CAS3
02-10-04, 10:52 AM
VA Honors Innovative Labor-Management
WASHINGTON (Feb. 9, 2004) - 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, Montgomery 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.
WASHINGTON (Feb. 9, 2004) - 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, Montgomery 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.