Virginia's Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have reinstated collective bargaining rights for approximately 50,000 public sector workers in the state. Union leaders have condemned the veto as a "betrayal" and a "slap in the face," accusing the governor of reneging on promises made during her campaign last year.
Legislative Background
Although both chambers of Virginia's General Assembly, with majorities in favor, passed legislation to restore bargaining rights to most public sector employees, Spanberger introduced an amended version of the bill last month. The assembly subsequently rejected her amendments. According to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute, Spanberger's proposed changes would have significantly weakened the collective bargaining rights originally passed, potentially "locking Virginia into an unstable, ineffective system in which collective bargaining would remain merely 'optional'."
Conservatives praised the veto, arguing that the bill would have led to substantial tax increases.
Union Reactions
Union leaders assert that the veto contradicts promises Spanberger made on the campaign trail. In February, shortly after taking office, the governor attended a rally in support of the bill organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), according to the Virginia Mercury.
SEIU leaders April Verrett, LaNoral Thomas, and Jaime Contreras issued a joint statement calling the veto a "betrayal of Virginia's workers who were promised change." They added, "Collective bargaining is not a privilege – it is a right. Governor Spanberger looked workers in the eye, met with our members, affirmed her support, and made a promise. Today, she broke it."
Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, described the veto as "a slap in the face to every worker who put their faith in her." Of Virginia's 11,000 firefighters, approximately 8,000 to 9,000 still lack collective bargaining rights because their municipalities have not opted into the system. Kelly remarked, "Firefighters keep their word every single day on the job. It's a shame the governor can't do the same."
Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)—the largest union of public sector workers in the US, with 1.4 million members—highlighted Virginia's history of "anti-worker extremists" that has given the state a "reputation as one of the most anti-worker in the country." Saunders stated, "Governor Spanberger campaigned on the promise to end this historic injustice. But she has broken that promise by vetoing legislation that would have finally granted most state and local workers the freedom to collectively bargain."
The Virginia Public Sector Labor Coalition, a group of multiple major labor unions, echoed sentiments of betrayal and noted that Glenn Youngkin, Spanberger's Republican predecessor, vetoed similar legislation last year.
Governor's Response
A spokesperson for Spanberger directed inquiries to a press release and noted that the governor signed other legislation into law last month that expands paid family and medical leave, raises the minimum wage, and helps crack down on wage theft. In a statement, Spanberger said, "I remain committed to continuing to work with the General Assembly, unions, localities and public servants across the Commonwealth to develop a public sector collective bargaining system that works for Virginia. However, I believe additional amendments are needed to the enrolled bill currently before me."
Historical Context
During the Jim Crow era, Virginia banned public sector collective bargaining in 1948 in response to a group of Black workers organizing a union at the University of Virginia hospital. Before Virginia passed a law in 2021 allowing local governments to enact their own collective bargaining systems, the state was one of only three with blanket bans on collective bargaining for public sector workers. Even after the 2021 law, collective bargaining for state government workers remains illegal.
