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Newport News council adopts collective bargaining ordinance after broad union support
Summary
After a lengthy public-comment period dominated by union leaders and city employees, the Newport News City Council unanimously adopted a substitute collective bargaining ordinance (Article 37) that creates a local process for eligible city employees to negotiate with management.
The Newport News City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance July 14 adding Article 37 to the city code to govern collective bargaining for eligible city employees.
Council substituted a revised draft and then voted to adopt the ordinance, with both votes recorded 7–0. The public hearing drew numerous labor leaders and current city employees who urged approval and offered revisions to make the process fair and accessible.
“Doing so will allow us to continue building a process that is fair, transparent, and mutually beneficial as we move forward,” said Adrian Manning, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 794 and chair of the city’s collective bargaining task force. Multiple union representatives echoed calls for neutral certification procedures and for all five proposed bargaining units to be eligible in the first year.
Several speakers urged council to reexamine a fiscal-impact figure mentioned in materials. “Something is wrong with this $1,500,000,” said James Graves, who questioned the size of the projected cost and offered a different estimate from a school-board study. Council members acknowledged concerns about fiscal impacts but emphasized that adopting the ordinance establishes the process rather than committing specific budgetary outcomes.
Supporters said the ordinance would give employees a formal voice over working conditions, safety and other local workplace rules. “A collective bargaining ordinance will allow your police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, caseworkers, mechanics ... to have a consistent outlook for their jobs,” said Matthew Gerasa, president of the Newport News chapter of the Virginia Police Benevolent Association.
Councilmembers praised the task force work and labor-management collaboration leading to the substitute. Mayor Philip Jones and several council members said the city will continue to manage its fiscal responsibilities while implementing a bargaining structure.
The ordinance will be codified as a new Article 37; the transcript and agenda did not specify an effective date or implementation timetable. Council members said additional rulemaking and administrative steps will follow to implement the bargaining units and certification processes.
