Master agreement & Constitution

• Master Agreement (click to download)
  
• C-53 Constitution and Bylaws Final 2022

The Master Agreement, between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees, was signed and effective March 15, 2011.  It remains the gold standard for unions in the Federal Sector. 

An agreement has been reached which currently amends Article 21, Section2; Article 35, Sections 10 and 13; Article 36, Section 3 and Article 61, Section 1.  (The specific agreed to changes of those sections may be found in the Global Settlement (VA-AFGE Settlement Agreement). These changes are now in effect.  

Further, the parties have agreed to renegotiate Articles 12, 14, 16, 22, 23, 27, 29, 39, 46, 47, 48, and 66.

Those changes will take effect with negotiations are completed.  Until then, these articles and all others not set forth above remain in effect.

Article 48 – Official Time. This article ensures that union representatives have adequate paid time and resources to report safety concerns, meet with management officials, defend employees in investigations and disciplinary proceedings, and negotiate over changes to workplace policies. Official time also is used to protect employees from retaliation and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, and other factors unrelated to their job performance. It conserves time and resources by helping resolve workplace conflicts as early as possible, without resorting to expensive and time-consuming administrative or legal fights. The law is clear: official time and union representation are in the public interest and promote efficient government operations.

Click Article 48 (2-07-2023) Official Time – VA Modified to read changes being proposed.

Articles not mentioned in this guidance will remain in effect in their entirety for the foreseeable future.   

You can also access the CBMA and Constitution on our Resources page and as a searchable document on the AFGE National VA Council Document Database. You will find the link below. When signing into the Document Database for the first time, create a profile using your AFGE member information. Please allow 24-48 weekday hours for your credentials to be verified.