Vermont Workers' Center Fighting for Workers' Rights!

"Vermont's Own"

Friday March 5, 2010
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/opinion/ci_14522731

Vermont supporters of meaningful health care reform have been floating a well-tested format that deserves more than a cursory review this year. Regardless of what happens -- or doesn't happen -- in Washington, they say,
the state would fare better with its own single-payer health care option.

A call for health reform
Statehouse crowd details system's faults, horrors, urges change.
by Dan Barlow
http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100113/NEWS/100119988

MONTPELIER – Hundreds of Vermonters filled the Statehouse Tuesday for a public forum on health care reform, with a vast majority urging lawmakers to adopt a single-payer system.

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/86826/ [listen online]

(Host) Several hundred people went to the Statehouse today to lobby for a single payer health care system.

Legislative leaders promised they would explore the single payer approach, but they didn't commit to having a vote on the issue this year.

VPR's Bob Kinzel reports.

(Kinzel) The rally was organized by the Vermont Workers Center and it was the culmination of a series of public hearings that the Center held throughout the state over the past few months.

HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT CAMPAIGN
* * * NEWS RELEASE * * *

HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT CAMPAIGN
HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2009
Nurses, Sen. Racine and other Vermonters Say Vermont Must lead Way to Realize Right to Healthcare For All

BURLINGTON - This Human Rights Day press conference will release a report on how Vermont can lead the way in this country to realize the human right to healthcare. The Vermont Workers’ Center has convened forums with many hundreds of Vermonters and their legislators affirming the importance of establishing a universal, equitable and accountable healthcare system. Senator Doug Racine will join nurses and leaders of the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign to announce that the time has come for the State of Vermont to take a lead in healthcare reform, recognizing the shortcomings of current federal efforts.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20091202/OPINION02/912020315/...

Vermont must lead on healthcare

by James Haslam, Vermont Workers' Center

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/ci_13847391
Forum rallies support for single-payer care
NEAL P. GOSWAMI
Posted: 11/22/2009 10:27:25 PM EST

BENNINGTON -- Several panelists spoke in favor of a single-payer health care system at a health care forum Thursday night, but significant barriers remain to achieving that goal.

The forum, organized by the Vermont Workers Centers, was meant to rally support for pushing state officials toward a single-payer system in Vermont. The center is seeking action in the upcoming legislative session on House and Senate bills that call for such a system.

FAIRLEE - This past weekend, the Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO convention delegates representing 9,500-members unanimously voted to "endorse H.100 and S.88 ... (and to) play a leading role together with our allies in the Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign ... in mobilizing broad public and political support for single-payer healthcare." Building a powerful movement "to change what is politically possible" with real healthcare reform is the Vermont AFL-CIO's #1 priority.

Williston - On Saturday October 10th Peter Welch held a forum on healthcare at Williston Central School which drew over 50 people, including a bunch of right wing opponents to healthcare reform.

We are happy to report that dozens of Healthcare is a Human Right supporters spoke out demanding that healthcare not be treated as a commodity and pointed out that healthcare is not like auto insurance.

Rutland Herald & Times Argus, October 8, 2009
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091008/OPINION01/910080316/1038/O...

Inherent Compassion

The campaign by Vermont activists to push for a single-payer health care system for the state of Vermont begins with a moral imperative and moves to a practical proposal.

RUTLAND HERALD: Is health care a human right?
Campaign makes case for universal care at forum

By Brent Curtis Staff Writer - Published: October 7, 2009
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091007/NEWS04/910070372/1002/NEWS01

RUTLAND - With conditions here and there, every legislator in the room Tuesday night agreed that health care was a "right" — or at least a "national value."