⚖️ AFGE Lawsuit: VA’s “Selective Union Busting” Challenged in Court

Filed November 4, 2025 | U.S. District Court for Rhode Island

🧾 What’s This Case About

AFGE’s National VA Council has sued VA Secretary Doug Collins, arguing that the department’s move to terminate our union contracts violates both President Trump’s own executive order and federal law.

The suit says Collins selectively enforced Trump’s order—cracking down on AFGE and a few large unions while letting smaller, compliant unions keep their bargaining rights.

“The termination was arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and contrary to law.” — AFGE Complaint (11/4/25)

🚨 What the VA Did Wrong

• Ignored OPM guidance and skipped the certification required under the executive order.
• Exempted seven small unions that had filed “few or no grievances,” while targeting AFGE locals that actively defended workers.
• Created chaos inside facilities: at some VA Medical Centers, AFGE police officers still have contracts while nurses, techs, and admin staff lost theirs.
• Cited “national security” but never identified which VA functions actually met that test.

📍 Why It Matters for Hampton VA Workers

• The same selective enforcement that forced Local 2328 to vacate its on-site office is at the heart of this lawsuit.
• A favorable ruling could restore collective-bargaining rights and access to union space nationwide.
• Until then, your basic rights under federal labor law (5 U.S.C. Ch. 71) still apply—you can request representation, file grievances, and contact AFGE officers.

🕒 Where Things Stand

• A preliminary injunction paused VA implementation earlier this year, but a Ninth Circuit panel lifted that stay.
• The full Ninth Circuit is now reviewing whether the executive order itself is constitutional.
• AFGE expects further rulings before year’s end.

📎 Read the full GovExec coverage: govexec.com/workforce/2025/11/new-lawsuit-offers-new-details-vas-anti-union-eo-implementation/409343/

Lawsuit offers new details of VA’s anti-union EO implementation – Government Executive

According to a legal challenge from AFGE’s National Veterans Affairs Council, VA Secretary Doug Collins failed to implement President Trump’s executive …

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