NFIB State Director Julia Hammond released the following statement today in response to the General Assembly’s decision to table legislation that would have gutted Virginia’s right-to-work laws:

“This is a big victory for small business owners and their employees.

“Right-to-work is one of the main reasons Virginia has become so attractive to employers. It makes our state more competitive both regionally and nationally. Companies consider right-to-work laws when deciding where to locate or expand, and those decisions can create new opportunities for small, locally owned businesses.

“Big Labor claims right-to-work is anti-union, but that’s not true. Right-to-work simply means employees have a choice. If you want to join a union, you can. But you are not required to join a union to get or keep a job. It also protects workers from being fired for choosing to join a union.

“On behalf of our small business owners, I thank legislative leaders for tabling legislation that would have weakened Virginia’s economy.”