Posts tagged Virginia
Institute for the American Worker Head Vinnie Vernuccio: Tennessee Is Leading the Way with Right-to-Work 2.0
March 15, 2023 // You made it a constitutional right, so it can’t be repealed like Michigan. Now you’re going even further, you’re doing right to work 2.0 by making sure employees of companies that get economic incentives, the secret ballot for them in unionization elections is protected. And your governor is also out there, Governor Lee is protecting teachers’ paychecks, not only giving them raises, but also making sure they get their full paycheck. And part of it isn’t siphoned off and given to teachers’ unions.
Teachers need to think twice before they let unions into their paychecks
March 13, 2023 // According to Americans for Fair Treatment, the VEA reported $12.6 million in revenue in 2019 (based on IRS filings), with 82 percent of this coming from membership dues. As of 2019, the union’s largest liability was federal income tax. While the organization is tax-exempt, it is holding $4.2 million in case of “uncertain” federal income tax obligations. The second largest liability is the pension for union employees. Currently, the union’s pension obligation sits at $2.3 million, down from more than $4.7 million in 2017. Union employee salaries and benefits were the largest expense category but according to the latest filing, VEA had only 66 employees. Executive Director Brenda Pike was the highest-paid employee at $194,136 in base compensation, plus nearly $32,000 in retirement and nontaxable benefits. At the national level, NEA has 510 employees who earned an average salary of $134,000. Let that sink in. The union wants to take part of a teacher’s salary, up to $1,000 a year, knowing full well that teachers do not earn enough (in fact, using this as a recruitment talking point), so that they can first and foremost, pay their own union employees much, much more than most teachers will ever earn.
VIRGINIA: Richmond Public Schools principals unionize
February 28, 2023 // More than 150 Richmond Public Schools administrative staff members, including principals, assistant principals and directors, will now be represented during labor negotiations over pay, benefits and more. According to a Monday press release, 98% of the school district’s administrative staff who voted in the union election approved joining the Teamsters Local 592 union to become one of the first groups of Virginia public school principals to unionize. Virginia’s longstanding ban on unions for public sector workers, which include teachers, law enforcement and firefighters, was lifted when state lawmakers passed legislation in 2020.
OmniRide operators strike, causing major disruptions for users
February 14, 2023 // OmniRide bus and paratransit operators went on strike Monday, forcing the system to suspend service on all commuter routes and disrupting some local and Metro express lines. There will be limited service Tuesday due to the continuing work stoppage. OmniRide Express, OmniRide Metro Express and several local routes will not run in Prince William, Stafford and the Manassas area. Click here for real-time service alerts.
D.C. area farmers’ markets vote to unionize
February 14, 2023 //
The Largest Teachers Union Embezzlements of All Time
February 8, 2023 // Denise Inez Owens was the treasurer of the Worcester County Teachers Association when she stole more than $433,000 of state and national dues money to feed her gambling addiction. The Maryland State Education Association discovered the theft in March 2009, but did not report it to authorities. Instead the union persuaded Owens to sign a confession and agree to a restitution plan. Owens then resigned her union position and returned to work as a middle school teacher without notifying the school district or union members of her crime. A newspaper discovered the incident three years later when the state union filed an insurance claim for its losses, and stated the theft was “not reported because of potential impact on membership and loss of members.”
McDonalds President Says It Might Be ‘Impossible’ to Operate in These Key States
February 1, 2023 // While California has led the pack with fast-food worker protection movements, Virginia followed with a similar bill just six months later. This month, it introduced Virginia's House Bill 2478. While not committed to a specific minimum wage, the passed law would require a council of state legislators, elected officials, industry representatives and fast-food workers to get together and regularly oversee worker conditions and compensation.
Union Election at Books-A-Million Outlet in Virginia Fails
January 26, 2023 // According to a release dated November 18 issued by the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, “every single worker at the store signed union authorization cards in support" of an election to determine whether the 15 BAM employees in the Leesburg store would join UFCW Local 400 so as to collectively bargain contracts. Still, UFCW national press secretary Brian Doherty told PW in an email after yesterday’s election, “unfortunately, the vote did not go our way.” Doherty did not offer further details.
From Coast to Coast, What’s Going On with State & Local Teacher Union Affiliates
January 24, 2023 //
Transit Union: Contract Offer ‘Insulting’
January 19, 2023 // Under Keolis’s latest offer, commuter bus drivers, dispatchers, and some technicians would earn $40 an hour at the top of the pay scale. That makes them competitive with other wages in the region such as the $43 for WMATA drivers or $40 at the DC Circulator. But local bus drivers and others would top out at $27.36, continuing the disparity that existed under the previously separate contracts.