Newsletter October 2015 - AFGE National VA Council

REFLECTIONS 2016
O ctobe r 20 15 Vo l. 15, Is s u e 3
The Honorable Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald
Addresses attendees at the National VA Council #53 during the
AFGE/NVAC National President,
Alma L. Lee
September Joint Labor Management Relations meeting.
“Big
Enough to Win”
Inside this issue:
AFGE National President
J. David Cox Sr. Reelected as President of
the largest federal Union
“I am honored and humbled by the faith AFGE members have placed in me to continue
Training
Information &
Updates
2
Organizing Updates
3
Kudos & Congrats
4
Welcome
5
Legislative
Update
6
Call Out
6
the work I began three years ago, leading the nation’s largest union for federal and D.C.
government employees,” Cox said. “Our membership has grown year over year for the
past 24 years, and we are going to keep growing so we are big enough and strong
enough to build the future that our dedicated members deserve.”
AFGE/ NVAC Safety & Health Convention
Save the Date!
FEBRUARY
22 – 26, 2016
HEALTH & SAFETY
MATTERS!
Tropicana Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
AFGE/National VA
Council
Purpose: Update, educate,
and motivate NVAC Safety &
National Safety &
Health Conference
Health representatives and
activists on key and
emerging occupational
safety health problems and
solutions.
Got Joint Master Agreement Training at your facility...?
Joint training is an integral part of everything we do, and we need your help in this regard. We ask you to go
to the NVAC website (www.afgenvac.org ) and download the forms for joint training. To locate the form, scroll
to the title of the “Menu” area (look on the left-hand side of the screen), and click on “Member Training”. The
forms for both Joint Training and Union-only Training are highlighted in red.
Discuss with your management and human relations staff what training is needed, and then submit the form
to the Director of Education and Training (AFGE/NVAC), email: nvacdirofed@gmail.com, office phone: (540)
345-6301 or Ashley Levesque, Staff Assistant for VACO LMR, email: Ashley.Levesque@va.gov. The more training requests we receive from the field, the more it will demonstrate the importance we place on training and
show the need for management action.
Training Options Offered by the AFGE/NVAC
Each of YOU need to be an advocate
for training at your facility.
There are two types of training
available through the NVAC. The
first is Joint Training, where both
labor and management provide
both instructors and students. The
advantage to this is that management pays for it. The disadvantages
are that management must agree to
the training, and since both labor
and management are in the room,
instructors must remain neutral.
Page 2
The second type is Union Only Training. If one local makes the request,
the Council will split the costs. If it is
multi-local (a District or VISN training)
that group will pay all travel and per
diem. The advantage to it is that the
instructors can provide guidance to
the students on tactics.
We have been successful in the past
year with training in both methods.
To request training, you need to submit the appropriate request form to
the National VA Council office. The
forms are located on the NVAC website.
Appropriate topics for trainings
include the Master Agreement,
Labor Management Statute, Bargaining, Leadership, Communications and Partnership. To find out
more, please contact: Director of
Education & Training; email: nvacdirofed@gmail.com or office
phone: (540) 345-6301.
REFLECTIONS 2016
AFGE/National Veterans Affairs Council
Regional Training — October 2015
VA/AFGE Master Agreement Train the Trainer –
September 2015
More than 150 VA employees gathered in New
Orleans to discuss more effective ways to better
serve those who care for our Veterans.
Joint Training was provided in New Orleans
for Train the Trainer.
Attendees ~ September 2015
President Lee welcome employees~ October 2015
AFGE/NVAC Membership Hits Record High - Again!
AFGE closed the month of
June with the highest membership record of 300,000
members! The union welcomed 3,801 more members
into the AFGE family last
month.
September closed the month
with the highest membership
record of 111,746 active
members. This was an increase of almost 5,000 members since July’s newsletter.
AFGE/NVAC National President, Alma L. Lee and
AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr.
Celebrating growing membership
IZE!
N
A
ORG
IZE!
N
A
!
ORG
NIZE
A
G
OR
~~ ATTENTION ~~
AFGE/NVAC 2015 Organizing Drive has been
extended through December 31, 2015.
Volume 15, Issue 2
Page 3
Kudos & Congrats!
Congratulations to Adrienne Woods for receiving
The Mediator Certification in ADR training.
Kudos to both Tatishka Musgrove President, AFGE Local 548
(Bay Pines) and Hattye Knight VBA HRC Baltimore for receiving
The NVAC Service Award for their years of Dedicated Training
For the Master Agreement.
The Women's and Fair Practices Departments Work
For You
When opportunity is equal, everyone wins. That’s why AFGE is
devoted to promoting diversity,
inclusion and fair treatment for all
government employees through
its Women’s and Fair Practices
Department.
Page 4
The department works to develop
trainings to help educate union
members on equal pay, paid parental leave, and bullying. They
also work to engage young and
LGBT workers in the federal and
D.C. governments through its
Y.O.U.N.G. workers program and
AFGE Pride Program.
To ensure that all these workers
and more have the voice to stand
up and fight for fair treatment, the
Women’s and Fair Practices Department is also in charge of the
Voter Protection Program, a campaign to ensure that all eligible
voters are able to make their
voice heard at the polls.
AFGE/NVAC NEWS
NVAC Welcomes…
AFGE/National VA Council would
like to welcome Daniel Hines as our
new Director of Education. Daniel
served as an Air Traffic Controller in
the U.S Army for three years before
being injured in a training accident.
After getting out of the Army he received his bachelors degree in Business Administration from American
National University and is currently
working on his Masters Degree in
communication at Liberty University. Daniel has spent the last 8
years focusing on Training and
Development in the healthcare
settings as well as Patient Experience in Hospitals and Senior Living communities. He currently
lives in Salem VA with his wife
Sarah and two children Logan and
Lily. When he is not working Daniel plays golf and is an avid Virginia Tech fan and attends as many
sporting events as he can.
Denise has served at Wells Fargo
for a total of 10 years, through
several mergers. She has been
married to her husband, Pastor
Steve Russell, for 26 years, and is
a devoted Pastor’s Wife and Worship Leader at Real Life Ministries
of Salem, VA. Denise is currently
pursuing a degree in theology
through Kingsbury Bible College. Denise and Steve have two
sons, Craig Steven Russell, II, 25,
of Salem, VA, and Cameron Evans
Russell, 20, of Salem, VA.
“Save The Date”
2016
Triennial Training
Convention
San Jose, CA
More Information to
Follow
(Dates not Confirmed)
Volume 15, Issue 2
Page 5
NVAC Legislative Update — “On the Hill”
Submitted by NVAC Lobbyists, Mike Rosenblatt
On October 20th, the Senate attempted to move ahead with legislation that would make all VA employees at-will. The bill
would also extend probationary periods for VA employees from 12 to 18 months. Thanks to thousands of phone calls and
a quick response, NVAC was able to stop the bill dead in its tracks. Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) put a hold on the legislation which will require 60 votes to overcome. Despite this victory, NVAC must continue to push calls to all Senators
through our patch through line. Please call 855-976-5397 and tell your Senator: vote NO on S. 1082.
H.R. 313, the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act, passed the House of Representatives at the end of September. The
bill provides an additional 104 hours of sick leave for newly hired federal employees who are veterans 30% service connected or higher. Veterans starting in the federal workforce have unique health care challenges and do not have a bank of leave
saved up when they start working. This bill alleviates that concern and allows for veterans to not have to decide between
their paycheck and their healthcare. The Senate passed their version earlier this summer. The two bills have several differences that must be reconciled before the legislation is signed by the President.
Call Out for News!!
Once again, we are making a call for news. What happens in the field is
what makes us a great union!
Let us know what you are doing to make the VA a world-class place to
work. If you have had a successful recruiting event, negotiated an agreement to benefit workers, or held a special event of any sort, please contact:
Brad Looney at afgenvac@aol.com or larry.looney@va.gov
Remember your success will inspire others!
AFGE/NVAC News
We’re on the
web
Alma L. Lee, President, NVAC
afgenvac.org
Phone: (540) 345-6301
Brad Looney, Editor
FAX: (540) 224-1931
Page 6
AFGE/NVAC NEWS
National Secretary Treasure Hudson Honored with
"Spirit of Democracy" Award
AFGE National SecretaryTreasurer Eugene Hudson
Jr. was recognized by the
National Coalition on Black
Civic Participation
(NCBCP) with the Labor &
Social Justice Leadership
Award at the 18th Annual
Spirit of Democracy Celebration on October 7.
Since 1976 the NCBCP, a
non-profit, non-partisan
organization, has been
dedicated to increasing
civil engagement and voter
participation to promote
social and economic justice
in Black and underserved
communities at the local,
state, national and global
levels. The organization
strives to empower people
in all aspects of public life
through volunteer service,
advocacy, and leadership
development.
Upon accepting the award,
Hudson said that his career
as a public servant and
union leader can all be
traced back to one core
belief in equality and
fairness.
"I try to be fair to everybody, I believe in treating people equitably."
Hudson said. "I want to
continue to do that and I
want that to be my legacy."
Hudson grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, just
as the Civil Rights
movement began in the
segregated South. Hudson said that his parents
set a strong example for
how to treat others.
They instilled in him the
belief that you do not
leave your fellow man
behind and that there is
an intrinsic reward to
helping others.
"I work to be a strong
leader who advocates
for people whose voices
have been silenced," he
said. "I'm proud to serve
in an organization as
diverse as AFGE."
Hudson pointed to the
diverse makeup of the
AFGE National Executive Council as a prime
example of how AFGE
calls on people from all
walks of life to
strengthen and lead
the labor movement.
Many from the NEC
were present at the
reception including
National Vice President for Women and
Fair Practices Augusta
Thomas, and National
Vice Presidents Dorothy James, Everett
Kelley, Eric Bunn Sr.,
and Cheryl Eliano.
National President J.
David Cox Sr. offered
the following congratulatory message to NST
Hudson -- "I am so
proud to see Eugene
recognized for his work.
He has always been a strong
advocate for our members and
I know he carries that drive
even when he's not conducting
AFGE business."
Hudson is the first African
American to be elected to the
position of AFGE National
Secretary-Treasurer. He was
recently reelected by acclamation during the 40th National
Convention.
President Barack Obama sent
his well-wishes to all attendees
of the event, and in a statement, said that "America
moves forward when people
across our Nation -- of all origins, backgrounds, and beliefs
--join in a spirit of common purpose to brighten our shared
future. As long as we stay true
to that spirit, I am confident we
Still Marching Forward...
Dear NVAC Leaders,
As we reflect on this year, we are thankful for the
victories and the challenges. It has been a busy year
and we have achieved so much. One of our greatest
accomplishments was obtaining over 110,000+ members. NVAC remains, by far, the largest Council
within the American Federation of Government Employees.
Our hard working Local leaders banded together to
sign up new members. The key organizing topics
included increased staffing levels, whistleblower retaliation and increased funding for duties related to
Veteran care. The NVAC Organizing Committee,
led by NVAC President Alma Lee and Barbara Whitson - Casanova, had a record breaking year, increasing membership from
95,000 in 2013 to
110,000+ dues paying
members in 2015.
With this number of
dues paying members
backing the NVAC
organization, our
strength is formidable.
The Committee continues to raise their
goal and continues to add new members, making
NVAC the strongest Council within AFGE. CONGRATULATIONS!
The NVAC Communications Committee 2015
has been an interesting and challenging year in
Communications and Information Technology.
While we strive to be innovative, cutting edge, and
forward thinking we have to balance that with Information security and defending ourselves against
hacks and attacks. We continued our “Green”
initiative by dispensing information electronically, being environmentally conscious and saving
a few trees.
We’ve concentrated our efforts on
expanding and
upkeep of our
fabulous NVAC
website. This website is packed with valuable information from organizing to negotiations and more.
The President’s Briefings that go out 4 or 5 times
a day are another way we strive to keep you current and up to date on all pertinent information.
In the coming year we will be adding Group text
capabilities for the Council and different committees to enhance more rapid communication. As
always we welcome your suggestions and input for
future capabilities.
2016 the NVAC Communications Committee
will pursue automatic text messaging for faster
notification to our members.
Chet Goree
Committee Chair for Communications and IT
Recommendations from the NVAC Title 38 Summit
(Training) Develop a formal multi-disciplinary process with
mentoring to assist new employees to successfully orient
and to achieve competencies in their assigned areas.
(Time & Leave) Modify physician time and leave policy to
permit use of sick leave (SL), annual leave (AL) as all other
employees have (15 minute increments).
Comply with title 38 regulations R/T overtime.
Oversight and transparency of compensation panels outside
of the local facility.
Transparency of the CME budget and increase the cap for
CEU/CME annual requirements commensurate with the
private sector.
Title 38 Mid-Term Bargaining Committee report
The Title 38 Mid-Term Bargaining committee consists of;
Barbara Whitson-Casanova RN, Kathleen Pachomski RN,
Diane Clines NP, David Mollett RN and Jeffrey Sladek RN
Chairperson. The Title 38 Mid-Term bargaining committee
negotiates Title 38 issues that are a result of a demand to
bargain over a change in working conditions that affects multiple Locals. The committee relies heavily on notification
from the field for the identification of changes in working
conditions so that a demand to bargain can be initiated as
management frequently neglects to inform the NVAC prior
to implementation. You may contact any of the committee
members if you have information about a policy change or
directive affecting the NVAC bargaining unit.
During the previous year the title 38 mid-term bargaining
committee has dealt with multiple issues concerning attempts
to standardize practices of both Physicians and Nurses. The
challenges that will be dealt with in the future are proposed
changes in panel size for Nurses and Physicians as well as the
day to day management of schedules. In addition, safe staffing in terms of patient staff ratios need to be standardized
and acceptable for the delivery of safe and quality health care.
Full bargaining rights for Title 38 as all other bargaining
unit employees in the VA have.
Appellate Peer Review Panels.
Provide adequate support staff and space for providers delivering patient care.
The PACT team only, should manage patient scheduling
and consults in collaboration with their provider.
Reinstitute Ken Kizer’s supervisor to staff ratio of 15 or
more to 1 supervisory ratio.
Support nurses that report unsafe staffing and mandate that
facilities develop a contingency plan that does not include
mandatory overtime i.e., per diem pool, float pool, intermittent staff etc.
Develop a National Universal staffing co-efficient to ensure
safe patient care and adequate nurse patient ratios.
Establish National Patient Staffing ratios for all areas in a
collaborative effort to develop solutions that will build a
safer environment for patients and clinical staff.
Overhaul the NPSB and ensure that it is fair to all and not
based on friends and positions.
Stop the duplicitous documentation and find a way to pull
data from one note and not redundant documentations.
Maintain “status quo” of provider panel sizes (800 NPs/PAs
and 1200 MDs).
Develop an oversight committee beyond the local facility to
evaluate the delayed proficiency/evaluations.
Jeffrey Sladek RN Chairperson; Title 38 Mid-Term Bargaining Committee
The Title 38 Mid-Term and Grievance and Arbitration committees held a joint summit last summer to develop and disseminate recommendations to the Office of Nursing Service
and the Chief of Staff regarding Title 38 issues. The recommendations submitted were as follows;
Mid-Term Bargaining Committee Report
2015
NVAC Mid-Term Bargaining Committee
members, Oscar L. Williams Jr., Chair, 2nd
Executive Vice President and Representative 7th VA District Council#59, William
“Bill” Wetmore, 3rd Executive Vice President, Willie E. Haywood Jr., Terence J.
Watts, Representative 5th VA District
Council #179 , Willie E. Haywood Jr.,
President 6th VA District Council 262, and
Jeffery Sladek, President 13th VA District
Council #219.
The Mid-Term Bargaining Committee
since January 1, 2015 has submitted more
than 306 demands to bargain requests, survey/questionnaires approval and/or disapproval to VA, VHA VISNs, NCA, VCS,
CBO Purchase Care, SAO and at facilities
with more than one AFGE Local. It has
been a very busy year.
The Mid-Term Committee with the help on
Diane Clines, President AFGE Local 96,
St. Louis, MO and NVAC National Representative, negotiated an internal appeal
process, of removal action for Veterans
Canteen Service Non-Veterans workers.
VCS Non-Veterans workers under 38 USC
were considered at-will employees for
their removal action. Now these workers
can file a timely appeal to VCS in St. Louis, MO, on their removal action.
The Mid-Term Bargaining Committee
would like to thanks all the NVAC Locals
that keep us informed of changes in working conditions that the Department ‘s management officials try to implement without
meeting their national bargaining obligation.
National Executive Board Officers
M.J. Burke
1st Executive VP
Oscar L. Williams, Jr.
2nd Executive VP
Alma L. Lee
NVAC President
Bill Wetmore
3rd Executive VP
Dorothy Jefferson
NVAC Treasurer
District Representatives
Christopher Bovie
Ena Thompson-Judd
1st District
Curtis Jackson
Bob Fetzer
2nd District
3rd District
4th District
Terrence Watts
Willie Haywood
Oscar L. Williams Jr.
Patrick Russell
5th District
6th District
7th District
8th District
Barbara Whitson—
Casanova
9th District
Ben Johnson
Donald Fowler
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10th District
11th District
12th District
Jeff Sladek
Bill Preston
Richard A. Colón-Falcón
13th District
14th District
15th District
National Representatives
James Alsup
David Bump
Diane Clines
Bill Jefferson
James Martin
Anthony McCray
Tatishka Musgrove
Kathleen Pachomski
Victor Ramirez-Rios
Chet Goree
Geneva Moore
Adrienne Woods
Safety Representatives
Irene Coley
Keith Ireland
Louis Curry
Rosetta Sloan
Brenda Stromski