1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The Department of Veterans Affairs' termination of collective bargaining agreements for most bargaining-unit employees raises significant concerns about protecting workers' rights and potentially undermining effective service to veterans. This unilateral action by Secretary Collins removes long-standing labor contracts that gave VA employees a voice in workplace policies and held management accountable. Without these safeguards, there are risks of unchecked retaliation against whistleblowers, rewards for misconduct going unchallenged, and an adversarial environment that could hamper recruitment and retention of dedicated staff committed to serving our nation's veterans. While the stated goals of improving VA operations and focusing resources on patient care are laudable, stripping workers of collectively bargained rights and protections seems likely to have the opposite effect by damaging morale and eroding trust between frontline staff and leadership. I urge you to press Secretary Collins to provide clear evidence that this extreme step will tangibly improve services and ensure VA can recruit and retain the top talent required to fulfill its vital mission. Exploring alternative paths allowing both management flexibility and preserving worker representation would better uphold American labor principles while keeping the interests of veterans paramount. Robust oversight is critical to preventing thisFromHleft: retaliating against dissent by undermining legally-protected unions.