Michael O'Connor

Looking for a newsletter focused on Virginia labor issues and economic policy? You can subscribe to my new one, Virginia Capital, coming soon from @vadogwoodnews vadogwood.com/va-capital-new…

After more than a year of dismantling the Department of Education, wasting taxpayer dollars and sidelining civil rights work, the Administration is now moving what remains of the agency out of its headquarters. We will continue to fight back. Read More: afge252ed.org/2026/03/26/afg…

Virginia Capital 69: How redistricting and workers’ rights intersect in Virginia Plus, the the Virginia labor activist who was related to George Mason, John Marshall, and Robert E. Lee. Read it here: link.vadogwood.com/view/660c23fcf…

Here's the first ad. The original version had a big photo of Trump on it — but we opted to use their nonpartisan alternative. Either way Democrats are probably running their numbers up, just by telling Virginia Commonwealth University students to vote.

A shadowy group opposed to Virginia Democrats’ redistricting push is out with a misleading new mailer and text message ad featuring former President Barack Obama, who supports redistricting. vadogwood.com/2026/03/26/ant…

At Tysons rally, labor groups press Spanberger to sign Fairfax casino bill #tysons #mclean #vienna #fairfaxcounty ffxnow.com/2026/03/26/at-…

"Oschrin...pushed back on the narrative that collective bargaining as being the big strain on expenditures...'I don’t want there to be a knee-jerk reaction to this one particular thing because it seems newer, when all of the pieces are relevant.'" 29news.com/2026/03/17/cha…

Here's Samantha R., a Trump supporter now questioning the administration, explaining her "no" vote to me yesterday in Richmond

On the contrary.

@BreRVA Makes me wonder how the limitations on public-sector collective bargaining in Virginia compare with the parameters of negotiations and rights of public-sector workers in other states

@oconnor_reports I’m glad you’re diving into this because it looks like legislators don’t want to put real power with the workers.

This seems like a common perception but I don't think it's the case that the new state Public Employees Relation Board (PERB) would function like this.

Strikes are illegal for public teachers and all public employees in Virginia. Not only do public workers get fired if they go on strike but they are banned from working for any state or local entity for a year.

@BreRVA The other thing I'm trying to report out is how rare or not arbitration is since localities started collective bargaining. My sense is that it's less common and more common for the two sides to work out an agreement.

@oconnor_reports This is weak language then if that’s true. Many school districts brought in union busting HR directors several years ago in places where collective bargaining was likely. They’ll just force it to arbitration and then break the Union after the ruling and face no consequences.

...any other public body that determines the fiscal appropriations or approves budgets for the operation of a political subdivision or public transportation provider.

And governing body is defined in the bill as the GA; any board, council, authority, or commission, whether elected or appointed, of the Commonwealth; any local government; or...

Hashmi declined to comment on the budget talks but said she's " eager to see what the results will be in a few days."

Hashmi on full-time faculty and adjunct professors being excluded from the public-sector collective bargaining bill: " It'd be great to make sure that they are back in that bill."