Labor leaders call veto of collective bargaining bill a ‘betrayal’ by Virginia governor
Summary
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill that would have restored collective bargaining rights for 50,000 public workers. Union leaders called the veto a broken promise, while the governor said she wants changes to the bill before approving it.Key Facts
- The veto stops a bill restoring collective bargaining rights to most public workers in Virginia.
- Governor Spanberger had supported collective bargaining during her campaign and at a union rally.
- Union leaders say the veto is a betrayal and breaks her promise to workers.
- Conservatives praised the veto, fearing the bill would cause big tax increases.
- Spanberger had introduced a weaker version of the bill that the legislature rejected last month.
- Virginia bans collective bargaining for state workers but allows local governments to have their own systems since 2021.
- The state had banned public sector collective bargaining since 1948, linked to racial discrimination from the Jim Crow era.
- Spanberger supports expanding paid family leave, raising the minimum wage, and fighting wage theft.
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