Richmond, VA-–The summer of 2024 has been an extraordinary time for labor, with big wins for workers in traditional union roles alongside victories for workers in more surprising roles: theater techs, graduate students, baristas, and game developers at World of Warcraft, among others. Several recent successes in Virginia demonstrate the power of joining a union and collectively bargaining to change the lives […]
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MY thoughts, you ask?
by shay bell You all – no one – have been begging me for my thoughts on session so far, so who am I to deprave you any longer? I’ve had to suffer through some things this month that have made me regret my career path, and I’m ready to vent it all out. I’ve […]
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When Did Glenn Youngkin Last Buy His Own Groceries?
Here’s something that will no doubt shock you: Glenn Youngkin hasn’t met very many people who make minimum wage. In fact, he thinks minimum wage workers barely exist: he told the reporters that he believed employers pay the minimum wage only in “very rare circumstances”and that he thought a minimum wage hike wasn’t necessary. After […]
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4 Reasons Governor Youngkin’s Tax Plan Sucks For Regular People and 1 Thing We Can Do To Fix It
by Ashleigh Crocker Our lame-duck Governor, Glenn Youngkin, wants one more chance to help his super-wealthy friends by completely readjusting the tax code in Virginia. The only problem? It completely sucks for people who make normal amounts of money and aren’t super wealthy like the Governor and all his pals. Here are four reasons why […]
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On Your Radar
by shay bell The year is 2024, and we’re still fighting to balance the scales for everyone. Conservatives are putting up roadblocks at every turn, and I couldn’t roll my eyes harder if I tried. High on our radar here at Progress Virginia are some long overdue bills for passage. First up, SJ11, because why […]
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Almost Every Other Country Has Paid Family & Medical Leave: Why Don’t We?
Here’s a story about me: when my son was born, I was back at work four days after going into labor. I was working at a job I adored, with a lot of very tight deadlines, and that played into my decision to go back so fast. But also, I knew that if I took […]
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Housing Justice for Tenants
By Kierra Johnson Renters’ crises, infrastructure issues, and displacement due to rising costs and gentrification were major issues across the U.S. before the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we are still in a crisis and it seems that the losses that landlords took during the first year of the pandemic have compounded and come down on tenants […]
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One Step Closer Cannabis Decriminalization
By: Kierra Johnson As per usual, Virginia is the blueprint for progressive legislation in the South, and the issue of cannabis is a great example. This year, there are a couple of bills that tackle the issue of cannabis usage and criminalization, and if passed, they could bring Virginia one step closer to full legalization. […]
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Rest is Radical
by shay bell This holiday season, I will rest. It’s been a long, ROUGH year, and I don’t know about you all, but I BARELY made it out by the skin of my teeth. With everything happening in our Commonwealth, and in the WORLD, it’s hard to close my eyes at night and feel safe. […]
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Glenn Youngkin’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Glenn Youngkin wasn’t just a loser Tuesday night. No, he was an apocalyptic loser. Youngkin has built his entire career on and earned his right-wing stardom through his attacks on public education and the safety of students. He may call it something else, but the game is unmistakable: kids will learn only what hardcore conservatives […]