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A lesson in integrity

Today we learned what the VA Palo Alto definition of integrity is. Use every opportunity to bend, twist and otherwise ignore anything that does not allow you to do whatever you want to do.

VA management was obligated by the FLRA to go to the bargaining table to negotiate the Offsite Parking Policy.

AFGE Local 2110 Bargaining Team consisting of: Lori Bess, President, Bruce Chorjel (Chief Negotiator), Bill Luttrell, Pamela Robinson (Scribe) and Vic Allyn came to the negotiating table ready to discuss proposals that you our bargaining unit employees had asked us to bring forward.

VA Management team consisting of: Tony Fitzgerald (Chief Negotiator) Paul Simas (Employee Relations Specialist) and Katelin Haver (Administrative Intern) came with the intent to follow Ms. Freemans’ lead (The Toyota Way) and do anything they feel necessary to avoid even talking about the issues of offsite parking and move forward with their own agenda.

As you know, the union filed a Demand to Bargain over the issue of parking, as we knew that many changes were necessary due to all the construction taking place at VA Palo Alto and Menlo Park. This original Demand to Bargain was ignored. A second one was filed.

VA Management met informally to discuss the changes they planned to make but did not invite the union to participate until Lori Bess pointed out that the union had a right to be involved in decisions being made. When union representatives showed up to these meetings, their input was ignored and in fact it was stated that “with all due respect to the union, when we get permission to go ahead with the offsite parking lot we are going to implement”. This is the first chapter of Ms. Freeman’s favorite book (THE TOYOTA WAY).

Many times these representatives reported to Lori Bess that attending the meetings were a waste of time, because the members of management already had begun implementing the changes. For instance, purchasing color coded placards, new signage, bus and parking attendant contracts.

Just before the new parking policy was announced. Lori Bess and Ms. Freeman were meeting to discuss the changes and had agreed to work in partnership to come to some agreement. Lori Bess stated that there were a few things that still had not been agreed upon or clarified between Ms. Freeman and herself. She asked that nothing be implemented until the two could talk again. This request was ignored and hours later the new policy was implemented and a new video explaining the changes was posted on VAPA web for all employees. This gave the impression that the union had sanctioned this new policy. This is not the case at all. Ms. Freeman’s comments to Lori were “oops, they beat me to the punch”

Lori Bess, filed an Unfair Labor Practice against the VAPAHCS for bypassing the union. It was determined by the FLRA (Federal Labor Relations Authority) that the VA did indeed commit an Unfair Labor Practice. A Settlement Agreement was proposed by the FLRA and all parties including Lisa Freeman and the VA attorney agreed to finally go to the table to negotiate offsite parking policy in exchange to avoid having to post throughout the Medical Center that Ms. Freeman had committed an Unfair Labor Practice against the union.

Even though we agreed to negotiate yesterday, the VA management team made the determination that they were only obligated to meet to “inform” the union how they came to the decision of offsite parking. Clearly this was not the intent of the FLRA Settlement Agreement but as stated earlier, the VA chooses to bend, twist and manipulate the truth to fit their needs.

Here we sit in Monterey, ready and willing to meet VA management to truly work in Partnership, complete negotiations so that your voice is heard and they have decided that they have no other obligations to you or the union. AFGE Local 2110 intends to file another ULP for failure of the VA to bargain in good faith and reneging on the Settlement Agreement.

A Demand to Bargain over Onsite & Offsite Parking at all VAPAHCS Facilities and a Cease & Desist on any future changes to parking has been filed with the Director. It is our hope that VA management will return to the table, negotiate in good faith once and address all issues regarding parking.

AFGE Local 2110’s only goal throughout this is to represent our employees to the best of our ability and to ensure that your voices are heard.