VIRGINIA BEACH – The City Council will vote Tuesday on whether to allow city employees to negotiate their wages and benefits.
At the mayor’s request, the council will be presented with two options: allowing collective bargaining or allowing a “meet and confer” process where employee committees can regularly share their concerns with the city manager.
If the council approves collective bargaining, city staff will negotiate with city worker unions to draft a new law. That could take months, according to City Attorney Mark Stiles.
The city received a certification in February from a majority of unit officials requesting collective bargaining, which would require a formal vote on the issue.
The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in City Hall. The vote was postponed from May at the request of Mayor Bobby Dyer because he did not want it to interfere with the upcoming budget approval, Dyer said.
Virginia Beach is the latest city in the region to vote on the collective bargaining rights of city workers. Norfolk denied city workers access to collective bargaining and instead supported a process of meeting and consultation. Portsmouth approved collective bargaining last November.
Virginia was one of the few states with a blanket ban on collective bargaining for public sector workers until 2020, when the Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a new law, which went into effect in 2021, giving the final say to local governments gave. To participate in the process, Virginia cities must pass a law or resolution.
“If it’s done right … it gives the employee an intrinsic value to come to work,” former Virginia Beach Police Chief Jim Cervera said during a public comment session on the issue held earlier this month . “Collective bargaining would be good for our city.”
Not all residents support the idea.
“Our employees and the services they provide are what we pay taxes for,” Diana Howard, chair of the Virginia Beach Tea Party, said at the same meeting. “What problem will collective bargaining solve that the city council and the city manager cannot solve without collective bargaining?”
Collective bargaining cannot limit the governing body’s authority to set a budget or tap funds, and strikes by public officials are prohibited under Virginia law. The General Assembly and the governor could change laws regarding collective bargaining in the future.
In Virginia Beach, implementing a collective bargaining process will cost nearly $1 million. Staff estimated it will cost about $400,000 to adjust the payroll system and, at a minimum, another $500,000 to hire new employees, including two in Human Resources and two new city and outside attorneys, depending on the number of bargaining units.
In addition, many of the issues subject to collective bargaining would require funding, including possible wage increases and additional health benefits.
Earlier this year, a task force made recommendations on the scope of negotiations and the number of units. The 11-member task force recommended no more than five bargaining units with the following composition: fire/EMS, police, service, labor and occupation, administrative and technical, and professional.
Bargaining power over wages, salaries and other forms of monetary compensation, as well as health insurance premiums, were also among the task force’s recommendations.
After hearing from the public, the City Council held an informal discussion on April 16 about collective bargaining.
On the same day, city workers and their allies held an informational picket in front of City Hall. About fifteen people carried signs while one person shouted, “What do we want?” The group responded in unison: “Collective bargaining.”
“When do we want it?” said the leader. “Now,” the protesters said.
During the council discussion, Councilman Joash Schulman, an attorney, said he had some unanswered questions.
“What protection would we have in the event of changed economic conditions?” Schulman said. “Are there mechanisms available that will allow us to come back to the table and renegotiate the terms?”
The city attorney answered council members’ questions last week. A collective bargaining agreement could address unusual circumstances, Stiles said.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
