Veterans Affairs workers and others protested downgrades of support positions that would cut salaries of the agency’s lowest-paid employees.
The American Federation of Governments Employees led the demonstration on Tuesday, asking Congress to force an end to the ongoing reductions at hospitals and offices workers say are already understaffed.
The Department of Veterans Affairs issued a statement saying it is simply reevaluating the job descriptions and compensation of support positions. They call this plan the “job classification modernization initiative.” Like any federal agency, the statement said, the VA is accountable to Office of Personel Management federal workforce standards.
Rogelio Flores, National Vice president for the AFGE District 10, looks after the well-being of veterans from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. He said the VA began downgrading positions in District 10 first, and that Dallas was hit hard with 30 positions downgraded in fiscal year 2012.
"They are now trying to implement what they did here, nationwide. In other words, downgrade the veterans, people who work at the veterans’ hospitals, downgrade them from what they were," he said.
Yolanda Conner helps workers in North Texas’ VA system assert their employment rights as the Chief Steward of Title 38 for the North Texas chapter of AGFE.
She said homeless veterans who use the VA for job placement help would be affected most by the downgrades because they accept the lowest paying jobs. The most any homeless vet can make at the height of the program is $28,000, she said.
"If they’re making $28,000 with a downgrade they’re going to make $21,000. So we’re talking about men and women here in this facility working here for 20 years for $21,000? What can you make with that, what kind of family can you take care of?" she said.
The statement from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs said it would continue to provide grade and pay retention to any impacted employees so they can maintain their current salaries. When asked if that meant current workers would not be impacted by the downgrades, representatives from the agency declined to comment further.
American Federation of Governments Employees
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
