The last three Democratic candidates for governor have supported Virginia’s right-to-work laws.
IN 2005…
In 2005, Lieutenant Governor, now former governor and current United States Senator, Tim Kaine supported right-to-work laws.
“But,” as The Washington Post noted when the former Virginia governor was preparing his 2012 US Senate bid, “Kaine has supported Virginia’s right-to-work law since he ran for governor in 2005, and his campaign says that position has not changed.” (The Nation, 7/22/2016)
IN 2009…
The Washington Times reported on Senator Creigh Deeds’ position on right-to-work, “Democrat Creigh Deeds got support from corporate captains and venture capitalists Thursday in his run for governor as he pledged to honor Virginia’s right-to-work legacy if elected.” (The Washington Times Daily, July 2013)
IN 2013…
Governor Terry McAuliffe said, “We are a great right-to-work state,” he said. “We should never change that. It helps us do what we need to do to grow our businesses here in Virginia.” (PolitiFact, 2013)
Flash forward to 2017…
Congressman Perriello and Lt. Governor Ralph Northam are out of step with their own party.
At the May 9, 2017 Democratic Primary Debate, the moderator asked, “this is a right to work state. In the past, even Governor Terry McAuliffe has said he would not try to change that law. Would you?”
Congressman Tom Perriello said, “I would. I think it undermines the middle class and working class here in Virginia.”
Not to be outdone, Lt. Governor Ralph Northam equivocated saying, “Well first of all I want to congratulate labor tonight for helping to defeat the constitutional amendment this past year…you all deserve a tremendous deal of credit for doing that. As far as a constitutional amendment, we don’t need that, and I stood up and I traveled around the Commonwealth of Virginia and helped to fight that as well.”
Tom Perriello’s website goes as far to say:
“Workers do better when they have strong unions, and the decline in union membership is a major reason why wages have effectively flat-lined since the 1970s. That’s why I oppose so-called “right to work” laws that kneecap unions from helping workers bargain for higher wages.”
This is an irresponsible line of thinking that is dangerous for Virginia. Ed Gillespie will defend Virginia’s right-to-work status.