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Shaun Southworth leading a federal employment training session with members of the Southworth PC team
 

A Federal Judge Blocked the VA From Ending Its AFGE Contract — Again

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A federal judge has blocked the VA from ending its union contract with the American Federation of Government Employees — the third time this year the same court has stopped the sam...

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VA Union Contract and August 8: What the Master Agreement Actually Says

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The AFGE–VA master agreement reaches its three-year terminal date on August 8, 2026, and whether the contract ends that day comes down to a single paragraph that most coverage has ...

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DoD Canceled Your Union Contract — Your EEO and MSPB Rights Didn't Go With It

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Across the Defense Department, some civilian employees are reportedly being told by managers that their union no longer exists. That claim is false — and it matters, because employ...

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VA Union Contract Restored: What Employees Should Know

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For Department of Veterans Affairs employees represented by AFGE’s National VA Council, the First Circuit’s recent ruling is more than procedural news. A unanimous three-judge pane...

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FMCS New Guidance Threaten Union Rights

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For many federal employees, arbitration feels like a distant part of the collective bargaining agreement—something handled by union representatives or labor counsel after a grievan...

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DoD Union Contracts Terminated: What It Means

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On April 9, the Department of Defense directed the termination of most collective bargaining agreements for its civilian workforce—with just 24 hours’ notice. The stated justificat...

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VA Arbitration Ruling Reinforces Union Rights

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Recent reports involving senior military promotions raise a deeper concern that extends beyond any single agency: the erosion of merit-based decision-making. Allegations that promo...

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Forest Service Reorganization and Union Rights

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The Forest Service’s planned reorganization is not just another agency reshuffle. It is a live example of how much collective bargaining can matter when federal employees are told ...

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VA Union Contract Stay: What It Means Now

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When agencies and courts move quickly, uncertainty follows. Right now, VA employees are asking a simple but urgent question: does the union contract still apply while the case is o...

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HUD Telework Ruling: What Federal Employees Should Know

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For many federal employees, telework has long been treated as a workplace benefit—something flexible, even temporary. But the recent arbitration decision involving HUD reframes tha...

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VA Union Contract Reinstatement: Legal Fallout

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On March 13, 2026, a federal judge ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reinstate its Master Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with AFGE, restoring rights for mor...

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VA Union Rights Restored: What It Means for Feds

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A March 13, 2026 court order has immediate, practical consequences for more than 300,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees. A federal judge required the VA to fully restore ...

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