For more than 40 years, the idea of collective bargaining in Virginia was simply that: a pipe dream. As of Wednesday night, however, the dream has come one step closer to reality as the Prince William County School Board voted 7-1 to pass a collective bargaining resolution.

What this means is that the resolution will provide bargaining rights to the division’s certified employees. It will also allow Superintendent LaTanya McDade and the school leadership to draft a full bargaining resolution in the future. The hope will be that they can create an agreement on which parties will be at the negotiating table by the 2024 fiscal year.

One of the reasons this victory was so important for teachers is that it will open negotiations for raising teacher pay in Prince William County, as well as make schools a safer environment. Over the past two years, there was significant burnout due to high levels of stress in how teaching through the global pandemic was being handled, with many educators leaving the profession. The Prince William Education Association also requested the school board to provide bargaining rights to bus drivers, custodians and food service staff.

Makya Little, who is a candidate for the 19th District House of Delegates, spoke at last night’s school board meeting and offered the following statement to the PW Perspetive:

“As a parent, I have been showing up at school board meetings since 2019 to advocate for parents, students, and educators.

“As a Parent, this podium created MY seat at the table. Not only have I had the liberty to speak freely without any concern of potential retaliation for doing so, the very first time I spoke on March 20, 2019, I literally had an immediate meeting with Superintendent Waltz out in the hall at the conclusion of my comments. In the three minutes Dr. Lateef was gracious enough to allow me to speak, I had earned a seat at the table.

“My sister, on the other hand, a 20-year veteran educator of Prince William County Public Schools who has sacrificed her limited financial resources, health, and time with her OWN children to help educate the rest of our county’s children STILL has no voice, sense of safety, or seat at the table to advocate on her own behalf.

“Ever since we were little girls, I have always been the outspoken one. The one who would advocate for our parents to read our written proposals for new bicycles…or an increase in allowance…or to drop everything and take us shopping for supplies we needed for school. If you ask our father, he can tell you the story about how I went so far as to start his 1989 944 Porsche at the tender age of 11 JUST to ensure our voices were heard.

“Well, today, I am here to speak in support of ALL of my sisters and brothers who serve as educators in Prince William County. I may not have a Porsche engine to rev this time…but my voice ALONG with the voice of my friend, ideological sister, and fellow education equity advocate, THE Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán (who has graciously allowed me to also speak on her behalf this evening) are just as powerful.

“Our educators have done the work. They followed the rules. They met the Commonwealth’s requirements. And they have served all families of our community at significant risk to their own…all without competitive compensation.

“All our teachers want is the dignity of a voice…a seat at the table to co-create an inclusive, considerate working environment that benefits ALL of our families—theirs included.”

While there are still limitations on what can be collectively bargaiined, such as the board is unable to establish the funding levels for schools, that is left to the Board of County Supervisors and government.

Regardless, the fact that thanks to a 2020 resolution that allowed public sector collective bargaining in Virginia to take place, the door is open for teachers to have a seat at the table.