Nurses working at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Northern California are slated to receive retroactive promotion and back pay as a result of a class settlement reached between AFGE and the VA.
AFGE Local 1206, which represents all bargaining unit employees within the VA Northern California Healthcare System, has successfully secured a class settlement for all Title 38 Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) in the area. The nurses working will receive retroactive promotions and back pay in accordance with the Back Pay Act due to the VA's failure to properly promote RNs. LVNs will also receive retroactive within-grade increases that were not processed by the facility.
The class grievance was triggered by Luz Fuller, AFGE Local 1206 president and registered nurse who had tirelessly served in Primary Care for eight years at an entry-level pay grade despite holding a master’s degree and completing nurse practitioner school. Sadly, her plea for promotion was not only ignored but also echoed by numerous other nurses who experienced delayed pay processing and inaccurate step increases. Some nurses were initially promised higher pay, only to have their compensation reduced once they began working. This left the affected nurses with the difficult choice of accepting reduced pay or considering a return to their previous positions.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the agency has initiated a review of pay records to expedite the resolution of this matter and ensure that all nurses receive fair compensation.
The Nursing Professional Standards Board (NPSB), responsible for reviewing annual proficiencies, education requirements, and promotion qualifications, has faced significant challenges in fulfilling its responsibilities. High turnover, low participation, and infrequent meetings have hindered the timely review and processing of promotions, resulting in over 360 confirmed registered nurses in the region being deprived of their rightful pay. The exact number of affected LVNs is currently unknown. While the total amount owed to the nurses will be determined once all pay reviews are complete, it is expected to reach into the millions of dollars providing nurses with the long-overdue promotions and back pay they deserve.
The facilities covered under this class settlement are Redding VA Clinic, Auburn VA Clinic, Mather VA Medical Center, Martinez VA Medical Center, Fairfield VA Clinic, Auburn VA Clinic, Yuba City VA Clinic, Stockton VA Medical Center, Sonora VA Clinic, Modesto VA Clinic, McClellan VA Outpatient Clinic, Mare Island VA Clinic, and DoD/VA Joint VA Inpatient/Outpatient David Grant Medical Center.
District 12 National Vice President Mario Campos expressed his commitment to holding the VA accountable for its incompetence in paying the dedicated nurses.
“This class settlement serves as a testament to the union's unwavering dedication to safeguarding the rights and fair treatment of healthcare professionals within the VA Northern California Healthcare System,” he said.
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