On January 1, 2023, the City of Charlottesville’s Collective Bargaining Ordinance (CBO) went into effect. The CBO authorizes six bargaining units: Police, Fire, Transit, Labor & Trades, Administrative & Technical, and Professional. The City can recognize up to three bargaining units the first year the CBO is effective and no more than one bargaining unit in each subsequent year.
In 2023, the City recognized the Police, Fire, and Transit bargaining units. In 2024, the Labor & Trades bargaining unit was recognized. All of these employee groups have an exclusive bargaining representative.
The Labor Relations Administrator (LRA) is a neutral agency responsible for administering the CBO through adopting Procedures Related to the Collective Bargaining Ordinance.
The Human Resources Department plays an integral role in labor relations, providing support in areas such as bargaining unit certification, contract negotiations, contract administration, dispute resolution, and training.