(April
6, 2011)
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:
Regarding
Possible Government Shutdown
Conference
Call today with VA Central Office:
ü
VHA will be
fully operational and paid
ü
VBA will be
largely open
ü
OIT will be
largely open
ü
NCA will have
a number of furloughs
ü
VACO staff
offices will be affected
ü
96% of VA
employees will be working
Three
(3) Categories of Furloughs:
·
Excepted
employees who are paid
·
Excepted
employees required to work and will NOT be paid
·
Furloughed
employees will NOT work and will NOT be paid
Other
Issues:
®
Health
Insurance will continue
®
Furloughed
employees will NOT be allowed on premises
®
If the
shutdown occurs, ALL employees will come to work on Monday, where some will
receive letters, appeal rights, etc.
®
VHA will NOT
be affected by use of leave
®
Transit
subsidy will be suspended and will NOT be paid
®
Child Care
subsidy will be suspended and NOT paid
®
DFAS will
continue to function
®
Letters will
be coming out to all employees from VA Central Office today or tomorrow
®
Any Union
Official furloughed will have grievances, etc., held in abeyance until their
return
®
Union Offices
with extensive furloughs, grievances will be held in abeyance
®
Workers Comp
will continue
®
OPM’s
website has “Frequently Asked Questions and Answers”, concerning the
furlough