RNs and Union Allies Rally Against VA Staffing Cuts and Union Rights Attack

Rally Planned by RNs at Manhattan VA to Oppose Workforce Reductions

Registered nurses from the Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus, previously known as the Manhattan VA Medical Center, are organizing a rally on Wednesday, April 9. The event, supported by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), aims to protest against proposed staffing cuts and perceived threats to union rights for federal workers. This move follows an announcement by VA Secretary Collins, revealing plans to reduce the workforce by 72,000 to 80,000 positions. Read more.

The proposed staffing reduction comes as part of a broader strategy by the presidential administration, which has been criticized for attacking the union rights of federal employees. The NNU, alongside other labor unions, has taken legal action against the Trump administration, challenging an executive order that is seen as an attempt to bypass federal law on collective bargaining, potentially affecting over a million federal workers. Learn more.

"Our veterans have earned the right to the specialized health care that the VA can provide," stated Joolie Lee, a primary care RN and Army veteran. "Cutting staff down to 2019 levels when we have more veterans to care for is cruel and an extreme disservice to our veterans. We are already short-staffed. More cuts to staff means delays in giving veterans the lifesaving care they need and deserve."

Event Details:

Who: VA registered nurses, Nancy Hagans, RN and president of NNU and NYSNA, veterans, and labor leaders

What: Rally to demand an end to VA staffing cuts

When: Wednesday, April 9, 12-1 p.m.

Where: Margaret Cochran Corbin VA Campus, 423 East 23rd St.

Estaban Ramierez-Orta, an RN specializing in infection control and a local NNU director, emphasized the importance of union rights, stating, "Union nurses understand that collective bargaining rights are fundamental to carrying out our critical role as patient advocates. Nurses and other employees need union protections to speak out about patient safety issues to ensure the veterans seeking care at the VA get the highest quality of care."

The suggested rollback to 2019 staffing levels raises concerns, especially after the VA reported a significant increase in veteran enrollment. From March 2023 to March 2024, approximately 400,000 veterans joined the VA system. An August 2024 Inspector General’s report highlighted that 82 percent of VA facilities face severe nursing shortages. More details.

Despite these challenges, the VA is recognized for providing high-quality care. A 2023 study found lower 30-day mortality rates for heart failure and stroke among veterans in the VA system compared to non-VA facilities. Additionally, a 2022 study revealed that VA emergency rooms have lower mortality rates than other hospitals. Further information. Read the study.

Privatization is identified as a potential risk to the VA and the care it provides. A "Red Team" Executive Roundtable analysis from the VA indicated that privatization could undermine the VA's direct-care system, potentially reducing options for veterans who rely on VA facilities for healthcare. The analysis noted a $30 billion expenditure on private-sector care in 2023. See the report.

NNOC/NNU represents over 15,000 registered nurses across 23 VHA facilities nationwide, many of whom are veterans themselves.

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