Right here is where the voices of the Virginia Public Service Workers can be heard loud and clear calling for solidarity, respect and dignity. We are workers sharing experiences and giving mutual support locally, regionally and internationally. Solidarity is especially effective when it links workers in a similar situation who have common experiences. Virginia's public service workers have been deceived into believing that without the right to collective bargaining they have to settle for the crumbs tossed to them by the Commonwealth of Virginia. UE Local 160 believes that the only way we can ensure that our rights are protected is to stand in solidarity and demand collective bargaining.

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Working without perks
Written by Nick Hoelker

Every day, hundreds of faculty and staff members help the College succeed with its day-to-day operations. While it might be assumed that all of these workers are employed directly by William and Mary, a number of them are not College employees but temporary (temp) workers. These laborers are employed by temp agencies, and in turn, these agencies sign contracts to provide work for William and Mary. Vice President for Administration Anna Martin did not provide an estimated number of how many temp workers are at the College, stating that the number varies from “day to day.”

There are several local temp agencies that compete for contracts with the College. According to Area Manager for Headway Corporate Resources Verna Goodman, an employee for a temp agency that formerly had a contract with the College, William and Mary chooses their temp agencies based on bottom line pricing bids. Ms. Goodman added that when Headway did not offer the lowest bid, their contract with the College was not renewed. The constant switching of temp agencies means that temp workers who wish to remain at the school are forced to resign from their old temp agency and apply for work at a new one.

According to Ms. Martin, temp workers receive their paychecks directly from the temp agencies. However, the College has control over these laborers’ wages, since it decides which temp agency to employ.

According to Annette Joseph Walker, an administrative organizer for the Virginia Public Service Workers Union – UE 160, there are several incentives for the College to use temp workers as opposed to regular employees. Temp workers are not subject to the school’s self-imposed minimum wage of $8.50 per hour. This was confirmed by Ms. Martin. Additionally, Ms. Walker adds that temp workers are not subject to state benefits that regular employees receive, such as additional vacation, sick pay and health benefits.

Since the charge for the school to use the temp agency is locked for the duration of a contract, all raises must occur through the temp agency, according to Ms. Walker. This was reiterated by Ms. Goodman, who stated that raises are negotiated between the workers and temp agency, with some oversight from the College. Ms. Goodman stressed that this was necessary because the temp agency must be accountable to both the school and its workers.

However, Ms. Walker countered that temp agencies have been unwilling to grant raises, as they must come straight from the agency - since William and Mary will not cover them.

Moreover, Ms. Walker showed that in order to collect paid compensation for such holidays as Christmas and New Year’s Day, a worker for the temp agency must work the business days before and after the holidays. The College is closed for a few weeks over Christmas and New Year’s, however, and temp workers are unable to work at William and Mary on the required days to collect their pay.

Even though the overall number of temp workers at the College is unknown, it is clear that many of the people who help William and Mary function on a daily basis are denied the perks that are enjoyed by the College’s regular employees.

*Reprinted with permission from the Virginia Informer - vainformer.com

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WHEREAS three-fourths of the States of the United States support collective bargaining rights for public employees, and nearly all private sector employees in the United States enjoy this same right; and

WHEREAS collective bargaining improves communication between management and employees, reduces inter-departmental and inter-agency competition for resources, reduces conflict within government, and improves employee morale; and

WHEREAS collective bargaining helps to maintain salaries and benefits commensurate with the private sector, which in turn attracts employees with high levels of expertise, and collective bargaining also promotes a more professional workforce by allowing professional concerns to be negotiated; and

WHEREAS all of these benefits of collective bargaining are the result of fostering a partnership between government and public employees in order to improve public services and provide a better return on tax dollars; and

WHEREAS the current Virginia law, Virginia Code 40.1-57.2., by prohibiting collective bargaining for public employees, deters good relations between management and employees, reduces organizational efficiency within government, reduces employee morale, diminishes the quality of public service, and contributes to the waste of tax dollars; and

WHEREAS collective bargaining provides a formal framework for the conduct of negotiations between management and employees on matters of concern to both parties, and this framework, which includes independent fact-finding, mediation, and binding arbitration, provides a means for resolving disputes; and

WHEREAS legislation granting collective bargaining rights will provide a standard for certification of bargaining units and potential bargaining agents and a framework for the conduct of negotiations, and this same legislation will permit collective bargaining only when and where a majority of employees, through democratic election, select a certified employee organization to serve as agent for their bargaining unit; and

WHEREAS nearly all business relationships are based on contracts, including the contractual guarantee of salaries, benefits, and employment rights; and

WHEREAS it should be public policy in the Commonwealth of Virginia to promote harmonious and cooperative relationships between government and its employees by permitting public employees to organize and bargain collectively; and to protect the citizens of this state by assuring effective and orderly operations of government in providing for their health, safety, and welfare;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, the VIRGINIA PUBLIC SERVICE WORKERS UNION - UE LOCAL 160, endorse the repeal of Virginia Code 40.1-57.2. and the granting of collective bargaining rights to all of Virginia's public employees.

Richmond Indy Media Radio - Labor Show

UE Local 160 members, Delverna Ross and Ruth Stroud and UE Field Organizer, Henry Ford discuss the working conditions of state employees with Indy Media host.
Listen to the Broadcast


The Defenders Live Radio Show

UE Field Organizer George Waksmunski discusses labor issues in the Commonwealth with Anna Edwards of The Defenders.
Listen to the Broadcast

Is it legal to join a union in Virginia?

Yes, it is legal to join any organization working to improve your workplace and the conditions of your employment. This right is protected under the First Ammendment of the Consitution of the United States.


JOIN The Virginia Public Service Workers Union - Building A Strong Union

Across Virginia, public employees are organizing into UE Local 160. Our members include college professors, technicians, aides, housekeepers, groundskeepers, nurses, maintenance workers and other public employees.

Together we'll build a powerful, unified voice to improve our conditions and effect laws to benefit all Virginia public employees.