Vienna, VA – This weekend, the SEIU Virginia State Council announced their endorsement of the Reproductive Freedom Amendment at a labor canvass launch with the YES on 1 campaign.
The SEIU Virginia State Council unites the frontline union members of 32BJ SEIU and SEIU Virginia 512 – home care workers, airport workers, county/city employees, and janitors –to fight for good union jobs, justice, dignity, and respect for all working people across the Commonwealth.
“The SEIU Virginia State Council is proud to endorse the constitutional amendment to ensure Reproductive Freedom for all Virginians!” said David Broder, Executive Director of the SEIU Virginia State Council. “SEIU members know that workers rights and the right to make our own reproductive health care decisions are intrinsically linked. Reproductive freedom is key to a future where all working families can thrive.”
“We are so proud to be endorsed by our partners at the SEIU because we know that reproductive freedom is a union issue,” said Han Jones, Campaign Manager with the YES on 1 campaign. “At its core, this work is about building a Commonwealth where people can make their own decisions, free from government interference, to live the life they want to live. That’s why we have so many diverse partners in support of this amendment, and why we are so thrilled to have the support of SEIU members across the Commonwealth.”
At the canvass launch, union members shared their own reproductive healthcare stories before leaving to knock doors in the neighborhood.
“My experience is the experience of many,” said Patti Nelson, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Virginia 512, a retired psychiatric nurse, a Loudoun County resident, and a mother of two. “For so many Virginians, reproductive health care isn’t simple. People face complicated pregnancies, infertility, miscarriages, health emergencies, and circumstances that no one can predict. And when you’re in that moment, you shouldn’t have to wonder whether a politician will let you get the care you need.”
“In many Latino communities, conversations about birth control, abortion, and postpartum care are still considered taboo,” said Glendaly Delgado, 32BJ SEIU union member. “Too often, women are expected to remain silent about deeply personal experiences. But silence does not protect us. It can leave women feeling ashamed, isolated, or afraid to seek the care they need. At a time when our most basic reproductive rights are under attack, that silence can have devastating and even deadly consequences. As a Latina and a proud union member, I strongly support amending Virginia’s Constitution to protect reproductive freedom.”
Videos of these remarks and stories can be found here.
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Virginians for Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of Virginia families, doctors, nurses, and advocacy organizations who believe that all Virginians should be able to make decisions regarding their own reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, without government interference, and no one should be faced with criminal punishment for making these decisions or providing healthcare.