterans.

In August, Trump VA Secretary Doug Collins terminated union contracts for most of VA’s bargaining-unit employees—enforcing the executive orders despite ongoing litigation and the Office of Personnel Management’s recommendation to wait until court proceedings had been fully resolved. This decision impacts nearly 80% of VA’s workforce, including mission-critical positions like mental health providers, nurses, and claims processors. This action stripped employees of certain essential rights that help protect whistleblowers who advocate for accountable leadership and increased support and resources to provide quality, effective, and efficient services to all Americans.

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