Cincinnati VA Nurses Rally Against Job Cuts and Union Rights Erosion

VA Nurses Organize Rally to Oppose Staffing Reductions and Advocate for Union Rights

Registered nurses from the Cincinnati VA Medical Center are set to rally on Wednesday, May 21, urging the administration to halt plans that would see a reduction of approximately 80,000 VA employees. The rally, announced by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), calls for the reinstatement of full union rights for VA workers and the cessation of efforts to undermine nurse benefits. The event will see participation from members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and allied community groups.

“Our veterans are feeling the real impact of these attacks on nurses and other federal workers who have dedicated their careers to serving our veterans at the VA,” said Courtney Collins, RN, at the Cincinnati VA's Community Living Center. She emphasized the critical role of union support in safeguarding nurses' rights, warning that staffing cuts would degrade the quality of veteran care. “VA nurses will never abandon our veterans and will always advocate for our veterans and for ourselves. We refuse to be silent on these alarming issues.”

What: Rally for veteran care with VA nurses, federal workers, and community groups
When: Wednesday, May 21, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Across from the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, 3200 Vine Street, Cincinnati

Loren Colbert, RN, from the medical-surgical unit, highlighted the ongoing staffing challenges, stating, “We were already short-staffed last year and even held an informational picket in May 2024 about the staffing crisis at the Cincinnati VA.” She urged leadership to prioritize patient safety, noting, “Cutting more staff is unthinkable and unconscionable. It means veterans will die.”

Collins further stressed, “Our veterans have served our country, and they deserve to get the highest quality care possible at the VA. We can’t have the best hospital system without adequate staffing for nurses.” She called on the local VA leadership and current administration to support nurses in their mission to serve veterans effectively.

Background and Legislative Context

• On March 27, an executive order was issued aiming to eliminate federal workers’ collective bargaining rights under the guise of “national security.” However, a fact sheet explaining the executive order suggests it was a response to federal employee unions' opposition to the administration’s agenda, which nurses argue is an act of retaliation.

• In April, NNU aligned with other federal-sector unions to challenge the executive order in court.

• Nurses are also advocating for the VA Employee Fairness Act, a bill introduced on May 7, which aims to ensure comprehensive bargaining rights for VA clinical staff.

• VA management announced in March 2025 plans to eliminate 72/80 Alternative Work Schedules and other compressed work schedules that benefit nurses.

Nurses argue that collective bargaining is essential for ensuring workplace safety, maintaining safe RN-to-patient ratios, and providing quality working conditions, which are crucial for attracting and retaining skilled nurses. Without union protections, nurses may fear retaliation and hesitate to voice patient safety concerns.

VA Secretary Collins has indicated a potential reduction of around 80,000 workers, though he has not committed to a specific number, stating it “could be more, could be less.” Such cuts pose a significant risk to patient care, especially as an August 2024 Inspector General’s report revealed that 82 percent of VA facilities already face severe nursing staff shortages. These reductions come amid a period of record enrollment at the VA.

The nurses' union believes these measures are part of a broader agenda to privatize the VA, steering more veterans towards private care, which lacks the oversight and scrutiny of the VA system. The VA’s “Red Team” Executive Roundtable analysis highlighted the risk of privatization, warning it could erode the VA’s direct-care system, potentially limiting veterans' options for care.

The NNOC/NNU represents over 700 registered nurses at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center and is part of a national campaign that includes rallies in various cities. The union represents more than 15,000 registered nurses at 23 VHA facilities across the nation, many of whom are veterans themselves.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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