2017 Virginia General Assembly: Bills Involving Labor

Note: Bills can still be filed until January 20th, so new items may be added. To see my master list of 2017 legislative topics, click here.

The letters before a bill’s number designate its chamber of origin. HB= House Bill, SB= Senate Bill, HR= House Resolution, etc.

Bills to support:

SB 785 raises the minimum wage to $8/hr by July 2017, and to $11.25/hr by 2020. SB 978 raises the minimum wage to $10/hr by July 2017, and to $15/hr by 2019. HB 1444 would increase the minimum wage to $10/hr by July 2017, and to $15/hr by 2021. $15/hr is a living wage for much of Virginia; to find the living wage for your city, you can use this Living Wage Calculator from MIT.

SB 783: Prohibits discrimination for public employment, in matters of sexual orientation or gender identity.

SB 824: Requires employers to provide paid sick leave to full-time employees, starting in 2018, with sick leave hours accruing at a rate of no less than 1 per 50 hours worked. Also establishes civil penalties for employers who break the law.

Bills to oppose: 

HB 1394: An anti-labor bill which establishes that employees which work for a franchised store are not the employees of the franchisor. This bill is intended to contravene the National Labor Relations Board's 2015 ruling which found that franchisors are liable for the labor law violations of their franchisees, because they have indirect control over hiring decisions and work standards as “joint employers.” This ruling makes it easier for unions to bargain collectively and for groups of workers to name franchisors in lawsuits.

HB 1596: Bans the state from requiring its contractors to pay a prevailing wage– IE, prevents the state from declining to contract with a firm because it pays only minimum wage.

January 10th 2017 Special Election– Virginia's 9th, 22nd, and 85th Districts

If you live in the 85th, 9th, or 22nd districts in Virginia, you have a special election tomorrow, Tuesday January 10th 2017. The 9th and 22nd districts will elect their state senator, while the 85th will elect a state delegate. 

This means: Richmond City, Virginia Beach, or one of the following counties: Charles City County, Hanover, Henrico, Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Cumberland, Fluvanna, Goochland, Louisa, Lynchburg, Prince Edward. 

Use this link and enter your address to check to see what district you live in. Voting will take place at your normal polling place, which you can find here. To see who's on your ballot, click here. If you need a refresher on voting in Virginia– what ID you need, how to answer a challenge, what a provisional ballot is, who to call if you need help– here's what I wrote for the November 2016 presidential election. 

In the 9th district (Richmond City, Hanover, Henrico, Charles City County), one of the candidates, Del. Jennifer McClellan, is organizing rides to the polls. Because of the snow, it's estimated that more people will need rides. To arrange for a ride or to volunteer to drive, contact Tyrone at tyrone@jennifermcclellan.com or 804-482-0714. 

"Fund Abortion, Build Power: Getting Started with the RRFP" Workshop 1

Monday, January 9th 2017, from 10-11:30am, in Richmond VA (specific location available upon registration), the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project (RRFP), Virginia's private all-volunteer abortion fund, will be holding their first of four 2017 Fundraising Workshops. From the event description:

"Have you ever thought about joining a fundraising team for the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project, but worried you wouldn't be any good at it? Need a refresher on fundraising, or just want to expand your skills? Come to our workshop and find out just how easy it can be to raise money for the RRFP! You might even make some new connections and find team members to fundraise with!"

The trainings are free and open to anyone, but you must register. Additional training dates will be: 

Monday, January 16th 2017, 4-5:30pm 
Saturday, January 21st 2017, 10-11:30am 
Saturday, January 28th 2017, 10am-4pm

For more info and instructions on how to register, see this link. To add this event to your Google calendar, see this link. 

New Year's Greetings from the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project!

New Year's greetings from the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project. 

The Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project is our all-volunteer, nonprofit abortion fund which provides supplemental funding to people in Virginia seeking abortion services. 

2017 Vigil & Advocacy Day Against Gun Violence at the General Assembly

Monday, January 16th 2017, from 2-5pm, at the Virginia State Capitol (1000 Bank Street, Richmond VA), the DC chapter of Moms Demand Action are holding a vigil followed by meetings with legislators on the issue of gun violence. 

For more info and to RSVP, see here. To add this event to your Google calendar, click here. 

"What is #J20 Anyways?" An Info-Sharing Session on Mass Resistance to the Inauguration

Next Monday, January 2nd 2017, at 7pm, at Gallery5 (200 West Marshall Street, Richmond VA), ASH (Antifascists of the Seven Hills) is holding an info-sharing session on mass resistance against the presidential inauguration, which is coming up on January 20th. Protests, a national general strike, and more are being planned around the country. This event will be a chance to share news, get informed, make connections, and plan. 

Free, open to the public. Street parking only. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google calendar, click here. 

Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Help at the Hull Street Library

Every other Tuesday and Thursday from December 13th, 2016 to February 7th, 2017, from 10am-12pm, at the Hull Street Library (1400 Hull Street, Richmond VA), staff from the Daily Planet will be on site to answer your questions about the Affordable Care Act and the enrollment process. 

If you need to apply to enroll in health insurance through the state marketplace for 2017, the deadline is January 31st. On December 31st 2016, your 2015 coverage will end, and if you don't take action to change or drop it, you will be automatically re-enrolled. 

To add this item to your Google calendar, click here. 

March on Monument: a local demonstration in support of the Jan. 21st Washington DC marches

Saturday, January 14th 2017, from 1-4pm, on Monument Avenue, there will be a local march to support the January 21st Women's March on Washington, which is protesting the ascending Trump administration's hostility towards women, people of color, immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ people, the disabled, assault survivors, Natives, and the working class in general. 

The march will depart from the Robert E. Lee memorial at Monument Avenue and North Allen Street at 1pm, and proceed to North Boulevard. The organizers haven't released a route, but if the march ends at the Stonewall Jackson statue, that will be a distance of 0.8 miles. 

For more info and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your calendar, click here. 

Free College Financial Aid Assistance at Belmont Library

The Richmond Public Library is partnering with GRASP to provide free, confidential college financial aid assistance to families. An adviser will be available every Monday until March 27th 2017, from 6-8pm, at Belmont Library (3100 Ellwood Avenue, Richmond VA). The adviser will help fill out the FAFSA application for aid, find scholarships, and make a plan for affording college. 

The venue is wheelchair accessible. Call 804-527-7743 to schedule an appointment.

People's Congress 2016, with Virginia New Majority

Saturday, December 10th 2016, from 10am-3pm, at the Sacred Heart Center (1400 Perry Street, Richmond VA), Virginia New Majority is holding their 2nd annual People's Congress to discuss the current political crisis, strategize, and plan to mobilize for the 2017 Virginia General Assembly, beginning in January. The event will include workshops, trainings, discussion, and speakers. From the event description: 

"Voting is important, but it’s only the first step. To win the changes our communities need we must ACT NOW and build a mass movement to secure rights and justice for immigrants, expand health care, stop sea level rise, end mass incarceration, lower student debt, and put an end voter disenfranchisement."

Free, open to the public, but you must RSVP. Lunch will be provided. For details on childcare and transportation, see the link. 

For more information and to RSVP, see this link. To add this event to your Google calendar, click here.