This national grievance filed by the AFGE National VA Council (NVAC) challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for unlawfully requiring VA employees to respond to weekly emails titled “What did you do last week?” without proper compensation or bargaining with the union.
Key Benefits for VA Workers
- Protects Employee Rights – The grievance ensures that the VA cannot bypass the union and unilaterally impose new work-related reporting requirements without negotiating with employee representatives.
- Prevents Unpaid Work – Many employees were required to respond to OPM emails outside of duty hours, while on leave, or during their scheduled days off. This grievance seeks to stop the practice and secure back pay for affected workers.
- Secures Fair Compensation – The grievance demands overtime pay and liquidated damages for employees forced to work beyond their normal hours without proper compensation, as required by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and federal labor laws.
- Eliminates Confusion & Stress – The grievance highlights how unclear directives led to workplace chaos, with employees and supervisors receiving conflicting instructions. By challenging this mandate, the union aims to prevent unnecessary stress and ensure clear, lawful communication.
- Restores Workplace Protections – The grievance calls for rescinding the mandate, stopping direct emails to employees, and restoring previous working conditions. It also demands that any disciplinary actions taken against employees for non-compliance be reversed.
- Upholds VA Employees’ Bargaining Rights – By forcing the VA to negotiate changes to work conditions through the union, this grievance strengthens collective bargaining rights and ensures future decisions respect federal labor laws.