One of the issues before the next General Assembly may be whether to retain or repeal Virginia’s so-called “right-to-work” law, which forbids compulsory payment of union dues by non-union members if there’s a union in the workplace. For an opposing point of view, see “It’s time to repeal so-called ‘right-to-work’ in Virginia” by Chuck Simpson of the Virginia AFL-CIO.
To see where candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and House of Delegates stand on “right-to-work,” see our Voter Guide.
Virginia’s right-to-work law has been a cornerstone of the commonwealth’s economic success for decades, and it deserves continued protection.
Virginians should understand why this fundamental worker protection has served our state so well — and why eliminating it would harm both workers and businesses.
Virginia’s right-to-work law simply states that no worker can be forced to join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment.
This basic principle has helped make Virginia one of the most business-friendly states in the nation.
CNBC, for example, has recognized Virginia as its Best State for Business three times in the last six years, a distinction that directly correlates with our pro-worker policies.
The numbers speak for themselves.
Virginia consistently outperforms forced-union states in job creation, business relocations and economic development.
Companies often cite Virginia’s right-to-work law as a key factor in choosing Virginia for new facilities and expansions. When businesses know they can operate without being subject to Big Labor’s demands, they’re more likely to invest and create jobs here.
But at its core, right-to-work is about individual liberty and the freedom to decide who represents you.
Learning from other states’ mistakes
Virginians should consider some facts. In 2023, Michigan became the first state to eliminate its right-to-work law, and already, Michiganders are paying the price as Big Labor bosses and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer line their own pockets.
All 83 counties in Michigan saw unemployment rates rise last year, even as the national economy was adding two million jobs.
Michigan’s unprecedented reversal on right-to-work has already cost the state economic development opportunities, with businesses reconsidering investments and expansions.
Virginia cannot afford to follow in Michigan’s path, especially when Virginia’s 78-year-old right-to-work law is delivering results for workers and families across the commonwealth.
Economic development success
Virginia’s business-friendly environment, facilitated in many ways by its decades-old right-to-work law, has attracted major employers across diverse industries, bringing thousands of jobs to the commonwealth.
From major technology companies throughout Northern Virginia to manufacturing facilities in southern and southwest Virginia, businesses consistently cite Virginia’s 78-year-old right-to-work law as a competitive advantage.
This translates into real, tangible benefits for working families in the form of higher salaries and more job opportunities.
The positive effects of Virginia’s right-to-work law extend beyond direct employment as well.
When businesses, both big and small, choose Virginia, they support local suppliers and service providers and broaden the tax base.
Virginia’s right-to-work law has also historically enjoyed bipartisan support, with a recent poll showing that 89% of Virginians support keeping right-to-work on the books.
The choice before Virginia and working families has never been clearer.
Either you and I can continue to have Virginia serve as a national leader in job creation and business development, or we can follow the example of Michigan, plunging the state into economic woes such as higher unemployment and lost opportunities.
For the sake of Virginia’s workers, families and economic future, you and I must continue to defend right-to-work and the principles of freedom and opportunity it represents.
Virginia’s success story is built on the basic principle of allowing individuals to choose who represents them. That’s a foundation worth protecting.
Mark Mix is president of the Virginia-based National Right to Work Committee.