Virginia Dem introduces bill to repeal anti-union ‘right-to-work’ law

Virginia State Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy says it’s time to get rid of the anti-union law with roots in the era of segregation. But it remains to be seen if her bill gets the support of Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger.

State Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Woodbridge) has filed legislation to repeal Virginia’s “right-to-work” law. 

She’ll have more than just Virginia Republicans to convince about the merits of doing so. 

Democrat and governor-elect Abigail Spanberger was clear on the campaign trail that she did not support repealing the law that lets people enjoy the benefits of a union contract without having to pay union dues.

Carroll Foy told Dogwood that she’s confident now is the time to repeal the law, which allows workers to opt out of union dues and membership, even when they work under a union contract and receive all the benefits of a union. This has the effect of weakening unions’ ability to negotiate stronger contracts for their workers.

Carroll Foy noted that the pandemic helped people see the importance of essential workers, and President Donald Trump’s mass firings of federal workers has helped make clear the need for stronger support for workers. 

“I really feel like now is the time for us to move this top agenda item forward,” Carroll Foy said in an interview. 

Carroll Foy called “right-to-work” a “vestige of the Jim Crow-era that was put in place to keep black workers from joining unions” and entering the middle class. 

Carroll Foy said repealing “right-to-work” was another way to make life more affordable for people, which was the core promise from Democrats this past election season.

“It’s really a ‘right-to-work-for-less,’ because we know that with unions, they’re able to negotiate for better working conditions and higher wages,” Carroll Foy said. 

Previous attempts to repeal “right-to-work” in Virginia have faltered, but Carroll Foy, who was in the House of Delegates from 2018 to 2020 and has served in the Senate since last year, seems ready for the challenge. 

“The way that you can get equal pay for equal work is definitely with the union,” Carroll Foy said. “So that’s what I’m focused on, and I think once we get that message out there — who can disagree with that?”

A Spanberger spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.