For decades, the Richmond Education Association (REA) has worked tirelessly to improve the working and learning conditions of our school communities. On May 1, 2021, Virginia state law § 40.1-57.2 went into effect, allowing collective bargaining for public school employees. The REA has worked in partnership with school leadership to improve the working conditions of our members. With the passage of this new law, we have an opportunity to further improve the lives of our students, communities, and employees. Our members realize that in order for Richmond to be a first-class capital city, we must invest in creating a school division that recruits and retains the highest-quality educational professionals. Our members understand that collective bargaining gives educational professionals a seat at the table, helping to retain strong educators and thereby building a stronger school division.  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainties it has unleashed, we realize that although we have a good working relationship with RPS administration, we believe that a collective bargaining agreement with our employer will only serve to improve and strengthen this working relationship, and further benefit students, communities, and educational professionals. Had collective bargaining been in place prior to the pandemic, we would have had a direct say in helping to determine the policies, procedures, and plans to be implemented in response to the new challenges faced. 

If recognized as the Collective Bargaining Unit for Richmond’s educational workforce, we will work to maintain, deepen, and strengthen a democratic process in the governance of Richmond Public Schools. We will fight for a public education system in which all workers – alongside students, parents, and community members – are empowered to have a say in the decisions that affect them.  

Winning collective bargaining will give education workers a voice in our contract with RPS. However, our contract is about more than how much we get paid, or the days that we work. Our contract is also about the learning conditions of our students.  By building strong relations with students, parents, and community partners, the REA intends to use the collective bargaining process to address long-standing educational needs and social injustices in our city.