VA Just Terminated Most Federal Union Contracts, National Nurses United Included

In a significant shift affecting approximately 360,000 healthcare workers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has severed ties with most federal unions, including the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), terminating existing collective bargaining agreements effective August 6, 2025. This unprecedented move voids union contracts for about 80% of the VA's 450,000-person workforce who were previously represented by federal unions.

For VA nurses, this decision eliminates longstanding protections that have governed working conditions, staffing ratios, wage negotiations, workplace safety protocols, and grievance procedures.

List of Terminated Union Contracts 

• American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE)

• National Association of Government Employees (NAGE)

• National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE)

• National Nurses Organizing Committee / National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU)

• Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

The termination of union contracts coincides with the VA's plan to reduce its workforce by approximately 30,000 positions by the end of fiscal year 2025. According to the cited report, these reductions will occur primarily through attrition methods including retirements, voluntary resignations, and separation incentives rather than immediate mass layoffs.

For VA nurses specifically, the combination of voided union contracts and workforce reductions raises several practical concerns. First, patient-to-nurse ratios may increase as positions remain unfilled following attritions. Second, without union advocacy, compensation packages and benefits may stagnate or decline. Third, workplace safety protocols—particularly important in psychiatric and emergency settings—may become more difficult to enforce.

@nurse.org In a significant shift affecting approximately 360,000 healthcare workers, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has severed ties with most federal unions, including the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), terminating existing collective bargaining agreements effective August 6, 2025. This unprecedented move voids union contracts for about 80% of the VA's 450,000-person workforce who were previously represented by federal unions. List of Terminated Union Contracts: 📌American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE) 📌National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) 📌National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) 📌National Nurses Organizing Committee / National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) 📌Service Employees International Union (SEIU) ➡️ You can find the article at nurse.org/news or click the LINK IN BIO! #news #va #veteransaffairs #union #nurse ♬ original sound - nurse.org

The VA has stated that these changes follow departmental reviews aimed at improving operational efficiency, though specific details about how nursing practice will be restructured remain unclear. Lawmakers and nursing organizations have expressed concern that the combined impact of contract terminations and staffing reductions could compromise care quality for veterans.

As this situation evolves, nurses working in VA facilities should stay informed about how these changes affect their specific roles and responsibilities. Professional nursing organizations are monitoring developments closely and may offer guidance for affected nurses navigating this new landscape of VA employment.

🤔 Nurses, share your thoughts in the discussion forum below.