In historic vote, U.S. House passes legislation to grant VA nurses full collective bargaining rights

By Lucy Diavolo

National Nurse Magazine - Oct | Nov | Dec 2022 Issue

National Nurses United applauded the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of a bill that would give Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nurses and other clinicians full collective bargaining rights. The VA Employee Fairness Act (H.R. 1948), sponsored by Rep. Mark Takano, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, passed with bipartisan support by a margin of 219 to 201 on Dec. 15.  

“As a nurse who has proudly served our veterans for nearly four decades, I want to extend my deepest thanks to Chairman Takano for his tireless efforts to get the VA Employee Fairness Act through the House with bipartisan support,” said Irma Westmoreland, RN and NNU vice president, who works in the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga. “Nurses are patient advocates, and our input and insight is critical in determining best practices for patient care. Without full collective bargaining rights, VA nurses’ ability to effectively advocate for the health and safety of our patients and ourselves is hindered.”  

“This bill will ensure the rights of bedside nurses in the Veterans Administration are protected and, in turn, will serve to increase the quality of patient care in VA facilities,” she continued. “We are extremely pleased that our representatives are recognizing our role in ensuring our nation’s veterans get the very best care that they so rightly deserve.”

H.R. 1948 will restore bargaining rights to registered nurses and other clinicians in the VA, who are currently prohibited from bargaining over issues relating to professional conduct or competence, patient care, and peer review. In restoring these rights, the bill would reduce turnover, increase staffing levels, and improve the care that veterans receive by giving VA clinicians the tools they need to speak up for patient safety and care. This bill will help both recruit and retain VA health care professionals. And it takes on an even greater importance in the wake of the recent passage of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which will bring an additional estimated 3.5 million patients into the VA, necessitating additional bedside nurses to care for the increased number of patients.  

“For our country to ensure that veterans receive the highest quality treatment, we must treat VA nurses with the same level of dignity and respect as other federal health care workers,” said Chairman Takano. “VA nurses have dedicated their careers to serving veterans and have been instrumental in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Passing my VA Employee Fairness Act is a step towards recognizing this commitment to our veterans. Throughout the 117th Congress, this Committee prioritized providing veterans with the health care they earned, and we are reinforcing that by providing VA nurses, who wholeheartedly provide critical care for veterans, with the workers’ rights they deserve.”

In a statement of administration policy, the White House said today it supports the legislation “to expand collective bargaining opportunities” for RNs and other clinicians covered in the bill, calling attention to “dedicated VA employees [who] work tirelessly to support our veterans’ health needs, including in combating Covid-19.”

“The Administration is committed to continuing to work with Congress to support hard-working employees,” the statement continued, “while protecting veterans’ access to the care and services that they have earned through service to the Nation.”

“I’m grateful the Biden administration showed their support for the collective bargaining rights of VA nurses, and I’m encouraged the House of Representatives voted to pass this crucial piece of legislation for our nation’s heroes and the people who care for them,” said Bonnie Castillo, RN, executive director of NNU. “The ability to speak up over issues affecting patient care, peer review, and working conditions is a crucial part of clinician recruitment and retention. This legislation can empower VA nurses and clinicians to further ensure the highest quality of patient care for our nation’s veterans.”

Alongside NNU, the bill was endorsed by every union representing VA clinicians and groups, including the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the Congressional Labor Caucus, the American Legion, and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

“We know that, in order to recruit and retain experienced nurses, the VA must listen to the concerns of the nurses at the bedside,” said Westmoreland. “Nurses will stay at the VA if we have full bargaining rights, feel heard and valued, and have the resources and support to provide the highest quality of care for our patients. We are grateful the House has recognized how important our voices are in creating a healing environment for our veterans. We now call on the Senate to follow the House and quickly pass the VA Employee Fairness Act.”

NNU represents more than 12,000 nurses at 23 VA hospitals across the United States.

Lucy Diavolo is a communications specialist at National Nurses United.