If approved, Virginia would become 11th state to include labor-management protection to constitution.
Right-to-Work Constitutional Amendment Headed to Ballot
After
two consecutive approvals from both chambers of the General Assembly—a
requirement for constitutional amendments—a right-to-work amendment will appear
on the ballot this November.
A
right-to-work law is already on the books in Virginia and, in fact, goes all
the way back to 1947, reports WAMU News. That was the year the U.S. Congress
adopted the Taft-Hartley Act, which restricts the activities and power of labor
unions. That same year, Virginia enacted its own right-to-work law, stating
that unions cannot require union membership as a condition of employment. Under
the current bill passed by the General Assembly, voters will decide at the
ballot box whether to cement this right-to-work status in the state’s
constitution.
If
employees want to join a union, however, they will not be prevented from doing
so. Right-to-work measures simply offer both employers and employees
protection.
If
voters approve the amendment, Virginia will join 10 other states that have
added right-to-work language to their constitutions. Additionally, 25 states,
including Virginia, are currently right-to-work states.
As
a ballot initiative, Gov. Terry McAuliffe will not be able to veto the
right-to-work amendment.
