Influential Democrats are supporting bills in the General Assembly that would make it much easier for public employees to unionize.

Twin measures in the House of Delegates and Senate, if passed, would require public employers to negotiate in good faith with collective bargaining units, the proposed law reads. The legislation also establishes a state authority that would regulate bargaining units and the bodies with which they negotiate.

The legislation is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled legislature. If so, the final version would be considered by new Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who took a stance while campaigning that sympathized with Virginians seeking collective bargaining rights.

Similar bills made it to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin last year but were vetoed. A coalition of Hampton Roads mayors was assembled to publicly oppose the legislation at the time, citing what could be a slippery slope to revoking Virginia’s right to work laws. Law was passed in 2021 that allowed for the collective bargaining units of public employees to form after first receiving the blessing of the respective localities.

Scott Surovell, the state Senate majority leader, said the bill he is sponsoring seeks to ensure there’s a dialogue between public employees and their government employers.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything in the way of pay benefits,” Surovell said. “What it does guarantee is that local governments are required to have a conversation with their employees.”

Surovell, a Democrat representing parts of Fairfax County, said his legislation is not designed to directly enable the collective bargaining of higher wages or increased benefits. It only creates a framework, he said.

Public employees on the state and local level numbered over a half-million in Virginia, 2022 United States Census data shows; a majority — about 328,000 of those — worked in the education sector full or part-time.

“We’re optimistic that over time this will help us get our teachers better pay and benefits. But it’s going to require collaboration to help fund it,” Surovell said.

Virginia Education Association President Carol Bauer, who heads a group of more than 40,000 public school employees, said the bills would help address problems most Virginia school districts face in retention, stability and recruitment. She said it would it would create incentives.

“It really is not about confrontation. It’s about collaboration,” Bauer said. “It’s about making sure educators can come to the table and try to solve problems.”

Bauer said bargaining power would extend to roles within schools which often go overlooked in budgetary discussions, such as custodial staff and paraprofessionals. She said it would also empower public education employees to bargain for issues that affect the “common good,” or school environment and community issues, such as creating a boys and girls club.

Local VEA affiliates would be empowered to enter collective bargaining negotiations without first needing to seek the approval of a school board and then the city, as the law now requires.

Democratic Del. Kathy Tran, who represents parts of Fairfax County, is the lead sponsor for the House bill, or HB1263, which was referred to the House committee on labor and commerce Jan. 14. The bill’s Senate counterpart, SB378, was referred to the Senate committee on labor and commerce the previous day.

John Buzbee, 757-879-7421, john.buzbee@virginiamedia.com

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/01/26/va-employees-collective-bargain/