Last year, I wrote (http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18895/why_virginias_open_shop_referendum_should_matter_to_the_entire_american_lab) about the open shop referendum in Virginia, calling it the most important election for the labor movement in 2016. While Virginia has been a “right-to-work” state since 1947, supporters of the referendum argued that a constitutional amendment was necessary to prevent Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring or future Democratic legislative majorities from overturning the statute.
In a year where the election of an anti-labor president coincided with votes in Alabama and South Dakota that affirmed the open shop, Virginia gave labor its brightest victory: Almost 54 percent of voters (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/right-to-work-amendment-virginia_us_581ca561e4b0d9ce6fbb5241) across the Commonwealth rejected the constitutional amendment. And the “no” vote was spread out (http://www.vpap.org/electionresults/ballot-questions/23/) across the Commonwealth, with places as disparate politically as urban Arlington and rural Accomack voting against the measure, which was bitterly opposed (https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/right-to-work-is-hot-election-issue-between-unions-business-in-va-and-4-other-states/2016/10/14/c49c1862-8f25-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html?utm_source=huffingtonpost.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_article) by Virginia’s labor movement.
Much like the open shop referendum last year, this year’s gubernatorial election in Virginia is significant for labor. It’s a chance to contest the open shop in a region that has long seemed closed to any pro-labor advances on the issue. The primary vote is set for Tuesday and the labor movement would do well to make its presence felt.


More... (http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/20226/this_is_why_labor_should_care_about_virginias_gubernatorial_primary/)