VA SB378

Repeals Virginia's existing prohibition on collective bargaining by public employees and establishes a comprehensive framework allowing state and local government employees to organize, form unions, and negotiate collectively over wages, hours, and working conditions.

Creates the Public Employee Relations Board, a five-member body appointed by the Governor, to administer collective bargaining processes, certify exclusive bargaining representatives, resolve disputes, and conduct elections.

Establishes the Virginia Home Care Council to serve as the public employer for individual home care providers solely for collective bargaining purposes, while preserving participants' rights to hire, fire, direct, and supervise their own caregivers.

Prohibits public employee strikes, with any employee participating in a strike deemed to have terminated employment and becoming ineligible for public employment for 12 months.

Excludes certain categories from collective bargaining rights, including elected officials, judicial employees, confidential employees, temporary employees, General Assembly staff, and instructional employees at public higher education institutions.