A federal judge has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to reinstate the union contract covering 320,000 VA employees represented by AFGE in a major victory over the implementation of President Trump’s union-busting executive orders.
On March 13, U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose from Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction reinstating our master collective bargaining agreement pending further litigation over a lawsuit filed by AFGE’s National VA Council challenging the Aug. 6, 2025, termination of our contract by VA Secretary Doug Collins.
Our lawsuit contends that Secretary Collins’ decision to terminate the collective bargaining agreement was unlawfully based on AFGE and NVAC’s protected First Amendment activity, and that the termination further violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
Judge DuBose’s decision rightly found that we are likely to succeed on these claims and that the actions of Secretary Collins and the VA are causing irreparable harm to the union and our members. In her decision, Judge DuBose found that “the termination of the Master CBA on August 6 seems substantially motivated by the Plaintiffs’ history and frequency of vocally opposing changes to labor policies.”
National VA Council President Mary Jean “MJ” Burke said the union is fighting to hold the VA accountable for breaking the law in its attempt to silence the union and deprive workers of their constitutional rights.
“Despite this administration’s shameful and hostile attempts to silence VA workers and perpetuate falsehoods that they have ‘no union,’ the leaders and members of AFGE/NVAC stand together with a clear message: we are still here,” Burke said.
“For decades, AFGE/NVAC has been advocating to strengthen, staff, and fund the VA to ensure it remains the nation’s best health care system. The backbone of the VA is not the senior executives at 810 Vermont Avenue but the housekeepers, claims processors, cemetery caretakers, police officers, clinicians, and support staff who show up to work every single day to provide care and services to veterans and their families.”
AFGE National President Everett Kelley said our union and our members were targeted for retaliation by Secretary Collins because we refused to stay silent about cuts and changes at the VA that would harm veterans.
“Today’s ruling holds this administration accountable and makes clear: no one can retaliate against workers for standing up for their rights. We are pleased the court has restored the largest union contract of VA employees and protected both the federal workforce and the veterans who depend on them,” Kelley said.
AFGE and the National VA Council will continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the VA complies with today’s decision.
UPCOMING TOWNHALL: All AFGE NVAC members are invited to join AFGE NVAC leaders for an all member townhall on Tuesday, March 17 at 8 PM ET to go over the latest updates regarding the preliminary injunction.
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