RICHMOND, Va. — As federal job cuts and layoffs continue to impact workers across the country, unions in Richmond are pushing for better protection for healthcare employees, securing some notable wins. One such victory came at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health, where 400 environmental service cleaners ratified a union contract through SEIU 32BJ, marking a significant step forward in worker rights.
The new contract, which ensures workers’ job security and improved compensation, provides protection against wrongful termination, prioritizes senior workers, and includes a $3.30 hourly raise. Prior to the contract, these workers were earning just $15 an hour. The pay increase, while important, is not the only gain that has union members celebrating. Johnny Johnson, an environmental service cleaner at VCU Health, expressed that the most significant change is the newfound ability for workers to have a voice in hospital operations.
“It’s not so much just the money—it’s the ability to have a voice now,” Johnson said. “We are a very important [people] … the front line of defense. Without us, the hospital doesn’t run.”
This union victory at VCU Health comes amid a larger backdrop of federal job cuts, particularly within the healthcare sector. Many employees, including those at the Richmond Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, have faced layoffs due to these cuts. However, some of these workers could soon be returning to their positions.
Mintina Minto, president of Local 2145, which represents VA Medical Center employees, explained that a recent court ruling ordered the reinstatement of employees laid off without notice by the federal government. The ruling affects around 40 VA workers in Richmond who were impacted by cuts from the Department of Government Affairs (DOGE).
“We have employees now that are supposed to be placed on this roll to receive administrative leave from the federal government,” Minto said. “It’s a positive step, but the fight isn’t over.”
Although administrative leave is a temporary solution, Minto expressed frustration with the ongoing staffing shortages. She noted that the lack of adequate manpower has created significant challenges at the facility, including nurses having to leave the bedside to help with logistical tasks such as obtaining supplies.
“We don’t have the manpower even to deliver the supplies within our facility. So it’s just causing more chaos when we could have brought the employees back in,” she added.
While it remains uncertain when the administrative leave will begin for the affected VA employees, Minto and the union are organizing a protest to demand that the workers be reinstated.
For now, the union victories at VCU Health offer a glimmer of hope for healthcare workers in Richmond, highlighting the power of collective bargaining and union advocacy in the face of ongoing economic challenges and federal cuts.
The situation at the Richmond VA Medical Center is far from resolved, and union leaders continue to press for the return of laid-off workers to restore stability and efficiency to the critical care services they provide.
