Virginia Beach city workers want better pay, investigation into allegations of mismanagement

Around 300 Virginia Beach city workers, mostly in the Public Works and Public Utilities departments, have signed a petition demanding better pay and are asking the city to launch an investigation into management who abuse their power, according to the workers' letter.

This is the latest action by employees to advocate for a better work environment and more compensation. Three months ago, city Waste Management workers refused to collect trash for one day in an effort to demand hazard pay and new equipment, including garbage trucks.

City Manager Patrick Duhaney said the employees in Public Works and Public Utilities are trying to unionize. The website for the Virginia Public Service Workers Union says it is assisting the group with the effort.

Earlier this year, the General Assembly approved allowing city workers to unionize beginning in May 2021, but city councils still have to give the green light before workers can proceed with collective bargaining.

More than 20 city workers held a press conference before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. City Council meeting at the Convention Center. They held signs that said, “COVID #'s are UP! HAZARD PAY ON Every Check!", “We Are Essential Workers! Where is our Essential Pay?” and “City Workers Deserve Better Wages & Fairness.”

Many of the workers were not allowed to sit in the main council room since the city limited the audience to 25 attendees due to coronavirus social distancing guidelines. They were directed to an overflow room.

They planned to hand deliver their petition to the city manager and the council and asked for a response within five days.

The workers request that management:

Re-evaluate their pay scale to bring wages in line with comparable cities.
Provide 10% hazard pay for workers who perform tasks that are hazardous and have long-term health impacts.
Launch an investigation into situations of unfair treatment by management. The group said the city needs to “stop management threats and abuse of power.”
Allow workers to democratically elect a representative for each department to meet with the city manager to “ensure safety and fairness for all workers.”

Dwayne Arthur, 48, a spokesman for the organizing committee, said management isn’t responding to the workers' grievances. The work culture is toxic at times, he said, and managers do not treat workers with respect.

“We have been unfairly treated for a very long time,” Arthur said. “The management can be callous and tyrannical.”

Today's Top Stories

Daily

Start your morning in-the-know with the day's top stories.

Arthur, a mosquito control maintenance worker, said the group is organizing to demand a better workplace, but he said the group is not forming a union at this time.

“I am glad to see my grievances aren’t solely mine,” Arthur said. “We are all coming together and make a united front to put these grievances on the table.”

Duhaney wrote an email to the council today to inform them what the workers are doing.

“I did meet with Waste Management division employees in August and from that, I committed to addressing the concerns they articulated at that time, including purchasing new equipment, and exploring the workplace issues, including culture and uncompetitive wages in comparison to region,” Duhaney wrote to the council members. “A work group was formed and has made considerable progress.”

In August, the council approved bonuses of $1,500 to recognize city employees in several departments, including Public Works and Public Utilities, for working throughout the pandemic.

In October, the council supported spending more than $3 million to buy 10 garbage trucks and to add at least seven part-time positions that will lead to full-time work. The city is also working to improve the pay scale for Waste Management Department employees, a city spokesperson said.

Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com.