Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has vetoed legislation to expand collective bargaining to public workers – including fire fighters and emergency medical workers. The move is a direct betrayal of her repeated pledges on the campaign trail to support workers.
“As a candidate, Abigail Spanberger told Virginia’s public workers she would work with the General Assembly to ensure they had a voice on the job, and the right to collectively bargain. Our Virginia members and others stood with her throughout the campaign and helped put her in the Governor’s office based on that commitment,” said General President Edward Kelly. “With her veto, she has broken that promise.”
HB 1263/SB 378 was passed by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year. The bill would ensure public sector employees in the Commonwealth have the ability to negotiate over health and safety, pay, benefits, working conditions, and other important workplace issues. The bill was led in the Senate by the Majority Leader, Scott Surovell (D-34).
On the campaign trail, Spanberger repeatedly highlighted her support for workers and pledged to ensure they had a seat at the table.
“Virginia’s fire fighters and emergency medical workers face dangerous conditions every day, and we should always ensure they always have a voice on the job,” she told supporters last September.
“As Virginia’s next governor, I will work with our General Assembly to make sure Virginia’s fire fighters and other first responders can negotiate for the benefits and the fair treatment that is owed to them.”
Despite that pledge, Spanberger didn’t sign the General Assembly’s legislation when she received it, instead choosing to send the bill back to the legislature with amendments. Delaying the bill’s implementation until 2030 and changing key sections to allow bargaining only when employers deem it “appropriate” were among her proposed changes.
This veto is a slap in the face to every worker who put their faith in Abigail Spanberger to deliver. Fire fighters keep their word every single day on the job. It’s a shame the Governor can’t do the same.
General President Edward Kelly
Virginia lawmakers rejected her amendments on April 22, sending the original bill back to the governor’s desk.
“This bill would strengthen Virginia’s communities by giving fire fighters a voice, and ensuring the safety of their communities, fair pay, and a dignified retirement. That’s why the General Assembly passed this legislation twice,” Kelly said.
Major unions like the IAFF, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and others called on Spanberger to sign the bill, and uphold her campaign commitments. Ultimately, she chose to side with those opposing workers.
Virginia Professional Fire Fighters (VPFF) President Robert L. Bragg III called out the Governor for turning her back on more than 500,000 workers in the Commonwealth.
“It’s a sad day for all workers in Virginia,” he said. “Fire fighters will continue running into danger, saving lives, and making a difference every day in this Commonwealth. Unfortunately, now fire fighters know they can’t trust their Governor to show up for them.”
The decision by Spanberger is a setback for Virginia workers, but it won’t stop fire fighters from fighting for bargaining rights.
Fire fighters will continue running into danger, saving lives, and making a difference every day in this Commonwealth. Unfortunately, now fire fighters know they can’t trust their Governor to show up for them.
VPFF President Robert L. Bragg III
A 2021 law allowing municipalities across Virginia to choose whether to allow public workers to enter into collective bargaining agreements remains on the books, providing fire fighters opportunities to gain a seat at the table. While this process is more complex than if HB 1263/SB 378 had been signed, some Virginia Locals have already successfully negotiated contracts under this framework.
“This veto is a slap in the face to every worker who put their faith in Abigail Spanberger to deliver,” said Kelly. “Fire fighters keep their word every single day on the job. It’s a shame the Governor can’t do the same.”
