VBA Regional Director Receives $50,000 in Bonuses, While Facing Numerous Discrimination Complaints

Union Calls on VA to Launch Investigation into Regional Director's Abuse of Authority

COLUMBIA, S.C., March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) today challenged the Department of Veterans Affairs to remove Carl Hawkins, Jr., regional director at the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) in Columbia, S.C. amid allegations of sexual harassment, age discrimination, and racial discrimination. Over the last two years, the VBA regional director and his managers have been named in dozens of discrimination suits including allegations of pay disparity, retaliation and violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, resulting in civil and administrative settlements of over $500,000. However, instead of being removed from his post, Hawkins received $50,000 in bonuses over the same two-year time span. AFGE has called on the National VA to launch an investigation to uncover Hawkins' abuses of authority since taking office.

"The tragedy here is not just that the VA has not held Mr. Hawkins accountable for the $500,000 dollars he has cost the American tax-payers, but that as a result of his despicable actions, the quality of service at our facility is suffering," said Dan Brockway, president of AFGE Local 520, which represents 200 employees at the Columbia facility. "We are here because we want to serve Veterans that have so courageously served this nation. The harassment and discrimination perpetrated by Mr. Hawkins tarnishes everything that the VA is supposed to be about."

According to local union representatives, Mr. Hawkins continually ignored directives from the National Department of Veterans Affairs aimed at eliminating pay disparity among certain employees. "We have to be the only facility in the country where GS-4s hold degrees," added Ron Robinson, executive vice-president at AFGE Local 520.

Mr. Hawkins has removed several bridge positions, denying employees with college level education an opportunity to elevate their positions and grade levels. The employees being denied are overwhelmingly African-American. "Of the 34 management positions filled by Mr. Hawkins since January 2002, none of them are African-American women and only three are African-American men," said Robinson.

AFGE Local 520 is working closely with AFGE National's Women's and Fair Practices departments to continue to challenge the discriminatory workplace conditions. The Women and Fair Practices department recently held a summit at the location along with representatives from AFGE's 5th District, to educate employees on their rights to a hostile free workplace environment.

The American Federation of Government Employees is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.