05/22/2026
We knew this was coming…
VA Issues Notice to Renegotiate The Master Agreement
Dear VA Local Leaders,
On May 19, Mark Engelbaum, Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, sent the attached letter to AFGE National President Kelley and NVAC President MJ Burke, indicating that VA was reopening the 2023 Master Agreement. Our Master Agreement is the strongest CBA not only within VA but across the federal government. It is no surprise that VA wants to reopen it and, once again, attempt to strip critical workplace rights and protections from bargaining unit employees and AFGE representatives.
Notice to Reopen 2023 Master Agreement
As you can see, the VA is taking a number of aggressive positions from the start. It appears that former VACO-LMR Executive Director, Michael Picerno, will be leading the negotiations for VA. Mr. Picerno was also the VA Chief Negotiator for a period of time during the first Trump administration. Also, VA contends that the 2023 MCBA will not apply to “non-exempted employees” as of August 8, 2026. As you know, VA has previously defined “non-exempted employees” to be everyone in the AFGE bargaining unit except police officers, firefighters, and security guards. That interpretation is at issue in NVAC’s ongoing court litigation in Rhode Island.
Rest assured, NVAC will take all necessary action to enforce the terms of the 2023 MCBA and the court orders related to our ongoing litigation in Rhode Island. NVAC has endured hostile negotiations in the past, and we are prepared to do so again. THIS UNION WILL NOT BACK DOWN.
