In March, the General Assembly passed landmark legislation allowing Virginia's fire fighters and other public-sector workers to collectively bargain. Private sector workers across the Commonwealth have long enjoyed this right, but Virginia's fire fighters had been denied the right to engage in discussions about their own jobs and the safety of the communities they serve.  Nationwide data clearly show that when fire fighters can participate in the decision-making process, their communities see lower death rates per fire and the fire fighters themselves receive safer working conditions and more dignified wages. 

Sadly, this historic progress may disappear before it even starts. Instead of signing HB 1263/SB 378 into law, Governor Spanberger proposed an amended version of the bill that guts fire fighters' collective bargaining rights. Under this proposal, fire fighters have no clear scope of work to bargain over, and the effective date for local governments to bargain is delayed to 2030.  Without clearly defined topics of bargaining and scope of work, employers will be able to stall negotiations and deny fire fighters a voice on topics directly related to their jobs - including wages, working hours, and healthcare. Simply put, the Governor's proposal will deny fire fighters their basic bargaining rights and force them into lengthy court battles over their rights. 

Please urge all Members of the General Assembly to reject the Governor's amendments and urge the Governor to sign into law HB 1263/SB 378 as passed by the General Assembly.