Workers and supporters will gather for a virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 5, to discuss the release of a new report by The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (TCI). The findings show that most Prince William County employees are paid too little to achieve economic security for themselves and their families and that collective bargaining can help reduce public sector pay penalties and improve services. 

The new report provides insight into current pay for Prince William County employees, typical total compensation for local government employees in Northern Virginia compared to their private-sector peers, the high cost of employee turnover to the county, and how collective bargaining helps close pay disparities and improve services. 

This report comes as Prince William County workers, who are organizing with SEIU Virginia 512, are calling on the Board of Supervisors to introduce and pass an inclusive collective bargaining ordinance for county employees.

What: Virtual press conference highlighting new report showing the need for collective bargaining for Prince William County employees

Who: Speakers will include:

• Jennifer Sherer, Senior State Policy Coordinator, Worker Power Project at the Economic Policy Institute
• Kerensa Green, a clinical services caseworker at the Prince William County Community Services Board
• Tammie Wondong, Prince William County resident, Fairfax County employee, and elected Fairfax Chapter President of SEIU Virginia 512
• David Broder, President, SEIU Virginia 512
• Mel Borja, Worker Power Policy Analyst, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
• Phil Hernandez, Senior Vice President, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis (moderator)

When: 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Where:  The conference will take place virtually. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwkceuvrTsoGtYKTBhXWaJoPwls0HTUHZG2 

Why: Far too many local public employees in Prince William County cannot afford to live in the city they serve. The new report also finds that the turnover rate for Prince William County employees has been high for nearly a decade. Collective bargaining has been shown to increase wages, better working conditions, improve public services, and foster democratic participation. Prince William County public employees must be afforded the ability to bargain collectively so that the county can ensure a prosperous and equitable future for all.