Labor leaders call collective bargaining veto a ‘betrayal’ by Virginia governor

Key Points:

• Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill restoring collective bargaining rights for 50,000 public sector workers, drawing criticism from union leaders who called it a betrayal of her campaign promises.
• The original bill had majority support in the state legislature, but Spanberger's weakened amended version was rejected, leading to her veto; conservatives praised the veto for preventing potential tax increases.
• Union leaders, including representatives from SEIU, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and AFSCME, condemned the veto as breaking promises to workers and perpetuating Virginia's reputation as anti-worker.
• Spanberger highlighted her support for other labor-related legislation, such as expanding paid family leave and raising the minimum wage, and expressed willingness to work on a collective bargaining system with further amendments.
• Virginia has a historical context of banning public sector collective bargaining since 1948 during the Jim Crow era, initially targeting Black workers organizing unions.