The Virginia Worker

The Virginia Worker Editorial Board Member Sal Rojo argues the only resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rooted in a socialist and internationalist politics against the nationalisms of Zionists and Hamas Ever since the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel the overwhelming majority of the Left has been mobilized around solidarity with Palestinians against the…

As Starbucks workers launch their Red Cup Rebellion strike action nationwide we sat down with worker organizers at the Ashbrook Marketplace location in Ashburn, Virginia on the course of their militant struggle over the past two years The Virginia Worker: When did your store unionize? Starbucks Workers United: We filed November 1st 2022, voted “yes”…

The Virginia Worker correspondent Christopher Sloce interviews IAFF 539 President Kurt Detrick on the challenges eastern Virginia firefighters face and their ongoing struggle to win the right to collectively bargain in the city of Portsmouth As of 2021, Virginia finally repealed a law that had contributed to a robbery of its municipal workers. Municipal workers…

In September the Blue Ridge Rock Fest in Danville, Virginia was abruptly canceled during the middle of the festival by the owners, claiming bad weather was to blame. Shortly after, stagehand workers came forward stating it was because of their strike against terrible work conditions, health hazards, and mismanagement by the owners. The following is…

The following report comes from The Virginia Worker correspondents SNR and Sal Rojo on the recent struggle within the Farm Labor Organizing Committee between the It’s Our Future caucus and FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez MARTINSVILLE – On a sweltering hot day early in July, a meeting was held in the back of the Cleopatra Beauty…

Retired Organizing Director of ATU and UE Chris Townsend offers this analysis on the Youngkin Administration’s attack on Virginia labor history through the Department of Education curriculum and the response from the Virginia AFL-CIO The short-lived flap regarding Virginia Republican Govenor Glenn Youngkin’s intention to purge from thepublic school curriculum even the current tiny mention…

The following interview was conducted with Blue Cow Ice Cream worker and lead organizer Meridian at the Broad Street location in Short Pump on their recent filing for a union election with Blue Cow Workers United The Virginia Worker (VW): We first saw the public announcement via your Instagram account for filing a union election.…

The following interview is with a front of house worker and organizer with Workers Siam on their recent efforts to win better scheduling, higher wages, and respect from Mom’s Siam in Richmond The Virginia Worker: How did this all start? Workers Siam: We had our first initial meeting or maybe a couple meetings, after that…

The following report is provided by an anonymous rideshare driver on the recent one day strike action by the ACE Collaborative DMV Drivers Group demanding higher wages and better pay transparency On June 20th, Ace Collaborative DMV Drivers Group staged an impressive first public action in their fight for fair wages and pay transparency for…

Christopher Sloce provides the following piece on Virginia Commonwealth University’s handling of the recent controversy surrounding Students For Life events and what it says about the state of university life On April 1st, the President of VCU, Michael Rao released a statement titled “Protecting freedom of expression at VCU”. The impetus for the statement was…