RICHMOND — The United Campus Workers of Virginia (UCWVA) announced it will gather in Richmond on Friday, Jan. 17, for a Lobby Day and rally at the Belltower at Capitol Square at 2 p.m.
United Campus Workers of Virginia describes itself as a member-led union “advocating for the rights, dignity, and well-being of higher education workers across the state.” UCWVA represents workers from William & Mary, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
According to the organization, the event will bring together higher education workers and legislators to advocate for restoring collective bargaining rights and creating a more equitable future for Virginia’s universities.
UCWVA said it is championing the restoration of collective bargaining rights for public sector workers that were taken away by the Virginia Supreme Court in 1977 and banned by state law in 1993. The collective bargaining bill would “give workers a voice to negotiate fair wages, timely pay, and better workplace conditions, addressing critical issues in higher education recruitment and retention.”
“Collective bargaining not only strengthens workplace rights but also protects the First Amendment freedoms of assembly and speech through enforceable contracts,” said UCWVA’s Political Coalition & Policy Area Committee.
UCWVA is also pushing to make Virginia’s universities more democratic and transparent by protecting academic freedom and First Amendment rights for faculty, staff, and students and mandating elected representation for faculty, staff, and students on university Boards of Visitors.
UCWVA noted it is also advocating for measures to reduce financial burdens on-campus workers and their families, including:
- Expanding campus childcare centers statewide.
- Guaranteeing paid family and medical leave for all Virginians.
- Establishing universal Pre-K with free meals for children.
- Building affordable housing on and off campus for workers and students.
UCWVA is inviting all public sector workers, higher education advocates, and supporters of workers’ rights to join the rally.
