Story perspectives

Spanberger Vetoes Labor Bills, Unions Decry, Signs Wage Reforms

5/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed HB 1263 and SB 378 on May 14, 2026 after the General Assembly rejected her substitute amendment.
Union leaders from SEIU, AFSCME and International Association of Fire Fighters called the veto a betrayal, noting the public-sector bargaining ban stems from a 1948 Jim Crow law.
Spanberger said she signed bills expanding family leave, raising the wage and cracking down on wage theft while seeking a collective-bargaining solution.

History

Historical Context

Virginia’s anti-union stance reflects a broader post-World II wave of anti-union legislation, highlighted by the 1947 Taft-Hartley Act and a 1959 North Carolina ban on government bargaining. The same era saw firms such as Labor Relations Associates profit nearly $2.5 million (1949-1956) by selling anti-union services, a legacy that resurfaced in the 2026 veto controversy.

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Story summary

Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed HB 1263 and SB 378 on May 14, 2026 after the General Assembly rejected her substitute amendment.
Union leaders from SEIU, AFSCME and International Association of Fire Fighters called the veto a betrayal, noting the public-sector bargaining ban stems from a 1948 Jim Crow law.
Spanberger said she signed bills expanding family leave, raising the wage and cracking down on wage theft while seeking a collective-bargaining solution.

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