Bell said the right-to-work law is “a crucial factor” in Virginia’s rankings as one of the best states for business.

He has said that by adding the provision to the state constitution, “we are protecting it from the whims of the legislature and thus ensuring it can remain in place for generations to come.”

The Virginia AFL-CIO, which opposes the measure, said the proposed amendment is unnecessary, and would be “nearly impossible” to reverse. It said the amendment “is designed by a handful of powerful corporate interests to silence the voices of hardworking Virginians.”

During the state Senate debate on the measure in February, Democrats said Virginia’s right-to-work law is not under attack.

“In the 41 years that I’ve been here, nobody has ever put in a bill to repeal the right to work,” said Senate Minority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax.

Another proposed amendment