See below for video and a press release (courtesy of Katie Baker) on yesterday’s press conference in Richmond “to roll out legislation that would allow more than half a million Virginia public service workers the freedom to collectively bargain for a contract.” Good stuff; let’s do this!
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Majority Leader Surovell and Caucus Chair Tran Roll Out Legislation to Allow Virginia’s Public Service Workers the Freedom to Collectively Bargain |
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| From left: Prince William County fire fighter Mitch Nason; University of Virginia associate professor Ian Mullins; Carleigh Wallace, housekeeper for the College of William & Mary; Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell; Home Care Worker Lauralyn Clark of Richmond; House Democratic Caucus Chair Kathy Tran; and Harlie White, a traffic signal inspector for the City of Alexandria, all spoke at a Jan. 23 press conference in Richmond to roll out legislation that would allow more than half a million Virginia public service workers the freedom to collectively bargain for a contract. |
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Watch the video recording of the event HERE View photos from the event HERE |
| RICHMOND, Va. – At a press conference held in the General Assembly Building, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and Virginia House Democratic Caucus Chair Kathy Tran today rolled out legislation, SB 378 and HB 1263, to allow approximately 574,000 public service workers across the Commonwealth – including teachers, firefighters, home care workers, campus workers and state workers – the freedom to come together to bargain collectively for a contract.
“As we speak, there were AFSCME workers that were planning on being here today. Right now they’re out getting help ready for the snowstorm we’re about to have, so they’re not here today,” said Majority Leader Surovell. “These are the kinds of things that people are out here doing every day, facing emergencies and natural disasters and our possible snowpocalypse … These people are on the job around the clock, preparing to keep us safe in a weather emergency, and the least we can do is allow them to collectively bargain for decent wages and benefits and good equipment so they can get out there and do their job safely.” “Virginia is powered by working people, and when workers have a voice on the job, they advocate not just for themselves but for the people they serve,” said Caucus Chair Tran. “In 1946, the Virginia General Assembly banned public sector collective bargaining after Black nurses organized at the University of Virginia’s hospital. Virginia’s original ban on public sector collective bargaining was a legacy of Jim Crow. And today, the federal government has shown incredible disdain and disrespect for our federal workers. Illegal firings and deep funding cuts have impacted our families and our economy in Virginia. We have an opportunity to turn a new chapter in the Commonwealth’s history and show over a half million Virginia public sector workers that we stand with them.” “We face a variety of challenges at William and Mary … overwork due to understaffing, [and being] underpaid which resulted in me having to move back in my with my mom because my wages were not matching the price increases of today,” said Carleigh Wallace, a housekeeper at the College of William & Mary and a member of UNITE HERE. “During the Civil Rights Movement, we overturned many racist laws, but the law against public sector collective bargaining is still on the books as of today in Virginia. The lack of collective bargaining rights affected my ancestors, and it’s affecting me now, but it will not affect my children or my grandchildren. That’s why I’m standing here today.” “Virginia is aging fast, and we need experienced workers to meet the demand for care,” said Lauralyn Clark of Richmond, a home care worker and member of SEIU Virginia 512. “But right now, poverty wages and a lack of benefits are forcing dedicated caregivers like me out of the job. We need collective bargaining so we can have a seat at the table to fix this crisis and build a care system that works for everyone.” “We are the workers that clean the buildings, that sort the recycling, that take care of the grounds, that treat patients in the health systems … that can schedule the classes, that confer degrees and do all of the paperwork you just will never see. We teach the classes. We do world-class research,” said Ian Mullins, an associate professor at the University of Virginia and member of the United Campus Workers of Virginia. “Our working conditions have deteriorated. Our pay has not kept up with inflation, and it has not been a living wage for most of us. Those of us that are most vulnerable … have to move further and further out of Charlottesville, some commuting up to an hour and a half each day just to clean the buildings. Often, our custodial staff have to find second and sometimes third jobs to supplement their wages because UVA will not pay a living wage. So UVA works because we do, and those of us that work at UVA, we want a seat at the table.” “Our state faces a staffing crisis that needs to be addressed, with recent estimates showing as many as 20% of the state positions unfilled,” said Harlie White, a traffic signal inspector in Alexandria and a member of AFSCME Local 3001. “This leads to overtaxed workers who can’t deliver services as well as they’d like to or want to. Granting state employees the same rights and freedoms as every other type of worker is a commonsense place to start addressing this crisis and improve services for everyone. Collective bargaining works. It works for communities. It works for workers. It works for citizens. Let’s pass these bills and make Virginia a state where all workers can thrive together.” “Those that want to tear down the progress that we’re making talk about the cost of collective bargaining. That needs to be reframed. It’s not a cost. It’s an investment,” said Mitch Nason, a Prince William County firefighter and member of the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters. “Every dollar that flows through a contract to a worker, no matter what they’re doing; whether out preparing the streets for the pending snowstorm, they’re eventually going to provide care in that snowstorm, they’re in a home health care environment taking care of people during the snowstorm. Every single one of those workers, if they’re given a dignified protection through a collective bargaining agreement, that investment — and what we often hear is our greatest resource — flows right back to the community. And no longer should your rights be dependent on your zip code, on your profession. Every worker in Virginia deserves collective bargaining rights, and this is the year we’re going to see it done.” “There are several school divisions that have successfully implemented collective bargaining and union contracts in the last five years,” said Norfolk teacher and VEA member Nicholas Green. “Workers in Arlington won the right to speak their native language while at work. Workers in Prince William won better grievance procedures. Workers in Montgomery County won limits on meetings and protections for planning time. Those are just a few examples. At the same time, many public school employees have been left behind with no recourse if their school boards didn’t want to negotiate. This bill will give every educator an equal opportunity to improve our schools, and I want everyone to feel respected and have a voice at their workplace.” A poll from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center showed 68 percent of Virginia voters support public sector collective bargaining rights. A recording of the press conference is HERE. Photos from the press conference are HERE and may be published with attribution to Bert Shepherd. |
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### Authorized by the Virginia Public Sector Labor Coalition, which comprises Virginia AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Virginia Education Association (VEA); Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF); UNITE HERE; and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400. |
