By Samir Ali Nomani, reprinted from fairfaxtimes.com, May 30, 2025

After many years of effort, Fairfax County government workers voted to unionize under the banner of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as their exclusive bargaining unit for contract negotiations. 

First, however, the county must recognize the vote’s result. Thousands of workers can negotiate their pay, work benefits, and conditions through the union if recognized.

“This historic victory is the result of nearly two decades of tireless organizing,” LaNoral Thomas, president of SEIU Virginia 512, told the Fairfax County Times. “Our union, alongside allies in the labor movement, played a leading role in overturning a 45-year ban on collective bargaining in Virginia.”

“The journey began in 2006 when the founding president of our Fairfax Chapter began organizing, following a tragic workplace fatality. Her leadership and the unwavering dedication of workers across the county have led us to this pivotal moment,” Thomas continued.

Thomas said workers were motivated to vote for the union to improve their working conditions. “This election was about more than casting ballots,” she said. “It was about securing a voice on the job. It’s about winning a union contract that guarantees job safety, fair pay, and protected benefits for all county employees.”

On May 16, the Fairfax chapter of the SEIU board launched a bargaining survey, open through June 6, to get input from general county employees about bargaining priorities. Union officials said early responses reveal clear themes: demands for fair pay, job security, paid leave, and pension protection.

“Every year, our chapter leaders engage with the Board of Supervisors to communicate budget priorities,” Thomas said. “As we prepare for contract negotiations, we’re committed to building on this constructive relationship to advocate for an agreement that honors the values of county employees while being mindful of the community we proudly serve.”

However, the election victory was not supported unanimously. “Unfortunately, the path to victory was not without obstacles,” Thomas said. The Fairfax Workers Coalition won less than the 30% threshold required to appear on the ballot, as defined by the Fairfax County collective bargaining ordinance, but it filed a lawsuit and a request for an injunction to attempt to block the election.

SEIU Virginia 512 ran a “Vote Yes” campaign, which it said “focused on unity and progress,” and the Fairfax Workers Coalition launched a “Vote No” campaign. Thomas said the Fairfax Workers Coalition campaign resulted in “sowing confusion and spreading misinformation.”

However, Fairfax Workers Coalition Executive Director David Lyons told the Fairfax County Times that his group was formed as “an independent voice that would truly represent county employees in a non-political comprehensive manner that would emphasize real service and representation instead of the SEIU brand of corporate campaign unionism that seeks nothing but members’ money and votes.”

For Lyons, the movement to unionize has been incomplete and problematic. “The primary struggle has been for a self-financed independent union of all county workers, not one funded by outside sources and administered by highly paid officials,” said Lyons.

Lyons said SEIU officials “bullied” and “harassed” employees into getting votes, while leveraging political influence. “Their political influence created a Collective Bargaining Ordinance, passed by an unwitting Board of Supervisors that favors senior management at the expense of less well-off workers and people of color.”

SEIU officials have denied the allegations.

Recently, Fairfax Workers Coalition filed a legal complaint against SEIU, claiming that SEIU officials “made sure” the Labor Relations Administrator (LRA) appointed to oversee the process was “favorable to them,” Lyons claimed. He also alleged that the administrator was a former SEIU employee and has “consistently ruled in their favor.” 

Lyons said, “In the election petition process, SEIU took the names of former members and used them to attain ballot status and then refused to disclose to those employees that they had done so.” That’s why we’re in court.”

He said, “We want a fair election process governed by a fair ordinance that equally serves the interest of all workers.”

Lyons said his coalition will contest the current election through the objection process next. He said that “we will file objections by May 30.” He also said that “we are in Circuit Court on May 30 to fight SEIU’s motion to dismiss our suit action regarding their election petition, where they took our members’ names against their will and for their benefit.”

Lyons said that the recent election “demonstrates the farcical nature of the process.” He said of 11,763 bargaining unit members, “only 1,300 voted for SEIU.” Yet, he said, “the perverse rules of the LRA’s system allows them to win over 10,000 employees who do not want them.”