Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation Thursday that would have restored collective bargaining rights for approximately 50,000 public sector workers in the state.

The bill had passed both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly with majority support. The legislation would have reinstated bargaining rights for most public sector employees in the state.

Union leaders criticized the veto, with some calling it a betrayal of campaign promises. During her gubernatorial campaign last year, Spanberger had expressed support for restoring collective bargaining rights to public sector workers.

Spanberger had previously introduced an amended version of the bill last month, but that alternative version was rejected by the state legislature. The original bill that passed the General Assembly was then sent to her desk for consideration.

The veto means that Virginia's public sector workers will continue to operate without collective bargaining rights, maintaining the current legal framework governing public employee labor relations in the state.