AFGE National VA Council Asks Judge to Force VA to Comply with Court Order Restoring Union Contract
The American Federation of Government Employees National Veterans Affairs Council (AFGE/NVAC), the largest union at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) representing more than 320,000 employees, on Friday filed a motion asking U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose to compel the VA’s compliance with her March 13 decision ordering the restoration of AFGE’s master collective bargaining agreement with the VA and all subsidiary agreements.
Judge DuBose’s preliminary injunction ordered the VA to reinstate AFGE’s master collective bargaining agreement pending resolution of a lawsuit filed by AFGE/NVAC challenging its termination by VA Secretary Doug Collin’s on Aug. 6, 2025. Judge DuBose found that Secretary Collins and the VA likely violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act by terminating the contract.
In the week since Judge DuBose’s decision, the VA has made no genuine efforts to reinstate the contract. AFGE/NVAC has made good faith attempts to discuss implementation, but the VA has refused to act. VA facilities across the country continue to ignore the court’s order and refuse to honor the contract, depriving employees of their rights to parental leave benefits, fair disciplinary procedures, grievance rights, and other protections that enable VA employees to serve America’s veterans.