(The Center Square) – Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she plans to veto legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees in Virginia.
Spanberger, a Democrat, publicly confirmed the decision after informing Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, earlier Wednesday. The formal veto is expected before the May 23 deadline.
House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378 would create a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee labor negotiations and require public employers statewide to negotiate with certified employee organizations.
Under current law, localities decide whether to allow collective bargaining through local ordinance.
Supporters said the legislation would give teachers, firefighters and other public workers a more consistent statewide process to negotiate wages, hours and working conditions.
The Virginia Public Sector Labor Coalition accused Spanberger of “betraying” public workers by backing away from campaign support for collective bargaining rights.
In a joint statement, the coalition said the veto would affect half a million Virginia public service workers.
“Shame. Governor Abigail Spanberger today betrayed half a million of Virginia’s public service workers by going back on her campaign promise to support collective bargaining rights for the people who keep our commonwealth and communities running every day,” the coalition said.
“Instead of aligning herself with the General Assembly Democrats who unanimously supported this bill, Spanberger instead vetoed the bill just as her predecessor Glenn Youngkin did, sending Virginia workers the crystal clear message that they are no better off than they were under a Republican governor.”
Virginia Professional Fire Fighters also released a statement criticizing the expected veto.
“Her promises to us, and all workers, turned out to be hollow and nothing more than campaign rhetoric,” Virginia Professional Fire Fighters President Robert L. Bragg III said in the statement.
Bragg said the legislation “would have made an enormous difference in the lives of our 500,000 blue collar workers.”
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, said in a statement, “After getting slammed by Republicans for the spineless attempt to dodge the fallout and dump the consequences on the next administration, the governor has finally vetoed the collective bargaining bill.
“This is a massive victory for Virginians. Even Democrats were screaming from the rooftops that this would’ve delivered the single largest tax increase in Virginia history.
“We will continue fighting for real affordability, not just empty talking points.”
House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, also praised the expected veto, saying the bill “would have driven up local taxes unsustainably.”
The Department of Planning and Budget estimated the legislation could eventually cost the state between roughly $24.9 million and $25.7 million annually in general fund spending, with additional costs tied to staffing, labor negotiations and collective bargaining oversight.
A Virginia Association of Counties statement previously said roughly 70% of counties had passed resolutions opposing the legislation.
Virginia Professional Fire Fighters announced they will hold a Thursday press availability in Short Pump to respond to the expected veto.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Surovell, Del. Kathy Tran and the governor.
