Faculty union holds out for potential repeal of collective bargaining ban
Higher education workers from across Virginia pose for United Campus Workers’ annual Lobby Day rally. Photo by Heciel Nieves Bonilla.
Sadie Porter, Contributing Writer
Democrats have introduced legislation to repeal Virginia’s ban on collective bargaining for public employees. The bills, backed by the United Campus Workers of Virginia (UCW-VA), could dramatically change the way university employment functions in the state.
The legislation was introduced by two Fairfax lawmakers; Del. Kathy Tran and Senate majority leader Scott Surovell. It was vetoed by former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year, though Democrats are hoping for better luck under Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Public-sector collective bargaining refers to the right for state-employed workers to unionize — including the right to strike, lobby for better working conditions and negotiate contracts.
Currently, people employed by the state of Virginia do not have the right to collectively bargain through labor unions, including public universities, and in turn, VCU employees.
Virginia’s ban on public-sector collective bargaining was created after an incident in 1943, when 28 Black women who worked as maids in the University of Virginia’s hospital walked out in protest against unfair pay.
The women negotiated their new wages, and three years later Virginia lawmakers passed a resolution prohibiting state entities from recognizing their unions, according to The Commonwealth Institute.
The incident led to a codified law banning public-sector collective bargaining decades later.
Only 5.2% of working Virginians were members of a union in 2024 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — far below the national average.
VCU has its own chapter of UCW-VA that includes faculty, staff and students. As a public-sector union, they are unable to collectively bargain, though they can still organize on campus.
Kai Bosworth, an associate professor in the School of World Studies, is a part of the VCU chapter and is actively working to get the legislation passed.
“It’s a good first start in terms of being able to advocate for better working conditions for students, grad students, staff and faculty at public universities in Virginia,” Bosworth said.
Recently, Bosworth and around 80 other university employees from across Virginia gathered at Capitol Square in Richmond on Jan. 16 to lobby for the repeal to be passed in the General Assembly — which is sitting with a new 64-36 Democratic majority in the House.
Among the new state House members is Del. Charlie Schmidt, D-Richmond, who is himself a founding UCW-VA VCU member.
“I think that there’s a lot of enthusiasm among the new legislature for this bill,” Bosworth said.
Harry Szabo, the president of UCW-VA, is also a VCU assistant professor in the Department of Focused Inquiry, which had a large chunk of its faculty laid off in recent years.
“We’re taking nothing for granted, but this is the best chance we’ve had in years for higher education workers, along with other public sector workers, to win back the right to bargain collectively to improve our working conditions and the institutions we run,” Szabo said at the Jan. 16 demonstration.
UCW members are holding out hope following Spanberger’s entrance into office. The Democratic governor has repeatedly said she will not repeal Virginia’s “right-to-work” law, but “reforms may be necessary,” according to ABC 8.
The right-to-work law means employees have the option to not pay union dues to their workplace’s union and the right not to be in the union. Labor unions in right-to-work states have historically lacked funding to operate successfully, and the average wage is lower than in states without the law, according to Axios.
Union dues go toward employee benefits, hardship funds and operate as “safety net” paychecks during strikes.
Another speaker at the demonstration was Brian Payton, president of Teamsters Local 322, a central Virginia labor union.
“People always talk about solidarity when we’re talking about organizing and unions and collective bargaining … that is the bedrock, the very foundation of what the labor movement is built on,” Payton said. “We’re not just talking about abuse of workers. We’re also talking about the violation of human rights.”
The first step to change is establishing a structure, according to Payton.
“Change is what happens when people show up,” Payton said.
The House version of the public sector collective bargaining bill has been assigned to a subcommittee and could soon be heard by legislators. It must then pass the House and Senate.
The General Assembly is expected to adjourn in March. The final deadline for the governor to sign or veto any legislation is May 25.
