Under a relentless sun, Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs employees gathered on Thursday to chant,” Protect our work, save our veterinarians.”
Friends and associates of the American Federation of Government Employees arrived at the Cpl’s Baltimore and University Avenues by noon. In response to President Donald Trump’s administration’s shake-up of federal agencies, join Michael J. Crescenz for a rally to defend the people ‘ union contracts and benefits.
” We have national workers who have dedicated their lives to care for America,” according to Karen Ford Woods, leader of AFGE Local 1793.” The thanks we receive are decreases, restructure on our pay, and downgrading jobs.” When you sever our careers, you sever services to America, the saying goes.
Trump moved in March to close union representation for numerous federal agencies, including the VA. Late in April, the VA stopped collecting union dues from workers ‘ payments, and as a result, AFGE has lost dues-paying users. Some people have switched to a different repayment method.
With almost 19, 321 workers as of September, the VA is one of the largest government employers in Pennsylvania. The majority of them work for the Veterans Health Administration, which provides soldiers with treatment.
The people of AFGE Local 1793, who numbered 1,400 in April, include managerial offices, group care-based centers in the area, nurses, professionals, social employees, and other employees at the medical facility in West Philly.
Participation has decreased to 800 since the taxes deduction was discontinued, according to Yul Owens Jr., executive vice president of AFGE Local 1793.
As passing drivers honked in support, Owens said,” Make no mistake about it, those executive orders aim to break our union, they aim to end our collective bargaining agreement, and most importantly, the workers ‘ rights that we have.”
The Trump government’s attempts to “reshape” the federal labor include those who are employed by VA. The management has mandated that organizations make plans for significant force cuts, and that they also put forward a delayed withdrawal program that allows employees to leave their jobs and remain receiving pay for several months.
Among those plans are the elimination of 80, 000 VA tasks. However, it appears that large layoffs are still being conducted, as ordered by a federal judge in California.
Everett Kelley, the president of AFGE, said the administration needs to understand the impact of the national worker cuts amid the confusion.
” Courses like Social Security and collective bargaining agreements aren’t really paperwork,” Kelley said. They provide millions of Americans with their backbone.
AFGE has also expressed concerns about the amendments to the proposed federal budget bill that union leaders claim would weaken federal workers ‘ rights. The legislation passed both in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
A changing VA location in Philadelphia
VA employees who reside 50 miles from a national office were told to return to in-person function by May 5 in light of the threat of layoffs and the possibility of leaving coworkers who accepted the resignation offer, and those who reside further had until late July.
Organization may remain in the interim.
Theresa Heard, 60, said she feels betrayed by Washington but she cannot allow her soldiers realize it after 40 years of service.
People are adamant about greeting every former as if they matter most, Heard said.” There is a responsibility from people to put a smile on their faces.” You must remain focused on your career, present up, and pay attention to what needs to be done that day.
She never afford to lose her job because she helps her babies pay their student loans. But she is determined to fight for both her and the soldiers who serve alongside her coalition.
” I don’t think they really understand the function that we put in, and I don’t think they understand the responsibility that you get from national staff, not often having the best of circumstances, but finding a way to find the job done for our soldiers,” he said.
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The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2025.
Tribune Content Agency, LLC distributed.
