Report by Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO Assistant Mobilizer Julia Kann of Union City.

Just weeks after hundreds of VA employees took to the streets to demand an end to “unfounded and arbitrary downgrades” for low-wage employees at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the VA announced a decision to halt the downgrades. American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing workers at the VA, said the downgrades were targeting the lowest-paid workers, many of whom are women, minorities and veterans themselves.

“We’ve known from the very beginning that these downgrades are a complete disservice to our public servants and our nation’s veterans,” said AFGE President John Gage. “The bullying of the lowest wage earners under the pretense of saving a few dollars must end.”

“Our efforts have led to this move by the VA” added AFGE Secretary-Treasurer J. David Cox, “and we won’t stop here!”