FRESNO (KMJ) — A local union is taking part in a national effort to demand that the federal government boost employee numbers at all VA facilities.
The AFGE (American Federation of Government Employees) Local 2654 says there are more than 49,000 vacancies across the country, and it means veterans are being deprived of the health care they have earned through service. A crowd of VA employees, concerned citizens, and veterans gathered outside Fresno’s VA hospital Tuesday morning to make their collective voice heard.
“The staffing shortages have been hidden in secrecy for a while,” says union President Jacob Dunn. “Even the local facility here is showing that they have around a 6.5% vacancy rate, which is good compared to the rest of the United States.”
“But across the VA, nationwide, there are shortages and we can’t see our nation’s patients. It’s up to us to come out and ask the Secretary of the VA and our local Congressional leaders to come out and say ‘staff the VA.'”
Outside @VAFresno medical center, protesters demanding thousands of staff vacancies be filled – part of a national campaign. More on @KMJNOW pic.twitter.com/TGrzyGxbqq
— Dom McAndrew (@DomMcAndrew) October 17, 2017
Around 50 demonstrators congregated outside the Central Fresno facility to show their solidarity. Organizers hope the gathering will highlight the issue to the wider public and make sure the matter is heard on Capitol Hill.
“There are local constituents here. You’ve got Congressman Costa, you’ve got Congressman Valadao, you’ve got Congressman Nunes.
“I’ve been in communication with all three offices.”
In a statement to KMJ News, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says the number quoted in inaccurate.
“As of September 29th 2017, the Department of Veterans Affairs had 35,345 total full-time equivalent vacancies.
“VA’s Veterans Health Administration is the largest integrated health care system in the nation, and VHA’s vacancy rate is about 9 percent, less than half the vacancy rate for private sector hospitals, which trend near 20 percent.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
