WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently honored outstanding managers and union officials who worked together to provide better service to veterans and to improve employee working conditions.
The honorees received the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Labor-Management Relations Award, which was presented in the categories of health care, benefits, and other overall achievements.
“The winners of the Labor-Management Relations Award are proof that innovation and cooperation in the workplace lead to improved service to veterans and a better quality of workplace life for employees,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. “Management and labor working together as a team can make sure that VA provides the health care, benefits and burial services that veterans have earned.”
The health care category winner was the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, Birmingham and Tuskegee, Ala. It implemented several new programs including home-based primary care and mental health intensive case management. As a result, waiting times were significantly decreased, despite a 22 percent increase in the number of veterans served. Employee morale improved and productivity increased.
In the benefits category, the recipient was the VA Regional Office, Hartford, Conn., which developed a detailed plan to improve services and boost morale.
Recognition in the “other programs” category went to the Veterans Health Administration’s Partnership in Safety with national labor organizations and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, which resulted in a safer environment for employees and veterans.
In the overall achievements category, the recipient was the Bay Pines, Fla., VA Medical Center’s Partnership Program. The program resulted in reduced waiting times for clinic appointments, additional clinic spaces and an increase in the numbers of outpatients and outpatient visits.
“These award winners show us the power of labor and management working together to serve veterans,” said Principi.
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