SB 378: Collective Bargaining for Public Employees
🔴 THREAT LEVEL: HIGH
BILL SNAPSHOT
Bill Number: SB 378
Bill Patron: Sen. Scott A. Surovell (D)
Bill Area: Labor Policy / Government Oversight
Who This Bill Affects: State & local government employees, home care providers, taxpayers, and local governments
QUICK SUMMARY
SB 378 removes Virginia’s long-standing prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees.
Here’s what the bill does:
- Allows state and local government employees to unionize and collectively bargain.
- Creates a Public Employee Relations Board to oversee union elections, certify exclusive bargaining representatives, and define bargaining units.
- Requires public employers to negotiate “in good faith” over wages, hours, and working conditions with certified unions.
- Establishes the Virginia Home Care Authority to act as the public employer for certain home care providers for collective bargaining purposes.
- Repeals existing language that guarantees secret ballot protections in union representation procedures.
In short: SB378 builds a statewide framework for public-sector collective bargaining in Virginia.
RALLY ANALYSIS
SB 378 marks a major shift in Virginia’s labor policy.
For decades, Virginia has prohibited collective bargaining for public employees. This bill replaces that approach with a structured system of unionization across state and local government.
The bill would create a Public Employee Relations Board, centralizing authority in a new state-level body to certify unions and regulate the bargaining process.
The bill also introduces mandatory negotiation requirements between public employers and unions — which could affect budgeting, personnel policies, and local government autonomy.
WHY THIS MATTERS
- Repeals Virginia’s existing ban on public-sector collective bargaining
- Creates a new Public Employee Relations Board with significant authority
- Requires public employers to negotiate wages and working conditions
- Impacts state and local government budgets
- Expands unionization to additional worker categories
RALLY VERDICT: ❌ OPPOSE
SB 378 dramatically expands collective bargaining across Virginia’s public sector and increases long-term fiscal and administrative obligations for state and local governments.
Rally Virginia believes public policy must prioritize taxpayer accountability, budget stability, and local control.
Major structural changes to public-sector labor law should be approached with caution — not rushed through sweeping legislation.
RALLY RADAR — THREAT LEVEL LEGEND
⚫ CRITICAL THREAT — Immediate and severe harm; must be stopped
🔴 HIGH THREAT — Serious risk to safety, liberty, or governance
🟡 MODERATE THREAT — Concerning but limited scope
🟢 LOW THREAT — Minimal impact or symbolic
