The Federal Labor Relations Authority now has a quorum and can begin issuing decisions and undertaking rulemakings that have been delayed.
On Dec. 18, the U.S. Senate confirmed Charles Arrington as a member of the FLRA along with nearly 100 other nominees. The vote was 53 in favor and 43 opposed.
Ahead of the vote, AFGE National Veterans Council President M.J. Burke urged lawmakers to reject Arrington’s nomination. During President Trump’s first term, Arrington worked in the Department of Veterans Affairs’ human resources office and represented management during negotiations with AFGE on a new labor contract in which the VA was found to have engaged in bad faith bargaining.
“Based on his record as a Department of Veterans Affairs management negotiator and prior legislative positions, NVAC has serious concerns about Mr. Arrington’s demonstrated hostility toward collective bargaining and union rights,” Burke wrote in a letter to U.S senators. “Union representatives documented repeated instances of bad-faith bargaining, including misrepresentations at the table, dismissing legitimate union inquiries as mere ‘tactics,’ and efforts to curtail grievance procedures covering removals, leave, training, and awards—core protections for federal employees.”
Arrington supports proposals that would weaken union membership, restrict the use of official time to resolve workplace disputes, and make it easier for managers to discipline employees for minor infractions.
“Weakening employee protections and whistleblower safeguards threatens not only VA workers, but also the quality of care provided to veterans by chilling the reporting of waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement,” Burke said.
With Arrington’s confirmation, the FLRA has a 2-1 majority of Trump appointees. AFGE is warning its councils and locals that the FLRA may begin issuing adverse rulings on exceptions, negotiability appeals, and other matters.
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