2008 VA Senate Debate between Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner: on Jobs

Jim Gilmore: Warner’s police endorsements come from unionization promise

The legislation in question would provide a form of collective bargaining activity for public safety employees. But, according to a Warner spokesman, it ”explicitly says there’s no right for public safety workers to strike.“

Jim Gilmore: Oppose making it easier to organize labor unions

Mark Warner: Gilmore opposed helping Tultex, despite Assembly’s support

Gilmore: “That’s a mischaracterization of what I did with the Tultex people in Southside.”

REALITY: The legislation would have paid for health insurance for the unemployed workers, including 3,300 Tultex Corp. employees in Henry County who lost their jobs when the giant sweatshirt maker declared bankruptcy. Gilmore said he had no choice but to veto the assembly’s plan, describing it as a “health care benefit entitlement, but only for displaced textile workers in the Martinsville area.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch, 5/20/00]

Taking their cue from Gov. Gilmore, Republicans kept legislation to help unemployed textile workers bottled up in committee. The bill had bipartisan support before Gilmore weighed in. [One legislator] said. “There’s only one person who is diametrically opposed to this, and he’s the governor.” [AP, 2/12/00]