labor | FFXnow

Published April 6, 2023 at 10:15AM

UFCW Local 400 members protesting in front of the Kingstowne Safeway (courtesy Jonathan Williams)

Local union members protested in front of the Kingstowne Safeway yesterday (Wednesday) in opposition to the proposed merger between grocery store conglomerates Kroger and Albertsons.

About 30 members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 marched near the front door of the Safeway at 5980 Kingstowne Towne Center. The local protest was part of a nationwide day action from a coalition of organizations hoping to stop Albertsons, which owns Safeway, from merging with Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter.

Countywide

County board approves lower-than-advertised pay raises, its first in eight years

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 22, 2023 at 9:30AM

SEIU Virginia 512 Fairfax President Tammie Wondong advocates for better worker compensation at a public hearing on proposed Board of Supervisors pay raises (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will get its first salary increase in eight years, starting next January.

The current board voted 8-2 last night (Tuesday) to raise the pay to $123,283 for a supervisor position and to $138,283 for the chairman — slightly lower than the ranges that were proposed on March 7.

Countywide

Fairfax County workers seek better pay in light of proposed raises for leaders

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 17, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Government Center (file photo)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors isn’t holding a public hearing on its proposed salary increases until Tuesday (March 21), but some county workers have already made their opposition known.

A union representing over 2,000 county government employees criticized the proposal as a blow to workers, whose projected pay raises aren’t expected to be fully funded in the county’s next budget.

Countywide

Fairfax County Public School workers secure collective bargaining rights

By Acacia James

Published March 13, 2023 at 9:45AM

Members of the Alliance of Fairfax Education Unions and supporters celebrate the Fairfax County School Board's approval of collective bargaining (courtesy David Walrod)

The Fairfax County School Board voted unanimously on Thursday (Mar. 9) to give public school teachers and staff collective bargaining rights.

The resolution gives employees the right to organize and elect a union that can negotiate labor contracts, including pay, benefits and work conditions.

Countywide

Farmers market workers in Reston, Merrifield and Oakton unionize

By Vernon Miles

Published February 10, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated March 24, 2023 at 2:37PM

At the Mosaic District FRESHFARM Farmers' Market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Workers at the regional nonprofit FRESHFARM, which operates three farmers markets in Fairfax County, voted to unionize with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 earlier this week.

FRESHFARM worker Ariana MacMartin told FFXnow that the hope is a union can help workers at the farmers markets negotiate for better pay and more job security, as well as hopefully reduce turnover.

Countywide

FCPS collective bargaining proposal ready for school board consideration

By Angela Woolsey

Published December 22, 2022 at 9:30AM

SEIU Virginia 512 President David Broder and Fairfax Education Association President Leslie Houston urged the Fairfax County School Board to adopt a collective bargaining resolution at a Dec. 15 public hearing (courtesy David Broder/Twitter)

More than a year after Fairfax County government workers got collective bargaining rights, a proposal could extend the option to their public school counterparts.

After months of work, Fairfax County Public School administrators presented a draft resolution to the school board last week that would let employees organize and elect a union to negotiate labor contracts, setting terms for pay, benefits and work conditions.

Countywide

Fairfax County firefighters vote to unionize for historic contract talks

By Angela Woolsey

Published November 21, 2022 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue engine ladder (file photo)

Firefighters, medics and other Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department employees will have a union represent them in the county’s first collective bargaining negotiations for public workers in over 40 years.

Over 800 FCFRD workers participated in a 13-day election last month to determine whether to have union representation for contract talks with the county government, which will establish pay, benefits and other working conditions.

Countywide

County board approves funds for hiring bonuses, school stadium bathrooms

By Fatimah Waseem

Published October 13, 2022 at 11:45AM

SEIU Fairfax President Tammie Wondong delivered remarks at a public hearing Tuesday (Photo via SEIU Fairfax).

Fairfax County has officially allocated millions of unspent revenue from the previous year’s budget for items like restrooms for school stadiums and a boost of the county’s hiring program.

At a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 11), the board voted 7-1 to allocate $7.5 million in carryover funds to help install permanent restrooms at 15 Fairfax County Public School outdoor high school stadiums.

Countywide

Fairfax County firefighters could let union negotiate work conditions for first time in decades

By Angela Woolsey

Published October 12, 2022 at 3:00PM

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (file photo)

The first union election that Fairfax County employees have been allowed to hold in over four decades is now underway.

With an election for representation that launched Monday (Oct. 10), firefighters, medics, fire marshals and other Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department workers will determine whether the union IAFF Local 2068 can represent them in upcoming contract negotiations with the county government.

News

Vienna proposes bonuses to attract more maintenance truck drivers

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 26, 2022 at 2:30PM

A kid runs past Vienna Town Hall (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

With the national shortage of commercial drivers continuing to strain services from trash collection to school buses, the Town of Vienna plans to increase salaries and offer bonuses to bolster its maintenance workforce.

As part of a new incentive program, the Department of Public Works recommends that the town increase its entry-level salary for maintenance workers to $55,000 and offer a $2,000 hiring bonus to new employees with a commercial driver’s license (CDL).