VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach employees are planning to picket Tuesday evening ahead of a city council meeting to consider collective bargaining.
In a press release, UE Local 111, the union representing hundreds of Virginia Beach city workers, said supporters of collective bargaining will hold an informational picket outside City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Then, at around 6 p.m., the Virginia Beach City Council is expected to begin its meeting.
“With collective bargaining we can level the playing field and have a voice. City workers have never had a voice," said Terry Green, the chair of UE Local 111 and a long-time Public Utilities and Water Distribution employee.
During a public hearing on April 9, the union said 27 individuals who spoke supported collective bargaining while only 12 verbally opposed it. Those in favor said collective bargaining would boost worker morale and public safety while those against allege it removes power from taxpayers.
Collective bargaining was legalized in the Commonwealth in 2020. If adopted, 7,500 city employees in 35 departments could unionize to negotiate wages, working conditions, benefits and more.
Virginia Beach is the latest city in Hampton Roads to usher support for collective bargaining.
In November 2023, Portsmouth became the first city in Hampton Roads to adopt collective bargaining. A month later, Norfolk City Council rejected it in a 5-3 vote.
