Vermont Workers' Center Fighting for Workers' Rights!

VERGENNES, VT- Forty-five people packed the Bixby Memorial Library on January 10 to take part in the Addison County People's Forum on Healthcare with Senator Diane Ayer and Representatives Michael Fisher, Diane Lanpher and Steven Maier. This forum was the tenth of its kind scheduled in recent weeks by the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign (HCHR), a statewide grassroots organizing effort coordinated by the Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC) which aims to change what is politically possible in health reform in Vermont.

The event including testimony from local residents who have been negatively affected by the healthcare crisis and explored the how Vermont can establish healthcare as a basic human right and win single-payer healthcare in 2010.

Background: The "Healthcare Is A Human Right" Campaign's long-term goal is a universal system where health care is recognized as a public good and provided collectively, rather than a marketplace commodity, and where the human right to health of all residents. Through these community forums the Vermont Workers' Center hopes to voice everyday Vermonter's values and visions for a universal system while urging our legislators to take the lead and make Vermont the first state to provide health care as a public good. The only legislation that has been introduced into the Vermont State Legislature for the 2009-2010 session that meets these standards are two bills, H.100 and S.88. On May 1st, 2009 the Vermont Workers' Center organized a "Healthcare Is A Human Right Rally" at the Statehouse which with over twelve hundred participants is considered the largest weekday rally at Vermont's state capitol in history.

A Statehouse Healthcare Hearing on H.100 and S.88 is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12th. The Healthcare is a Human Right campaign will mobilize hundreds of Vermonters to attend and give testimony in support of making healthcare a human right in 2010. For more information go to http://www.workerscenter.org/node/199.

* Video of Forum will be online soon. HCHR leaders are available for interview.

SEE SUNDAY ARTICLE: "Public hearing on health care promises to turn personal" Jan 10, Rutland Herald & Times Argus http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100110/NEWS/100119998 (great photo)

MORE INFO:
- "Flurry of Activity in First Day of Session", VT Press Bureau, http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100107/NEWS02/1070348/1003/NEWS02

- "Workers Lobby for Single Payer Health Care" VT Public Radio, http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/86826/

- "Health Care Rally Held at Vermont Statehouse" http://www.wptz.com/news/22165408/detail.html

- "Group heads to Montpelier to push for healthcare reform" http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=11776082

- "VT. health reform tops January Agenda" VT Press Bureau http://www.timesargus.com/article/RH/20091214/NEWS03/912140360

- "To Your Health" 12/22/09 Seven Days column by Shay Totten http://www.7dvt.com/2009your-health

- Dec 10: Human Rights Day Report with Nurses & Sen. Racine: http://www.workerscenter.org/node/190

- Sen. Racine Announces Hearings on S.88/H.100: http://www.workerscenter.org/node/185

- Rutland Herald Editorial endorses HCHR Campaign: http://www.workerscenter.org/node/138

- Musicians launch benefit CD for HCHR Campaign: http://vermontcareforall.org/

- VPR's All Things Considered with Scott Ainslie, musician and HCHR leader. Link to listen http://www.vpr.net/flash/audio_player/audio_player.php?id=29863

- Dec 5: The Vermont NEA, the State's Largest Union Gets Behind HCHR Campaign http://www.workerscenter.org/node/189

- Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign: www.workerscenter.org/healthcare

- Summary of bills S.88/H.100: http://www.workerscenter.org/node/168

- Burlington Free Press My Turn "Vermont Must Lead The Way" http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091202/OPINION02/912020315/...

- Vermont Public Radio Report on HCHR: http://www.workerscenter.org/node/134