For Immediate Release

April 16, 2022
Contact:  Boaz Young-El, REA UniServ Director, 804-590-6980, byoungel@veanea.org

The Richmond Education Association has won an election of city school employees, earning the right to become the exclusive representative in negotiations with Richmond Public Schools under Virginia’s new collective bargaining law. REA members and staff will now negotiate contracts for Richmond’s licensed personnel, instructional assistants, food service workers, and security and safety employees.

“The change in Virginia’s law that legalized contract negotiations for public employees was a long time in coming,” said REA President Katina Harris, “and REA is proud and delighted to go to the table on behalf of our city’s educators and students. As we’ve said all along, when educators have a voice at the table, it’s a win for everyone.”

The election, held April 15-16, was the first of its kind in Virginia in more than 40 years, made possible by General Assembly action and a resolution agreeing to collectively bargain with school employees passed by the city’s school board last December.

The Richmond City School Board will certify REA as the exclusive representative at their next meeting, clearing the way for bargaining to begin.