by John Reid

A recent poll at Christopher Newport University found 68% of Virginia workers support sector collective bargaining rights. Yesterday in Richmond, educators, lawmakers and several supporters came together for a press conference to discuss how momentum is growing for expanding collective bargaining. Among the supporters was Prince William Education Association president Maggie Hansford, who helped negotiate the state’s largest contract for educators in its history. Negotiations resulted in an average pay raise of over 5% for the teachers and staff.

State Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Kathy Tran have introduced bills to repeal Virginia’s prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees. The state’s prohibition on collective bargaining began from a resolution in 1946 to stop Black University of Virgina’s Hospital’s nurses, janitors and orderlies from unionizing. The press conference was for public workers calling on the General Assembly to pass Boysko’s SB374 and Tran’s HB1001.