Virginia Is No Wisconsin

by: Elaine in Roanoke

Sat Feb 19, 2011 at 18:59:46 PM EST

Back in the 1960's and early 1970's, Virginia had a history of some of its more sophisticated localities bargaining collectively with employees. Up to one-third of teachers were bargaining with localities. In Arlington County the government had collective bargaining agreements with unions representing firefighters, teachers, other school employees, school administrators, and county employees. The system was working just fine. However, the state filed a legal action against Arlington, arguing that it had exceeded its powers under the Dillon Rule because it bargained with its employees.

A decision in 1977 by the Virginia Supreme Court, Virginia v Arlington County, determined that no locality could bargain with any organization representing its employees. The court didn't stop there. A short while later, the court also outlawed binding arbitration for disputes between a school board and employees. The General Assembly even refused to allow so-called "meet-and-confer" situations between employers and employee organizations.

What Virginia teachers and public employees now have is just a toothless "grievance procedure." This procedure allows an employee to file a grievance relating to some work-related episode. The employee is allowed to be represented, such as by an association leader (because of federal law), but the final decision on the validity of the grievance is in the hands of the employers, not an unbiased third party.

So, Virginia will never have the situation we see unfolding in Wisconsin. However, Virginia's example surely explains why the brave people in Wisconsin refuse to give up their rights to organize and to bargain as a group.