SEIU International President April Verrett, SEIU Virginia 512 President LaNoral Thomas, and SEIU 32BJ Executive Vice President Jaime Contreras issue following statement on behalf of SEIU members:
“Governor Spanberger’s decision to veto public sector collective bargaining is a betrayal of Virginia’s workers who were promised change. Rather than chart a new path forward for Virginia’s public sector workforce with the right to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, Governor Spanberger is following in the steps of former Governor Glenn Youngkin by vetoing this bill and further denying our rights. This decision is a direct blow to affordability for Virginians and part of a broader, dangerous national trend of stripping power from women, immigrants, and people of color. Picking and choosing which rights Virginians get to have is not pro-worker.
For decades, SEIU members and not-yet-union workers have fought for our right to form unions and collectively bargain. Home care and city and county workers with SEIU Virginia 512 have united with public service workers across the commonwealth - including teachers, firefighters, and campus workers - to advocate for the repeal of Virginia's public sector collective bargaining ban. The racist ban was passed by the General Assembly following an attempt by Black hospital workers to unionize in the 1940s. During a time when the Voting Rights Act has been gutted, and many of our rights and freedoms are under attack, Governor Spanberger had the opportunity to move Virginia forward. Instead, she chose to keep us in the past.
Virginia workers sent a clear message last November: we are done settling for crumbs while politicians campaign as allies and govern like obstacles. Workers want leaders who understand that dignity is not negotiable and that 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.
We are disappointed, not deterred. Moving forward, SEIU service and care workers will continue fighting for the rights of all working people - no matter who we are or what zip code we live in - to decide for ourselves if we want to form a union and collectively bargain. We are grateful to the members of the General Assembly, including bill patrons Senator Scott Surrovell and Delegate Kathy Tran, who stood with us and fought for a Virginia where everyone can thrive. We will not stop fighting until all workers in Virginia, no matter where we live, have our rights protected by law. Onward."
