(March 1, 2007)

In order to further improve the lines of communication and to respond to the concerns between the National VA Council and you our members, I have established a National VA Council Briefing. This NVAC Briefing will bring you the latest news and developments within DVA and provide you with the current status of issues this Council is currently addressing. I believe that this NVAC Briefing will greatly enhance the way in which we communicate and the way in which we share new information, keeping you better informed.

Alma L. Lee

National VA Council, President

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In This Briefing: Update on the Saturday Premium Pay Decision

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On February 16, 2006, VA notified AFGE/NVAC that it had completed the re-determination process regarding Saturday Premium Pay eligibility, (after Jacqueline Sims, Esq. won a huge arbitration victory on February, 16, 2005).  VA determined that only ten (10) positions would be added to the coverage for week-end pay eligibility and that 863 positions remained ineligible because VA said that they did not fit the definition term “direct patient-care services or services incident to direct patient-care services for pay administration.   

At my request as the National VA Council President, Ms. Jackie Sims challenged VA’s decision and sought intervention from the Arbitrator.  The Arbitrator then ordered Ms. Sims and the VA attorney to file supplemental briefs; however, the Arbitrator has not yet ruled on the parties briefs. 

We have recently been informed that the Arbitrator will issue a decision this week.  More information will be forthcoming once we receive the Arbitrators decision.