There are only 2 statewide ballot initiatives on the November 8, 2016 ballot. The language for question 1 is rather dense:
Section 11-A. Right to work.
Any agreement or combination between any employer and any labor union or labor organization whereby nonmembers of the union or organization are denied the right to work for the employer, or whereby such membership is made a condition of employment or continuation of employment by such employer, or whereby any such union or organization acquires an employment monopoly in any enterprise, is against public policy and constitutes an illegal combination or conspiracy and is void.
Essentially, it enshrines Right to Work, which has been the law in Virginia for many decades into the state constitution. Obviously, Republican legislators can foresee a future time when they no longer will control the state legislature, as Virginia turns more Blue (It can’t happen soon enough! ).
And they want to ensure that future legislatures will be unable to promote union rights without going back and amending the constitution.
Right to work is a longstanding conservative euphemism for legislation that effectively removes the “collective” from collective bargaining. It’s the #1 tool in the conservative toolbox to weaken the power of unions.
See the Washington Post article: washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/right-to-work-is-hot-election-issue
And be sure to Vote NO, and tell everyone to vote NO when you do your November 8 ballot.