The Latest from VEA

VEA Statement on Proposed Bill Substitute for Senate Bill 378 and House Bill 1263

Last month, the Virginia Education Association (VEA) and our labor partners celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 378 and House Bill 1263 – the culmination of more than five years of sustained, strategic work to expand bargaining rights to the more than 500,000 Virginians who have been denied a voice at the bargaining table.

The proposed substitute text, however, undermines both the spirit and the intent of these bills by replacing durable, statutory rights with a fragile regulatory framework. It does not reflect the urgency of the workforce challenges facing our Commonwealth, nor does it demonstrate a full understanding of what educators and public employees need to remain in, and thrive within, their professions. By delaying rights for local school employees until 2030 and moving core protections into regulations, this substitute creates a “regulatory kill switch” that would allow future administrations to stop collective bargaining in its tracks without a single vote from the General Assembly. Virginia’s educators have waited long enough.

VEA commends Delegate Kathy Tran and Senator Scott Surovell for their tireless stewardship of this legislation and their unwavering commitment to Virginia’s public employees. When the General Assembly reconvenes on April 22nd, we urge lawmakers to stand strong for the public sector workforce and reject this substitute. Rejection is the only path to returning the original, durable Enrolled Bill to the Governor’s desk for her signature.