NAGE Leaders, Members Gather with Politicians to Protest VA Contract Termination

NAGE National Executive Vice President Jim Farley delivers a speech to the West Roxbury VAMC crowd.

NAGE leadership, staff and membership attended the "Stand for Veterans, Stand for Unions" rally at the West Roxbury Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) on Friday to show their collective strength and stand against the attacks on the VA employees who care for those who served this country.

The rally was organized and led by Local R1-187 President Jackie Rose, who represents the nurses of the West Roxbury and Brockton VAMCs. Union and political leaders across the state delivered pro-veteran and pro-union addresses to the crowd, including Senator Ed Markey, Congressman Stephen Lynch, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn, and NAGE National Executive Vice President Jim Farley.

NAGE hopes to hold the current administration accountable in its actions against veterans and the workers who serve them with litigative action, political pressure, and member engagement events like these rallies. NAGE's goals are to stop the Trump Administration’s attack on veterans’ healthcare, restore VA workers’ collective bargaining rights, stop privatization of the VA, and invest in the proper funding, staffing, and pay for these workers.

"It's time to stand up for brave veterans who served our nation and ensure they get the best care possible," said Farley. "We must ensure every VA worker feels safe, valued, and free to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech. This is how we take care of our members so they can take care of our great vets."

 NAGE will continue to stand firm with the men and women who proudly serve our veterans everyday.

Photos of the event can be seen below.