Virginia's recent legislative breakthrough marks a pivotal shift in public sector labor rights, but for many in higher education, it falls short of true inclusivity. On March 14, 2026, the General Assembly passed a landmark bill—primarily Senate Bill 378 and its House counterpart HB 1263—repealing the state's longstanding prohibition on collective bargaining for public employees. This move, now awaiting Governor Abigail Spanberger's signature, would empower roughly 690,000 state and local workers to negotiate wages, benefits, and working conditions collectively.
Collective bargaining, formally defined as the mutual obligation between employers and employee representatives to negotiate terms of employment, has been banned in Virginia since the 1940s. The legislation's passage ends nearly eight decades of restriction, sparked originally by the suppression of a union drive by Black cafeteria workers at the University of Virginia Hospital in 1946. Yet, while service staff at public universities celebrate newfound voice, faculty members—tenured, tenure-track, and adjunct alike—and graduate student workers find themselves explicitly excluded, sparking debates over equity in Virginia's higher education workforce.
Historical Roots of Virginia's Bargaining Ban
The origins trace back to a turbulent labor moment at UVA. In 1946, amid post-World War II economic strains, 28 Black women employed as maids in the university hospital sought to unionize for better pay and conditions. Their strike was met with swift legislative backlash: the General Assembly enacted a ban on public employee collective bargaining that persists to this day, except for limited local options in some localities.
This historical exclusion disproportionately affected marginalized workers, setting a precedent for broader restrictions. Fast-forward to 2025: a similar bill passed but was vetoed by then-Governor Glenn Youngkin, citing fiscal burdens estimated at hundreds of millions annually. The 2026 version navigated compromises in conference committee, emerging on the session's final day.
Decoding the Bill: Inclusions and Striking Exclusions
SB 378 and HB 1263 authorize public employers—including state agencies and public universities—to recognize unions and engage in good-faith negotiations. Covered employees encompass firefighters, teachers (K-12), home health aides, and crucially for higher ed, 'service employees' at colleges and universities. These are defined as workers logging at least 16 hours weekly in roles tied to property care or maintenance: janitors, security guards, groundskeepers, clerical aides, food service staff, and similar positions.
Explicitly sidelined: all instructional faculty, regardless of status; graduate assistants and teaching fellows; librarians; and most professional staff. University presidents reportedly lobbied aggressively for these carve-outs, arguing they protect institutional flexibility. The bill's effective date is three years post-enactment, allowing phased implementation and potential tweaks.View the full HB 1263 text here.
A Win for Service Workers on Campus
For the included service employees, the bill is transformative. Margarette Moore, a custodian at the College of William & Mary, highlighted personal struggles: denied workers' compensation for an on-duty injury and inflexible scheduling amid her daughter's cancer treatment. 'With collective bargaining, we have somebody to help us and allow us to speak up... We have a voice now,' she shared.
Andy Gneiting, a UVA recycling worker with United Campus Workers of Virginia (UCWV), echoed this, noting cross-class solidarity in organizing efforts. These roles often feature low wages, hazardous conditions, and minimal benefits—issues bargaining could address systematically.
Faculty and Grad Workers: 'Devastating' and 'Insulting' Omissions
Reactions from excluded groups are poignant. Harry Szabo, UCWV president and non-tenure-track faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, called the snub 'devastating,' rejecting portrayals of faculty as 'ivory tower elites.' Many adjuncts juggle multiple gigs without health coverage, mirroring service worker precarity.
Tim Gibson, Virginia AAUP president and George Mason associate professor, warned: 'You can’t build a world-class university on the backs of exploited faculty and graduate students.' Nationally, adjuncts comprise over 70% of faculty; in Virginia, average salaries hover around $144,000 at flagships like UVA, but contingent pay lags far behind, often below living wages. Ian Mullins, a UVA sociologist, deemed it a 'partial victory,' urging no one be 'left behind.'
University Leadership's Stance and Lobbying Influence
Major publics—UVA, Virginia Tech, George Mason, VCU—declined comment on the pending bill, but sources confirm presidents' closed-door advocacy for exclusions. Critics like the Thomas Jefferson Institute argue unions would 'further divide universities,' driving tuition hikes and politicizing campuses. Proponents counter that bargaining fosters collaboration, not conflict.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, bill sponsor, accepted the compromise to salvage passage: 'I couldn’t risk the entire bill going down.' He eyes future fixes via the three-year runway.
Governor Spanberger's Pivotal Role
As of March 24, 2026, the bill awaits Spanberger's action by April 13. She can sign, veto, or amend—sending changes back for legislative approval. Advocates implore an amendment restoring higher ed workers, leveraging Virginia's Constitution. Her office notes careful review; prior support for labor suggests openness.
Companion reforms extend university board terms to six years and mandate non-voting faculty/staff reps, signaling governance evolution.
Working Conditions in Virginia Higher Ed: Why Bargaining Matters
Virginia's public universities employ thousands in precarious roles. Adjunct faculty often earn under $5,000 per course, sans benefits; grad stipends average $25,000-$35,000 amid rising costs. Service workers face similar strains. Nationally, unionized faculty earn 20-30% more, per AAUP data.
- Declining tenure: 1 in 3 faculty tenured/track (2023), down from half in 1987.
- Union surge: 38% grad workers, 27%+ faculty nationally unionized.
- VA lag: No statewide public higher ed bargaining, unlike NY, CA, IL.
Comparisons: Higher Ed Bargaining Across States
Virginia joins Southern holdouts (NC, SC, TX) banning public higher ed unions, contrasting Midwestern/Western models. In union-friendly states like California, faculty contracts secure academic freedom, pay equity. Recent wins: Cornell grad union (private, NLRB); public pushes in Nevada, Colorado.Inside Higher Ed on union organizing in non-bargaining states.
Benefits include higher salaries ($18k premium at 2-year colleges), better grievance processes—vital amid political pressures on campuses.
UCWV and Ongoing Organizing Efforts
UCWV, affiliating diverse campus workers, hosted town halls, vigils, and met officials like Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi. Despite setbacks, Szabo vows persistence: 'Organizing ourselves as workers is the way.' AAUP pushes amendments, eyeing 2027 session if needed.
Future Outlook: Implications for Virginia's Universities
Inclusion could bolster recruitment amid faculty shortages, enhance academic integrity. Exclusion risks brain drain, eroded morale. With implementation delayed, stakeholders anticipate budget fights, pilot negotiations. For AcademicJobs.com users, this underscores job market dynamics: explore faculty positions or postdoc opportunities amid evolving labor landscapes.
Ultimately, Virginia's saga reflects national tensions: balancing fiscal prudence, equity, and excellence in public higher education. Watch for Spanberger's decision—potentially reshaping campuses from Charlottesville to Norfolk.