Union members rally for VA

Muriel Newman held up a sign Thursday for drivers on Archer Road to let them know “no vets should wait in line.”

Newman, the president of the local district of the American Federation of Government Employees, rallied with other federation members in front of the Malcom Randall Veterans Affairs Medical Center to spread the word about the about 49,000 positions needed in Veteran Affairs nationwide. Newman said at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center alone there are more than 600 unfilled positions, mainly in nursing, primary care and specialty positions.

“This administration is not hiring,” she said. “The director is spending money hiring managers and getting his bonus.”

Daniel Henry, the public affairs officer for North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, said the medical center is only short 377 staff members.

“We actively recruit,” he said. ”The vacancies are a normal thing, and they don’t impact our veterans getting care.”

Ruth Brown, an Army Reserve veteran and nurse practitioner at the medical center who rallied alongside Newman, said the lack of employees not only affects the veterans who need care, but also the workers.

“Because I work in the union, I see employees complain that they are being disciplined for things that they can’t keep up with,” she said. “They are burned out.”

Brown said a lack of employees affects the workers and the veterans who need care.

“The VA is really important to veterans, they deserve the best care possible,” she said.