Economic JusticeNorfolk, VA—Last night, Virginia gubernatorial candidates Abigail Spanberger and Winsome Earle-Sears squared off at Norfolk State University for their first and only debate of the campaign. The hour-long debate was marked by constant interruptions by Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears and even more baffling responses to the moderator’s questions. “Our community deserves a governor who takes the […]
Economic Justice
Press Release
Republicans Force Government Shutdown, Play Politics With Virginians’ Health Care
Washington, DC—Tonight, Congressional Republicans shut down the federal government, leaving thousands of workers across the Commonwealth in limbo and causing thousands more to worry about their continued ability to access health care. It is appalling but not surprising that Republicans have chosen the needs of millionaires and billionaires over the hardworking families they supposedly represent. […]
Press Release
H1B Visa Chaos Continues Amidst Worsening Outlook for Job Growth
Richmond, Virginia—The job market across the United States is worsening, unemployment is at its highest since 2021, and the economic forecast suggests that Virginia will lose jobs this year and have virtually no job growth in 2026. This week, the Trump administration shook things up on the already weakening economy: with just one day’s notice between […]
Press Release
Women’s Equality Day Passes as Challenges To Women’s Suffrage Ramp Up
Richmond, Virginia—August 26th marked Women’s Equality Day, the national day to honor the certification of the 19th Amendment and subsequent establishment of white women’s suffrage. That evening, the Trump administration sent out a “presidential message” stating that “every American citizen is created in the holy image of God” and indicating their “commit[ment] to protecting the […]
Press Release
With New Guidance, Trump Administration Threatens to Weaponize PSLF Program on Ideological Grounds
Richmond, Virginia—On August 18th, the Trump administration sent out new guidance to revoke Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility from a public service employer if the Secretary determines that the employer has engaged in activities with a “substantial illegal purpose. This novel legal concept is a pretext to withhold funds from nonprofits engaging in protected activity with which the […]
Press Release
How The Cuts To Medicaid in the Proposed MAGA Budget Will Hurt Virginians
Richmond, Virginia—Following several failed votes earlier in the week, late at night on Sunday, the House Budget Committee passed the Republicans’ proposed budget reconciliation bill, which offsets nearly $5 trillion in tax cuts for the top 1% of earners and big corporations with $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid, the program that provides health insurance to one in five […]
News
Virginia Workers Pay a High Price for DOGE
by Kierra Johnson Many hardworking Americans have felt the detrimental effects of DOGE’s clumsy strategy of removing them from their jobs. Several government departments such as USAID, the Department of Education, and others have either been affected by massive layoffs, or they have been effectively defunded. While federal workers across America are being treated terribly […]
News
Glenn Youngkin’s Worst Nightmare: Fair Pay and Rights for Public Workers
by Ashleigh Crocker Let’s cut to the chase—Virginia’s public workers are the backbone of our communities. These are the home health care workers who take care of your parents and grandparents, the teachers who spend all day trying to teach your kids to read, bus drivers, firefighters, social workers, and many others who keep our […]
News
Big Labor Wins Bring “Unions For All” One Step Closer
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 […]
News
3 Things I’d Like to See in a Budget Deal
By Ashleigh Crocker It’s been fun watching Senator Louise Lucas dunk on Governor Glenn Youngkin over the budget the last few weeks. Democrats in the House and Senate want to give teachers and school staff raises, fund schools, ensure corporations pay their fair share in taxes, and legalize marijuana. Governor Youngkin doesn’t want to do […]