Standing Up for Workers, Taxpayers and Local Communities

Concerns About Mandated Collective Bargaining Under SB378

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Dear Official(s),

I am writing as a constituent to respectfully urge you to oppose SB378 and any effort to expand mandatory collective bargaining in Virginia’s public sector.

Collective bargaining, when imposed by statute, fundamentally shifts decision-making away from workers, taxpayers, and local communities and into rigid systems that prioritize institutional negotiations over individual choice and fiscal responsibility. While voluntary association should always be protected, government-mandated collective bargaining is a different matter entirely.

SB378 would reduce flexibility for public employers and employees alike, limit the ability of local governments to respond to budget constraints, and increase long-term costs for taxpayers, often without improving service quality. These mandates can lock in work rules and compensation structures that are difficult to reform, even when economic conditions or community needs change.

Importantly, public employees already have avenues to raise concerns, advocate for fair treatment, and participate in workplace discussions without the need for binding collective bargaining mandates. Preserving these protections while maintaining managerial flexibility ensures accountability to both workers and the public they serve.

At a time when Virginians are facing rising costs and economic uncertainty, policymakers should prioritize efficient government, responsible budgeting, and policies that respect individual choice rather than expand one-size-fits-all mandates.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask that you oppose SB378 during the 2026 legislative session and support policies that protect workers’ freedom, safeguard taxpayers, and preserve local control.
I am writing as a constituent to respectfully urge you to oppose SB378 and any effort to expand mandatory collective bargaining in Virginia’s public sector.

Thank you for your time and consideration

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Why is this important?

Erodes local control: SB378 shifts key decisions away from local governments and communities, replacing local judgment with state-driven mandates.
Reduces flexibility for workers and employers: Mandatory collective bargaining locks both sides into rigid systems that make it harder to adapt to changing needs, budgets, or economic conditions.
Increases long-term taxpayer costs: Binding agreements can commit local governments to compensation and benefit structures that are difficult to reform, even during fiscal downturns.
Creates one-size-fits-all mandates: Public agencies vary widely, but SB378 imposes uniform rules that don’t reflect local realities or workforce needs.
Limits accountability to the public: Negotiations conducted through institutional bargaining can prioritize special interests over transparency and responsiveness to taxpayers.
Unnecessary given existing protections: Public employees already have avenues to raise concerns and advocate for fair treatment without mandatory collective bargaining.
Risks reduced service quality: Rigid work rules can hinder innovation and efficiency, making it harder for governments to deliver high-quality public services.