AFGE Local 1969

09/12/2026

🚨 EEOC is proposing changes to the EEO complaint process that will reverse many Civil Rights Act protections. There is a 30-day public comment window. AFGE strongly opposes these changes and has posted information for members on the national website. There are also sample comments that you can use during this comment window. DO NOT DO THIS ON GOVERNMENT TIME OR EQUIPMENT! 🚨

AFGE Article: https://www.afge.org/article/proposed-overhaul-of-federal-eeo-process-is-bad-for-workers-and-public

Suggestions for questions and comments:
https://www.afge.org/leaders-activists/womens-and-fair-practices-departments/our-work/questions-and-comments-for-the-eeoc-regarding-proposed-amendments-to-29-cfr-part-1614/

Review new regulations and comment here:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/EEOC-2026-0067-0002
Click on Comment in the upper left to insert your questions and comments

In addition, make sure you are registered to vote this November!
https://sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/

09/12/2026

It is such an honor to represent and work side by all of our Union siblings in Local 1969 and our sister Local 3669. No matter the situation, we all step up and accomplish the unthinkable! We will never forget those we lost or those who ensured so many remained safe on 9/11.

Sept. 11, 2001, while all eyes were on New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania… at 11:32 a.m. the Minneapolis VA Medical Center telephone operator received a call indicating they should “evacuate the building, you are the next target.”

The operator immediately contacted the FBI who said to take the call as a legitimate threat and to evacuate the medical center. The medical center was evacuated in 43 minutes. The staff of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center worked together, everyone pitching in to include neighbors who provided electricity for extension cords to provide power to critical equipment.

Shown are some of the staff that moved into action at the medical center on 9/11. Read the story, through the eyes of 13 people who were here that day, online @ https://www.va.gov/minneapolis-health-care/stories/evacuation/

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day from America’s unions! Today and every day, we celebrate the workers who built this country and make our labor movement unstoppable.

Together, we’re going to show the billionaires and CEOs who we are and how we fight. Join us: betterinaunion.org

09/02/2026

AFGE Local 1969 mourns the loss of our union sibling, Jamie Charles, who recently passed away. Jamie was an LPN in the Urology department and a long-time union member.

While Jamie’s contributions were endless, she was well known for administering the first COVID-19 vaccine in the state of Minnesota at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in December 2020. Governor Walz was in attendance, cheering her on. Jamie dedicated countless hours to vaccinating frontline staff, in the midst of a global pandemic, for which we are eternally grateful.

Jamie will be deeply missed by those who had the honor of working side by side with her. Our condolences go out to all those who knew and loved Jamie.

Photo credit: Minneapolis VA Health Care System page, Dec 15,2020, “First COVID-19 Vaccine In Minnesota.”

08/07/2026

CONTRACT UPDATE: During this morning’s hearing on NVAC’s latest Motion to Enforce the March 13 preliminary injunction, Judge DuBose indicated that she intends to GRANT our motion. That means that the 2023 Master Agreement will remain in effect! AFGE/NVAC will make a formal statement once the written decision is issued. This is another MAJOR VICTORY for our Union.

Please follow and on social media for the latest updates, and THANK YOU for standing with AFGE/NVAC.

07/29/2026

07/06/2026

IMPORTANT: This information should not be downloaded using government equipment, read during duty time or sent to others using government equipment.
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"AFGE will be submitting formal comments detailing our opposition to the proposed rule.⁠"⁠
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Read the press release: https://www.afge.org/publication/proposed-changes-to-federal-employee-discipline-rules-betray-nations-public-workers-afge-says/

04/11/2026

Happy 96th birthday to Dolores Huerta, a true legend of the labor movement!

From championing farm workers to empowering women nationwide, her tireless dedication to civil and labor rights is an inspiration to us all.

¡Sí, se puede!

04/03/2026

At 6:30pm today, VACO-LMR provided a memoranda to the National VA Council concerning the Department’s implementation of the preliminary injunction restoring our Master Agreement. It appears that VACO is finally providing guidance and instructing facilities to take immediate steps to comply with the court’s orders.

VA Central Office is instructing facilities to return to the status quo for all AFGE-represented employees. This includes EVERYONE covered by the Master Agreement before the August 6, 2025 Termination.

Thank you to everyone who has joined our fight to protect the Master Agreement. For those of you ready to join the fight for the future of the VA, visit join.afge.org today!

STAY STRONG and STAY TOGETHER!

03/28/2026

📣 AFGE had another big win in court this morning. The VA has yet to implement the reinstatement of the Master Agreement, as court ordered. The VA has until Tuesday to prove they are implementing or risk being in contempt of court.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union representing 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas.