As the City of Virginia Beach prepares for an important election, with city council districts newly re-drawn to rectify a history of racial disenfranchisement, city workers, faith leaders, community and labor allies spoke out at an educational rally on Saturday, September 17 about why collective bargaining is an important aspect of democracy.
Every day, tens of thousands of blue-collar public sector workers help Virginia communities have clean drinking water, dispose of our trash, keep sewage and stormwater from overflowing, keep parks and beaches beautiful, care for those who need special mental and medical care, and more. Now these city workers are asking for a voice in their democracy on the job every day via collective bargaining.
Virginia Beach City Workers Union, UE Local 111 leaders Terry Green, who works in Water Distribution, and Pat Thebert, who works as a nurse in Human Services, co-chaired the rally.
“We can win a new majority on the Virginia Beach City Council that supports fairness, dignity, living wages and a voice at the table for city workers through our union. The city has a chance to make history with this election,” said Green, who serves as chairperson of the union.
Pat Thebert said in her opening remarks that, “Women, who make up the majority of local government workers (especially in Virginia), would also particularly benefit from collective bargaining. This is important because past discrimination and ongoing barriers mean Black workers, Latinx workers, and women of all races are still typically paid less than white men with the same level of education and experience in both public- and private-sector employment.”
The Virginia Beach City Workers Union, UE Local 111 has endorsed six candidates they believe will support the passage of a resolution for collective bargaining once elected: Melissa Peck (District 1), Paul Telkamp (District 2), Worth Remick (District 6), John Andrews (District 8), Joash Schulman (District 9), and Jennifer Rouse (District 10).
In May 2021, Virginia state law changed, allowing local government employees to collectively bargain union contracts with cities and local school boards. However, the local government must first pass a resolution allowing for this process to begin.
“This upcoming municipal election will be critical to correct the historical racial injustices in this city. Supporting city workers’ right to collective bargaining is an essential part of that reckoning,” said Minister Gary McCollum of Due the Right Things, a local grassroots organization.
The rally on September 17 encouraged community members to support candidates that support collective bargaining when they vote. Early voting in Virginia starts September 23. Election day is November 8.
Members of the Virginia Beach Educators Association (an affiliate of the National Education Association, the largest teachers’ union in the country) attended the rally, including their local and statewide presidents, as they too are also fighting for collective bargaining with the local school board.
UE Local 111 members vowed to help canvass at the polls, knock on doors, speak at churches and distribute yard signs to help get their endorsed candidates into office.