Veterans Affairs Police Ignored?
December 31, 2005
By Stephen P. Amling
VA Police
Local 1882
Tomah, WI
It is with great trepidation that I see AFGE's posturing and stated positions on the Concept paper on the Federal Law Enforcement Personnel System. While many of the stated concerns over the Pay for Performance and retirement provisions of this paper are valid, most of the positions taken on this paper are from the perspective of Homeland Security and CBP. Even John Gage's comments in the AFGE Government Standard (Vol LXXII, No. 5) seem to perpetuate this. I feel that AFGE is missing a huge opportunity to address the concerns of the Veterans Affairs police, and police officers from other agencies, that would be rolled into the Executive Branch Police (EBP) under the auspices of this concept paper.
The VA Police are currently comprised of nearly 2,800 police officers, most of which are represented by AFGE, but the vast majority of which are hesitant to join their locals. Unfortunately, most seem to view AFGE as the enemy, not as an ally. The local bargaining units within the VA represent mainly Title 38 and Hybrid Title 5 employees, and are not very good at representing the police. Many VA police officers perceive that union representation only exists to defeat their efforts in creating a safe and secure environment for the treatment of our veterans through effective law enforcement operations. This may be a misconception, but the elected officers and stewards at most locals perpetuate this misconception when they concentrate their efforts in attempting to confound criminal investigations, rather than support the police officers conducting them. This is not indicative of all locals. Some go to great lengths to represent their police officers and engage in partnership with them in protecting the workplace environments of our medical centers. But, this seems to be the exception, not the rule.
I saw this week that AFGE will be representing police officers from the Federal Protective Service (FPS), and is even promising to create a national local to represent them. I feel that this is essential, but not only for FPS, but for the police officers from each agency that have AFGE as their representations. A national local that represents VA police (and eventually police officers that will also be absorbed into the EBP) would be a good starting position in the active inducement of Federal police officers to join AFGE. This is something that AFGE needs to be proactive in, and not miss the boat on.
The sentiment I am getting from VA police officers nationwide is that AFGE is ignoring what will happen to them if legislation to implement the items contained in this concept paper are fast tracked. This proposed consolidation of Federal police officers (DHS and DOD excluded) would finally get 2,800 VA police officers out from under the control of local medical center directors (much like what happened with FPS when they were removed from the control of GSA Building Managers) and create a centralized command and control structure that will assist in the creation of a more professional, and versatile police force. I have yet to see anything from AFGE that discusses the Union's position what will happen to these officers upon this consolidation. What about their training, training conversion, authority, geographic locations, pay grades, supervision, chain of command, job security (will the VA replace them with contract security guards if they are removed from the director's control?), and the other items that they are the most interested in? We are hearing a lot about CBP and FPS, that are only affected by what many consider minor provisions of this concept paper (pay banding, pay for performance, and retirement), but those that will be affected by the major provisions (a complete reorganization of the force as we now know it) aren't even being paid lip service to.
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Author: Chad Raterman, of Local 2342, on
Feb 29, 2008 5:13 PM
To all Union Officals,
You can state that you are not ignoring the VA Police all you want, but the fact of the matter is you are. Maybe your not aware, but the Local here has been aware of problems and we are still working with the local on a grievence that is in step 2 and this has taken 2 years, in that time 15 VA Police Officers have quite. Not because they wanted to, but because of the issue not being resolved by the union and management. We only have 10 Police Officers slotted for our department. Fact being we have lost a department and a half in two years time because of the problem, with no Union support!
Now tell me again how you are helping the VA Police!
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Author: Robert m Juilfs on
Oct 10, 2009 12:06 AM
Steven,
I've had nothing but bad blood between AFGE and our police agecy. Stems from a former chief who basically outlawed the unuion with the blessing from then director Robert Stott, Associate Adam Walmus and of course Chief David Burke.
Now Walmus is back as Director after all the lawsuits against Forde are over, Forde exists as a bullshit made up title and has influence with our new chief Stanley Staton.
Our VA suffered over $1.5M out of court settlements, and ir's as if it's duty as usual thee days. All thar ultimately happened was the VA paid out those sttlements with Forde not paying a cent. He maintained his GS rating and now holds a managerial position with no repsonsibilities.
So the Hell with AFGE, a bunch of malcontents who collectively violated one mandate or another and seek others who've also f---ed up and want management to make capitulations to the violators.
Yes I'm anti union, You of coirse cannot belong to AFGE being management. Consider yourself lucky.
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Author: Phil Glover, of Local 3951, on
Jan 19, 2006 1:52 PM
The concept paper would remove almost 15,000 correctional workers from Law Enforcement benefits. In the prison system over 70 percent of the employees are union members. This would be a huge blow to AFGE if they allow it or condone it. There are way's to fix the VA Police problem and it is to add them, not removed some to add others. All views must be looked at.
I know Wayne Marion, head of the AFGE Police Officer's steering committee (he is a VA policeman) is dedicated to fixing this issue. While Council President of Prisons, I saw how hard he has worked on this. The Congress should not remove current LEO's in order to add different ones.
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Author: Brian S Edwardsw, of Local 1384, on
Mar 4, 2007 11:23 AM
Phil,
You talked about this suppose person (AFGE Steering Commitee), that is helping the Policeat Ft. wayne and Marion???? who is this person I have never heard of him. If there is such a person I could use his help. So if you dont know there is 2 campus in Ft. wayne north and south, and it is much like the revolution war here, people down south wish we would close and go away, and us up north are just trying to a job with little we have here, so u tell me where this committee is and what they are doing.
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Author: Demetrius Young, of Local 2005, on
Feb 10, 2006 9:06 PM
I am a VA police officer in New York City it is unbelievable that AFGE is the union for most of the federal police department out there and all they want to do is help FPS police officers get LEO, what about the VA, DoD, mint and others that protect this great country.
VA police officers are the most under paid police officers in the federal government and no one is looking out for us. Each and everyday VA police officers put there life on the line, time they put on that uniform. The veteran affairs don't care about us and now you as the union (AFGE) show you feel the same way.
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Author: Mike Giannetti, of Local 2143, on
Oct 9, 2006 4:46 PM
More or less, you hit the nail on the head. Why AFGE has not seen this is beyond anyone's knowledge. To a Union, there is a lot of future members out there waiting for someone to take up the cause. There is a massive communication problems between VA Police officer, Union locals and the NVAC.
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Author: Stephen P Amling, of Local 188, on
Jan 9, 2007 8:57 PM
Previously, I felt that the VA Police were being ignored by AFGE, but I was sadly wrong and wish that AFGE would continue to ignore us. For years, we have been asking management to allow us the option of foregoing ties with the long sleeved uniform shirt. Earlier this week, Central Office finally heard us and allowed us the option of determining locally if we wanted to wear turtlenecks/mock turtlenecks in lieu of the tie. To many of you this concession to popular demand may seem like a very minor issue, but to us, it was a major victory. Imagine our horror this afternoon, when word came down that facilities represented by AFGE had to revert to the ties, due to a demand to bargain on this issue. Unless there was some good reason for forcing a large portion of the VA Police (those represented by AFGE) to take another step backward into the dark ages of oppression, I wish AFGE would continue to ignore us. We seem to be better off without AFGE's help.
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Author: Reginald Hill, of Local 507, on
Jul 22, 2007 2:12 PM
I am representing Police Officers in my VA now. I am ex-City Police Officer who has been part of a local Police Benevolent Associating. I think that AFGE should take Police Officers under their wing to keep upper Management from influenzing the actions of their Police Officers. Police cannot be managed by VA Management due to how they may choose to use and/or usurp the powers of the Police. I think AFGE should start to incorporate Law Enforcement into the new national contract and I would not mind gathering information to make that happen. They should always remain as a separate entity that is not influenzed by VA Management.
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