New VA Whistleblower Protection Certification Demonstrates Agency's Commitment to Ending Culture of Retaliation, Says AFGE

VA employees' union urges Department to further protect whistleblowers through management performance measures

News provided by

American Federation of Government Employees

Oct 08, 2014, 02:01 ET

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) lauds the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) recent certification on whistleblower protection. Through the Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) 2302(c) Whistleblower Protection Certification Program, the Department has taken a key step toward compliance with federal laws protecting employees who identify or report problems from retaliation.

AFGE is a staunch advocate for whistleblowers, and many front-line employees it represents have risked their careers to come forward to expose wrongdoing.

"The VA's whistleblower protection certification is welcomed news given the agency's poor track record with supporting and acknowledging the voices of employees who speak up on behalf of veterans' needs," said AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. "The training of executives, managers and supervisors is an important piece to strengthening these critical protections and fulfilling the agency's goals at the regional and local levels. We are encouraged by Secretary McDonald's earnest efforts to end the culture of fear, and AFGE will continue to be an essential partner in making the VA a retaliation-free workplace."

Through the certification program, informational posters on prohibited personnel practices, whistleblowing and whistleblower retaliation will be clearly displayed; new employees will be provided written information on these issues, and management officials are required to complete training on whistleblower rights and protections.

"This is an important step in furthering the protections for whistleblowers on the job," said AFGE National VA Council President Alma Lee. "But we still must recognize the continued culture of fear and intimidation that exists at many local VA medical centers, benefits offices and other work stations. Thousands of employees who work every day on behalf of veterans' needs are afraid to come forward because of the culture the VA had allowed to permeate numerous facilities. To truly hold managers accountable to the mission of the Department, their performance measures should reflect their willingness to comply with whistleblower rights and protections."

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. AFGE's National Veterans Affairs Council represents 210,000 employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees