Members of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2031, a government employees union, will demonstrate Jan. 30 outside the Cincinnati (Ohio) Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Corryville, the union's president, Charles Smith, told WVXU.
The members are seeking "increased staffing and better working conditions," according to the report.
Last year, Congress approved a $16 billion increase to the VA's budget, which included $5 billion for hiring additional VA physicians, nurses and other medical staff and $1.3 billion to open 27 new U.S. VA clinics, according to the report.
The legislation "was also supposed to make it easier to dismiss hospital administrators and senior VA executives for negligence or poor performance," according to the report.
However, Mr. Smith told WVXU, "We have not seen the changes outlined in last year’s VA legislation take shape in Cincinnati. It is time for management at this facility to make good on its promise and fully support the services America's veterans deserve."
In a statement, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center said its highest priority is "ensuring that veterans access the high quality care they have earned," and it "respects the union and shares their commitment to federal workers."
"We have a well-documented collaborative and proactive partnership with labor.
Our facility has worked with union leadership regarding their concerns and will continue to do so. Employees who are feeling overworked are always encouraged to talk to their supervisors or work with our Employee Assistance Program. We strongly support our staff and involved the union in managing nursing and other staff assignments," the statement reads.
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