2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Allow VA Medical Employees To Engage In
Collected Bargaining To Address Professional Conduct Or Competence, Peer
Review And Compensation. In December 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021,
which would "repeal limitations on collective bargaining agreements
entered into by certain medical professionals employed by the Veterans
Health Administration. It would specifically allow physicians, dentists,
podiatrists, optometrists, registered nurses, physician and dental
assistants, and other medical staff appointed by the agency head to
engage in collective bargaining to address matters of professional
conduct or competence, peer review and the determination of employee
compensation." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 219 -- 201. The Senate took no action on the legislation.
[House Vote 530,
12/15/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/15/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1948]
The Bill Would Have Expanded The Collective Bargaining Rights Of
Medical Providers At The Veterans Affairs Department And Would Have
Allowed Them To Negotiate Patient Care And Competency Issues.
According to Government Executive, "The House on Thursday voted
219-201 to pass legislation that would expand the collective
bargaining rights of medical professionals at the Veterans Affairs
Department, allowing them to negotiate over issues related to
patient care and clinical competencies." [Government Executive,
12/15/23]
Doctors, Dentists, Nurses And Physician Assistants At The VA Are
Hired Under Title 38, Which Bars Collective Bargaining Over Care And
Competency Issues And The Trump Administration Expanded The
Prohibition To Include Shift Scheduling. According to Government
Executive, "Physicians, dentists, registered nurses and physician
assistants at the VA are hired under Title 38 of the U.S. Code,
which prohibits collective bargaining over care and competency
issues, as determined by the department's secretary. During the
Trump administration, that exception to collective bargaining was
vastly expanded---and labor leaders and Democrats say,
exploited---to include issues such as shift scheduling. Then-VA
Secretary Robert Wilkie used it to ban Title 38 union officials from
accessing official time altogether." [Government Executive,
12/15/23]
The Bill Would Have Repealed The VA's Ban On Negotiating Over
Patient Care And Competition For Title 38 Employees, Essentially
Giving Them Full Collective Bargaining Rights And Providing Parity
With Other Workers. According to Government Executive, "The VA
Employee Fairness Act (H.R. 1948), introduced by House Veterans'
Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif., strips the
department of its ban on negotiating over issues of patient care and
competency for Title 38 employees, effectively giving them full
Title 5 collective bargaining rights and providing parity both with
other VA workers and medical professionals at other federal
agencies." [Government Executive,
12/15/23]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The VA Employee Fairness
Act Of 2021. In December 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "adoption of the rule (H Res 1518) that
would provide for floor consideration of the VA Employee Fairness Act
(HR 1948)." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted
the rule by a vote of 216-206. [House Vote 521,
12/14/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/14/22;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1518;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1948]
2022: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against The VA Employee Fairness
Act Of 2021. In December 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against the "motion to order the previous question
(thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res
1518) that would provide for floor consideration of the VA Employee
Fairness Act (HR 1948)." The vote was on a motion to order the previous
question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 212-210. [House
Vote 520, 12/14/22;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/14/22; Congressional
Actions, H.Res.
1518;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1948]