With Democrats now holding the governorship and majorities in the General Assembly, Virginia may be on the verge of one of the most consequential labor policy changes in decades: repealing the state’s right-to-work law. For working people across the Commonwealth, such a move would not be about politics. It would be about restoring balance in the workplace, raising wages, and ensuring that workers finally have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their livelihoods.
Right-to-work laws allow workers to receive the benefits of union representation without contributing to the costs of negotiating and enforcing those contracts. Over time, that structure weakens unions’ ability to advocate effectively, reducing their leverage to secure higher pay, safer workplaces, and better benefits. Repealing the law would not force anyone to join a union. It would simply allow workers who choose to organize to do so on a fair footing.
Labor leaders in Virginia have long argued that the current system suppresses wages and diminishes worker power. Doris Crouse-Mays, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO, has been direct about what repeal could mean: “Virginia must repeal its right-to-work law… [it would] give more workers a voice on the job and raise wages.”
That simple idea—voice and wages—captures why the issue matters to so many families. When workers can stand together and negotiate collectively, they are better positioned to secure pay that keeps up with rising costs and to push for benefits that support long-term stability. Those gains don’t stay confined to union members. Higher standards in unionized workplaces tend to lift pay and benefits across entire industries as employers compete to recruit and retain workers.
The economic impact would reach far beyond individual paychecks. Stronger wages mean more spending in local communities, more stable tax revenue for public services, and greater financial security for families. When workers can support their households, it strengthens small businesses, neighborhoods, and regional economies across the Commonwealth.
Legislators backing repeal have framed the issue as one of balance. State Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, who introduced legislation to roll back the law, has pointed to growing inequality and the need to restore fairness in the workplace. “I think we have a pro-union majority in the House and the Senate,” she said, adding that one way to restore balance is to give workers the option to organize and advocate for themselves as executives’ pay continues to outpace that of employees.
That framing resonates with many Virginians who feel their voices have been left out of workplace decisions. For decades, right-to-work has made organizing more difficult, weakening the ability of workers to negotiate over pay, safety, scheduling, and job security. Repeal would shift that dynamic by allowing workers who benefit from a contract to help sustain the representation that makes those gains possible.
Just as important, stronger worker representation often leads to safer workplaces and more stable jobs. When employees can speak up without fear, problems get addressed earlier. Turnover drops. Training improves. Businesses benefit from a more experienced and committed workforce. That’s not just good for labor—it’s good for productivity and long-term growth.
The debate over right-to-work will continue, as it always has. But at its core, the question is straightforward: should workers have a stronger collective voice in shaping the conditions of their employment? Repeal would move Virginia closer to a system where working people have real influence over wages, benefits, and safety, and where prosperity is more broadly shared.
For many Virginians, that would mark a turning point. It would mean that the people who build the roads, maintain the ships, care for patients, teach students, and keep businesses running are no longer on the sidelines. It would mean they finally have a seat at the table.
