Legislative Victories

Past Legislative Victories

The VGEA has worked successfully with General Assembly members, governors, and state agency leaders since 1959. The benefits and salaries enjoyed by State employees and retirees today came about through those years of effort. We’re proud of this legacy of continuous improvement and constantly strive to protect and expand these benefits.

Without the support and efforts of VGEA members, these victories would not have happened. Protecting these benefits in the future requires a similar commitment.

Our recent victories include the following:

Base Pay Increases

Compression Pay Increases

Bonuses

Health Care Funding to Offset Premium Costs

Retirement Reform/Protecting Retirement Benefits

Worker Protections

Milestone Victories

The following major benefits provided to employees and retirees are among the many hard won accomplishments of the VGEA:

Health Insurance – A group health insurance plan was established for state employees through VGEA efforts with the State now paying most of the employee premium and a major portion of family coverage premium. Each year the VGEA continues to fight to protect the coverage and resist attempts to shift increased premium costs to the employee.

Retiree Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) – An automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA), based on inflation, is made every year in retirement benefits. Legislative attempts to reduce or eliminate this benefit have been successfully defeated by the VGEA in recent years. There are only a few states who offer an automatic annual COLA. Virginia state retirees have it because of the VGEA.

Disability – In the event of short-term or long-term illness or disability, employee income and benefits are protected through the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP).

Grievance Procedure – Disputes with agencies and individual supervisors or management can be addressed through a formalized grievance procedure. The grievance procedure has been improved by legislative action since its establishment in 1982.

Life Insurance – Employer paid life insurance has been provided to both employees and retirees since the mid-’80s. The VGEA crafted and advocated for legislation to establish a life insurance floor to cover final expenses upon a retiree’s death. The VGEA adds to this by automatically giving every member a $4,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) life insurance policy. Survivors just contact the VGEA to file a claim.

Retiree Health Care Credit – Retirees receive a health care credit to assist with the cost of health insurance premiums.

Deferred Compensation Program – Employees can set aside a portion of tax-free salary for individual retirement accounts with deferred amounts matched by the state. The matching amount has been increased also through VGEA legislative efforts since the program was initiated.

Workforce Transition Act – Employees must receive severance benefits if their job is eliminated through reorganization, budget reduction or outsourcing as a result of VGEA efforts. The severance benefits are calculated using years of service and include extended health and life insurance coverage as well as severance pay. The package can also be converted to retirement service credit allowing the affected employee to retire rather than be laid off.

Working to Keep Virginia Working

VGEA is the only statewide organization for the broad range of Commonwealth employees.

While there are more than 160,000 of us working in a vast array of professions and jobs, we unite in a desire to be recognized for our dedication to making Virginia a great state.

In short, The Commonwealth of Virginia works because we do!

Whether it’s increasing salaries, improving work conditions or any of the many other employee issues, VGEA is here to help address them all. A strong association with representative members is recognized and invited to decision-making tables in state government. We strive to be relevant, from the 21-year-old new employee to the 100-year-old retiree.

Every employee benefits from the experience and dedication VGEA brings. VGEA matters because you matter!

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