Erich Wagner at Government Executive reports the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department is terminating most of its contracts with Federal Employee Unions - effective immediately, making it the first Agency to formally implement President Trump’s Executive Order aimed at stripping two-thirds of the Federal Workforce of their collective bargaining rights. Collective Bargaining Agreements between VA and the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Association of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, National Nurses United and the Service Employees International Union have all been terminated. In March, Trump signed an Executive Order citing a rarely used provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to strip most Federal Workers of their collective bargaining rights under the auspices of national security - but Unions have argued the edict, and its invocation of national security, are mere pretext for retaliating against Labor Groups for challenging the White House’s personnel policies in court, activities ostensibly protected by the First Amendment. AFGE National President Everett Kelley blasted the move: “(The) decision to rip up the negotiated Union contract for the majority of its workforce is another clear example of retaliation against AFGE Members for speaking out against the illegal, Anti-Worker and Anti-Veteran policies of this Administration.”

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: VA terminates most of its union contracts, appearing to disregard OPM guidance - Government Executive