NAGE vs. Dept of Veterans Affairs Overtime Settlement

The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), which represents more than 100,000 public employees across the country has secured a $60 million settlement on behalf of more than 25,000 current and former VA employees for unpaid overtime compensation.

On April 5, 2019, NAGE filed a national-level Grievance alleging that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Title V by failing to properly compensate employees for certain types of overtime work. The Grievance, which was pursued by NAGE’s in-house counsel and the law firm Snider & Associates, LLC, covered all non-Title 38 and non-Designated Hybrid employees from April 5, 2017, through October 16, 2024, and sought damages for “suffered or permitted” overtime, “induced” overtime, improperly capped overtime payments, “forced” compensatory time, and other related claims.

After many years of advocacy, arbitration, and negotiation, the VA agreed to pay a lump-sum settlement resolving all remaining claims related to these violations—one of the largest FLSA settlements ever achieved for VA employees. This represents a major victory for NAGE and its members nationwide.

“This settlement represents years of hard work by NAGE and our legal team to make sure our members are paid what they earned,” said NAGE National President David J. Holway. “We are proud to have held the VA accountable and achieved this important result for the employees who dedicate their careers to serving our nation’s veterans.”

The Settlement also required the VA to provide a significant amount of data which was used to help determine employee eligibility and payment amounts. This process has recently been completed, and the distribution process is now underway, with payments expected to be started in the coming months. Updates will be posted regularly on the Settlement Updates page, and answers to common questions can be found in the Settlement FAQ section.

“NAGE’s commitment to protecting the rights of federal employees has once again resulted in meaningful financial relief for our members,” President Holway added. “This victory underscores the power of collective action and the importance of strong union representation.”

As NAGE continues fighting to protect member rights, the Union has launched NAGE E‑Dues, a modern, secure dues collection system that allows members to pay electronically—through payroll allotment, bank draft, or credit card—independent of the employer’s payroll system. Created to safeguard against anti-union attacks and ensure long-term stability, NAGE E-Dues is simple to enroll in online and helps keep our collective strength strong. For assistance, call 833-360-9555 or CLICK HERE FOR HELP.

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