Manassas School Board Set to Vote on Collective Bargaining Ban

The Manassas City School Board will vote Tuesday, April 8, 2025, on whether to formally prohibit collective bargaining with employee unions—a decision that could halt a movement launched earlier this year by local educators.

The resolution up for consideration, R2025-03, declares that no official or employee of the school division has the authority to recognize a labor union as a bargaining agent or to enter into collective bargaining agreements. It reaffirms the board’s current stance of non-engagement with employee unions and instead promotes a “meet and confer” model for addressing employee concerns.

The vote comes two months after the Manassas Education Association (MEA) informed the board it planned to launch a collective bargaining campaign. During a February 5, 2025, school board meeting, board members acknowledged the initiative and discussed potential legal and budgetary ramifications.

“We’re gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. It’s gonna be a lot,” said Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg at the time.

Board Member Sara Brescia noted the MEA’s intention to notify the board before publicizing the campaign on social media. “They wanted to let us know before they put it on Facebook and heard it from somebody else,” she said.

Under a 2021 Virginia law, local school boards may adopt resolutions allowing or denying collective bargaining. Without such a resolution, no union can legally negotiate on behalf of school employees. The law did not include funding to help localities implement collective bargaining processes.

A presentation by Deputy Superintendent Craig Gfeller estimates that adopting collective bargaining could cost Manassas City Public Schools more than $1 million annually in staffing and legal fees. Additional costs would arise from arbitration, mediation, and changes to grievance and disciplinary procedures.

Instead of recognizing bargaining agents, the school division plans to create a formal “meet and confer” process. According to Gfeller, this model will establish regular work sessions between school representatives, support staff, employee associations, and administrators to discuss concerns and priorities—excluding issues directly related to personnel.

The School Board’s resolution emphasizes maintaining open communication with employees and fostering a positive workplace through internal advisory councils and committees. It also notes that unresolved disputes between the board and its employees can negatively affect staff morale and student outcomes.

If the resolution passes, it will officially end union negotiations, setting Manassas apart from a growing number of Virginia school divisions that have embraced collective bargaining.

The vote is scheduled during the board’s regular meeting on April 8, which is open to the public.