NEWS RELEASE
(ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Virginia)—During the week of September 9-14, Albemarle County Public Schools (ACPS) and the Albemarle Education Association (AEA) held an important election to determine whether ACPS employees wish for the AEA to represent them in collective bargaining negotiations with the Albemarle County School Board.
In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation legalizing collective bargaining for public sector employees, marking a significant shift in labor relations in the state. The new law, which took effect on May 1, 2021, allows local governments, including school boards, to pass ordinances or resolutions permitting collective bargaining for their employees. This legislation reversed a decades-long prohibition on such practices and empowered public sector employees, including teachers and other school staff, to negotiate contracts on matters such as pay, benefits, and working conditions. Localities retain the authority to establish specific parameters for conducting collective bargaining.
Accordingly, the Albemarle County School Board worked with ACPS employees to create the School Board’s Collective Bargaining Resolution, which they completed earlier this year. That resolution recognizes two bargaining units for this process:
- Licensed Staff: This unit includes teachers, counselors, speech therapists, and other employees who hold Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) or Virginia Department of Health (VDH) licenses to work with students in schools.
- Educational Support Professionals (ESP): Also known as classified staff, this unit includes bus drivers, teaching assistants, nurses, custodians, office associates, Extended Day Enrichment Programs (EDEP) staff, cafeteria employees, and more.
Management employees were excluded from the election and the bargaining process.
Preliminary results from the election show that over 82% of licensed staff and more than 55% of ESP employees participated in the vote. Both units voted in favor of AEA representation for collective bargaining with the School Board, signaling strong support for union representation in negotiations regarding compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
The next steps involve certifying the results through the Labor Relations Neutral (LRN) after any challenges are resolved. Should the results be confirmed, the AEA can formally request collective bargaining discussions on behalf of licensed and classified staff.
Judy Le, Chair of the Albemarle County School Board, expressed her views on the process: “This election represents a significant step in ensuring that our employees have a voice in shaping their working conditions. We are proud of the engagement from our staff and remain committed to maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship as we move forward in this new chapter.”
Dr. Matthew Haas, Superintendent of Schools, added: “This election marks an important milestone in ensuring our employees’ voices are heard and valued. I am optimistic that the collective bargaining process will strengthen our partnerships and help us create the best possible working and learning environments for everyone in Albemarle County Public Schools.”
The certification process is expected to conclude in the coming weeks, after which ACPS and the AEA will explore the next steps in the collective bargaining process.
This release was updated on September 16, 2024, to include a statement from our superintendent, Dr. Matthew Haas, that reflects his thoughts on this important milestone.
CONTACT: Helen Dunn, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer
PHONE: 434-249-8379