by Patrice Summers

I’ve been working for Prince William County for over 22 years, so I know firsthand that county employees are the heartbeat that keeps Prince William going. Throughout the pandemic, we have been hailed as essential workers and celebrated for helping our communities thrive. However, we’re not treated that way on the job.

Public service employees do not come into this line of work to get rich – we just want to help others, and take care of ourselves, and our families. My coworkers and I shouldn’t have to work 2 or 3 jobs in order to provide necessary services to the residents of Prince William County. The entire time I’ve worked for the County, I’ve had 2 or more jobs. One occupation’s salary should be sufficient enough to be able to afford to live in the county where I work. This is the collective consensus of my colleagues as well.

Despite having worked for the county for years, many of my colleagues and I haven’t been able to advance in our field. Your immediate supervisor may encourage you to apply for a new position, only to be told that you’re not qualified during the hiring process. When you go to the HR manager to inquire about a decision, you’re often told something inconsistent, not related to the job description. Such a process seems to be exclusive for some, while poised to exclude those of us willing to be trained for the advertised position(s).

It is great to be degreed, especially for a specific position. But it doesn’t automatically make someone a perfect fit for that position. Time served and commitment on a job should account for far more than a degree. And even though I applaud the degreed, it is just as important to value and applaud those of no degree or a lesser degree when it comes to company values, leadership, accountability, team camaraderie, and job aptitude.

We are not afforded the opportunity to move up in the agency, while new hires are prioritized. I got involved in my union, SEIU Virginia 512, because of the unfairness, nepotism, and cronyism in my department. Our hard work should be recognized whether or not we have connections.

That’s why it’s so important for my fellow union members and I to keep advocating for a meaningful collective bargaining ordinance in Prince William County. During the County Board work session on September 13, many of my co-workers and I spoke up about why we need collective bargaining rights and what changes we need in the current ordinance draft to support it. We were happy to see the Board respond and accept some of our requested changes. It’s progress, but it still falls short. We need an ordinance that gets our priorities as employees right – like other jurisdictions in Virginia have done.

We know that collective bargaining is the best way to close pay gaps while raising standards for all workers. Collective bargaining would strengthen local economies and advance economic and racial justice throughout Prince William County. As we always say, our working conditions are your living conditions, and improving our working conditions is better for all of us.

We need an inclusive ordinance that covers as many workers as possible, including part-time and temporary workers. We need the right to bargain over pay, benefits, and working conditions. The “county rights” provisions must not undermine our ability to bargain over the issues that matter to us. And all of these things must be part of the collective bargaining ordinance in order to have our support.

My message to my fellow county employees, especially those thinking of joining our union, is this: it’s time to do things a different way. We know our worth. So does our community. Unionize, and let your voice be heard, so our salaries and working conditions can match the hard work we put into Prince William County every day.

(Editor’s Note: the views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of PW Perspective, LLC or its stakeholders.)