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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Michael Sainato

Labor leaders call collective bargaining veto a ‘betrayal’ by Virginia governor

a woman standing at a podium speaks into a microphone
Abigail Spanberger speaks at the 54th annual Buena Vista Labor Day festival on 1 September 2025 in Buena Vista, Virginia. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Virginia’s Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have restored collective bargaining rights for 500,000 public sector workers in the state. Union leaders say the veto is a “betrayal” and “slap in the face” after the governor campaigned last year on promises to restore collective bargaining rights.

Though majorities in both chambers of Virginia’s general assembly passed legislation that would restore bargaining rights to most public sector workers, Spanberger introduced an amended version of the bill last month that was eventually rejected by the assembly.

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