Disabled workers in VA losing jobs

If it is a choice between veterans working for the VA or civilians, I'll side with the veterans everyday. After all, this is the Veterans Administration. It should hire veterans first. I also think the VA and Goodwill should do everything possible to find other jobs for these disabled individuals. Why weren't these jobs Federal jobs in the first place?

Disabled workers on way out at Veterans Administration Medical Center
By PAT GROSSMITH
New Hampshire Union Leader
August 19. 2012

MANCHESTER — Sixteen disabled workers employed in the mail room and on the switchboard at the Veterans Administration Medical Center soon will be out of work, their jobs filled by eight full-time federal employees.

“What we are doing is converting to federal positions,” said VAMC spokesman Stella Lareau. The conversion will be completed after a contract with Goodwill Northern New England Employment Services, which employs the disabled workers, expires on Sept. 30.

Michelle Smith, communications manager for Goodwill based in Portland, Maine, said the VA has not told her agency who will fill the jobs.

“I imagine it may be veterans,” she said.

Peter Gerrard, one of the disabled employees who works the switchboard, said employees only learned they would be laid off when someone saw their jobs posted on the U.S. government jobs website.
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