FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2026
CONTACT: pressinquiries@seiuva.org

Richmond, VA - Research conducted for SEIU finds overwhelming bipartisan support among Virginians for empowering home care workers to form a union and collectively bargain for a contract agreement on wages, work hours, training standards, and other job issues. The survey shows that voters believe giving home care workers this power will strengthen care for seniors and people with disabilities across the Commonwealth. This support spans across every region in Virginia and reflects strong agreement that improving job quality for home care workers will stabilize Virginia’s growing care needs.

This polling shows Virginians understand that collective bargaining rights for home care workers will have ripple effects beyond individual workplaces. Voters see bargaining as a tool to strengthen Virginia’s middle class, support family stability, and improve the availability of good-paying jobs – while protecting the quality of care that families rely on.

“Home care workers care deeply about the people we serve, but too many of us are forced to leave the profession because the pay simply isn’t sustainable,” said Athena Jones, a home care worker in Portsmouth, Virginia. “This poll confirms what we know: Virginians are ready for change and believe workers should have the freedom to join together in unions to negotiate for better working conditions.”

Key Findings

The survey finds that 75% of Virginia voters support allowing home care workers to collectively bargain, including:

• 93% of Democrats
• 79% of Independents
• 56% of Republicans

Voters overwhelmingly agree that collective bargaining would positively impact home care provider’s working conditions and patient care:

• 78% say collective bargaining would positively impact the quality of training home care workers receive
• 75% agree collective bargaining would improve workplace safety
• 73% of Virginians say that collective bargaining will positively impact the quality of care patients receive

The poll also shows strong agreement around fairness, dignity, and respect:

• 77% of Virginians agree that collective bargaining will lead to fair compensation and better benefits, including parental leave and health care
• 72% say ensuring home care workers have the right to collective bargaining will increase the availability of good paying jobs
• Two-thirds (65%) know that Virginia law currently prevents some workers from joining or forming a union, and nearly seven in ten (67%) believe all workers should have that freedom

A majority of Virginia voters agree: home care collective bargaining will positively impact Virginia’s economy.

Legislation Filed

As members of the General Assembly consider legislation this session to grant home care workers the freedom to bargain collectively, the data demonstrates clear public backing. The legislation:

Public Sector Collective Bargaining and Home Care Authority – SB 378 / HB 1263 
Co-sponsors: Senator Surovell / Delegate Tran

• Repeals the existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees, including consumer-directed home care workers who are also known as independent providers (IPs). The bill creates the Public Employee Relations Board, which shall determine appropriate bargaining units and provide for certification and decertification elections for exclusive bargaining representatives of state employees and local government employees.

Methodology

Global Strategy Group conducted a phone and text-to-web survey of 800 likely 2025 voters in Virginia between September 22 and September 25, 2025. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level is +/- 3.5%. The margin of error on sub-samples is greater. Of the 800 interviews, 530 were conducted by telephone and 270 via text invitation to web-based survey. Care has been taken to ensure the geographic, political, and demographic divisions of the population of likely voters are properly represented.

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