VWC members rally on International Workers’ Day

VWC members rally on International Workers’ Day

VWC members joined a number of rallies today on May Day: Supporting dairy farmworkers and their demand that Hannaford Supermarkets join the Milk with Dignity program, supporting UVM Medical Center nurses and UVM faculty and staff in their fight for a fair contract,...
VWC, labor leaders testify on Medicaid Expansion Act

VWC, labor leaders testify on Medicaid Expansion Act

On February 1st, three VWC leaders — Andy Lindquist, Erin Kellar, and Kate Kanelstein — along with Abel Luna of Migrant Justice and UVMMC Support Staff United President Heather Bauman testified to the Vermont House Healthcare Committee in favor of H.721, the Medicaid...
Join us for our 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner!

Join us for our 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner!

Come spend an evening with friends of the Vermont Workers’ Center to swap stories, share a meal, and sing old labor songs as we mark our 25th anniversary as an organization. 5pm, Saturday, Nov. 11th, 2023 Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Barre REGISTRATION IS NOW...
Medicaid Cutoffs: An American Horror Story

Medicaid Cutoffs: An American Horror Story

The biggest threat to Americans today isn’t from a foreign power. It’s from a long-running war on the poor by out of touch politicians and their Wall Street backers. The latest attack on working Americans even has a name: “The Unwinding.” If that sounds like the title...
PHOTOS: “We Cry Justice” Memorial & Call to Action

PHOTOS: “We Cry Justice” Memorial & Call to Action

On Sept. 18th, dozens gathered at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier to mourn, testify, and pledge to take action to end poverty and the denial of healthcare. We Cry Justice was co-organized by the VWC, Vermont Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral...
PHOTOS: Forward Together Days of Action

PHOTOS: Forward Together Days of Action

Over 100 people came out last weekend to reject plans to kick millions off of Medicaid in the coming months and demand public officials move forward together, and not one step back on our human rights. Check out the photos from this weekend’s activities...
120 People Join Online Forum on Housing & Healthcare

120 People Join Online Forum on Housing & Healthcare

Do you have a healthcare story? Have you been forced to choose between paying rent or meeting other basic needs? Over 120 people joined this public forum to testify about how their families have been impacted by the housing and healthcare crises in Vermont. Watch the...
PHOTOS: Nonviolent Medicaid Army Week of Action

PHOTOS: Nonviolent Medicaid Army Week of Action

Last week, hundreds of people across the country—from Alabama to Pennsylvania, Texas to Wisconsin—took action with the Nonviolent Medicaid Army to demand health care as a human right amidst a pandemic that has killed over 670,000 people.  Check out...
WATCH: VWC leaders testify on Senate healthcare bills

WATCH: VWC leaders testify on Senate healthcare bills

On April 15th, VWC leaders Jessica Morrison, Grace Beninson, and Ellen Schwartz offered powerful testimony to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee as it discussed healthcare affordability and the future of the All-Payer model and OneCare contract. Grace Beninson...
Join us for our 2020 Virtual Membership Assembly!

Join us for our 2020 Virtual Membership Assembly!

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 14th and Monday, Nov. 16th for our Annual Membership Assembly & 22nd Anniversary Celebration, held virtually this year over Zoom.  This year’s assembly will take place over two days: Saturday, Nov. 14th11am – 12pm: New Member...
July 21: Public Forum on the Cost of Health Insurance

July 21: Public Forum on the Cost of Health Insurance

Join us on Tuesday, July 21st to speak out against health insurance rate hikes in the middle of a pandemic. Green Mountain Care Board Public ForumTuesday, July 21st, 4:30 – 6:30pmCall-in or join online via Microsoft Teams Fill out the form below to let us know...
Pandemic Response Town Hall (Online)

Pandemic Response Town Hall (Online)

Join the Health Care is a Human Right Campaign for an online Town Hall to discuss: How we can have each others’ backs through this crisisWhat this all means for poor and working-class families who were *already* struggling to make ends meetHow we can organize in...

Rutland Healthcare Human Rights Hearing

Local residents testify about impact of healthcare crisis Where: Rutland Regional Medical Center, Conference Rooms 3 & 4, 160 Allen Street, Rutland, Vermont When: 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 12, 2009 What: For months, volunteers for the Vermont Workers’...

Bennington Healthcare Human Rights Hearing

Local residents testify about impact of healthcare crisis Where: Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse, 108 School Street, Bennington, Vermont When: 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 19, 2009 What: For months, volunteers for the Vermont Workers’ Center...

VWC Statement on Budget Cuts

No one doubts that we are living through difficult economic times. For many working-class Vermonters, the current economic crisis is simply an intensification of the long crisis that we have been experiencing long before the recent financial meltdown. For the last...

Fletcher Allen Techs Need Your Support

Almost 600 hospital technicians at Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) are organizing to form a union, as the nurses did back in 2002. The techs and nurses are now calling on FAHC Administration to recognize their right to organize and not waste thousands of healthcare...

Human Rights Hearing in Barre

Local residents testify about impact of healthcare crisis  Where: Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite Street, Barre, Vermont When: 7:00 PM, Thursday, January 29, 2009  What: For months, volunteers for the Vermont Workers’ Center have been...

Victory for Tenants and BLCC on City Lead Ordinance

Report from Ordinance Committee:Last night, Burlington Livable City Coalition leaders Bekah Mandell and Chris Guros presented the suggested modifications to the lead paint ordinance and our Open Letter supporting the ordinance. The letter had been signed by about...

Join Students, Staff and Faculty to Stop the Cuts at UVM

Lunchtime Forum and Press Conference:Moratorium on the Budget Cuts and Layoffs, Full Disclosure of UVM’s Finances12-1 pm Wednesday, December 17Chittenden Room, Davis Center 4th floor, UVMSponsored by Students, Staff, and Faculty Together This week, as President...
Human Rights Conference Draws 500 Participants

Human Rights Conference Draws 500 Participants

Burlington – Five hundred people participated in the day-long Ella Baker Human Rights Conference held on Dec 13, 2009. The conference was organized by the Vermont Workers’ Center and sponsored by forty-three other organizations. Excerpts of Closing...

Healthcare Campaign to Release Human Rights Day Report

* * * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE * * *December 9, 2008Contact: James Haslam, VT Workers’ Center, 802-272-0882, james@workerscenter.orgMore info: www.workerscenter.org/healthcarePRESS CONFERENCEAfter Surveying 1,200 Vermonters the Workers’ Center Releases A...

Workshop at December 13 Human Rights Conference

At the Dec 13 Ella Baker Human Rights Conference at the Unviersity of Vermont we will be having a workshop entitled: The Human Right to Health & Healthcare Presenters/Facilitators:Dr. Deb Richter, Vermont Health Care For AllAnja Rudinger, National Economic and...

FILM: “Fundi” The Story of Ella Baker

7pm, Monday, Dec 8Vermont Workers’ Center, 294 North Winsooki Ave, Burlington Come join us on Monday, December 8th, 7pm, at the Vermont Workers’ Center, 294 No Winooski Ave. We will be watching “Fundi.” This 48 minute film is about the life and...

REGISTER TODAY: Ella Baker Human Rights Conference

On Saturday, December 13, the Vermont Workers’ Center, together with a wide variety of community organizations, is sponsoring the ELLA BAKER HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE. The event will take place from 9am-3pm at the Davis Center at UVM. [ Register now ]...

Nov 13: St. Albans Human Rights Hearing

Human Rights Hearing: “Healthcare is a Human Right”St. Paul’s United Methodist Church,11 Church St., St. AlbansThursday Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m.(refreshments served at 7 p.m.) “Our current healthcare system simply leaves too many people behind, and...

Making Real Change: It’s Up To Us

At the Vermont Workers’ Center, we believe that social change comes from below, from working people and community members coming together to demand justice from those in power. The promise of this election can only be made good by people organizing at the...

WORKSHOP: Anti-racism & Building a Social Justice Movement

WHAT: A series of full day anti-racism workshops for community members. It is a workshop which is meant for anyone actively engaged in efforts for social change (or would like to be). Each of these workshops will explore institutional racism, white privilege, and...

Oct 23 Human Rights Hearing in Burlington

Human Rights Hearing: “Healthcare is a Human Right” Where: Burlington City Hall, Contois Auditorium (149 Church St., Burlington)When: Thursday Oct 23 at 7:00 p.m. refreshments, 7:30 p.m. hearingBurlington – For months volunteers for...

Main Street not Wall Street! Action October 1st

While attention has focused recently on the Wall Street financial crisis, working families in Vermont and across the country have been facing an economic crisis in recent years, including: unaffordable healthcare, the lack of livable-wage jobs, foreclosures and a...
Healthcare System Put on Trial In Brattleboro

Healthcare System Put on Trial In Brattleboro

Brattleboro, VT — On the evening of September 25th more than fifty Brattleboro residents came to St. Michaels Episcopal Church to participate in the first Human Rights Hearing on Healhcare. This was the first of a series of hearings to be held throughout the state as...

Northrup Grummon workers win contract in St. Albans!

Statement from the Northrup Grummon workers UE Local 208:”On Friday Sept. 12th, UE Local 208 ratified its first Union contract. The contract contains a 9% wage increase over three years, an increase in benefits and other protections. The vote to accept the...

September 25: Brattleboro Human Rights Hearing

Human Rights Hearing: “Healthcare is a Human Right” to be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Brattleboro, Thursday September 25 at 7:00 p.m.  Brattleboro – For months volunteers for the Vermont Workers’...

Vermont AFL-CIO Endorses Campaign

This resolution was approved unanimously September 14th at 2008 Vermont State Labor Council Convention: REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR SINGLE PAYER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE Submitted by: Washington-Orange-Lamoille and Champlain Valley Central Labor Councils & UAW Local...

ST. ALBANS RALLY MONDAY

Support UE Local 208 on Monday, September 8th at 2:15 in a rally for a fair Union contract.  UE Local 208 –USCIS Vermont Service Center workers– have been in a months-long struggle for a fair first union contract. The majority women workforce has not...

Healthcare is a Human Right

Brattleboro Reformer, Labor Day Weekend Editorialhttp://www.reformer.com/localeditorials/ci_10330416(also ran in Burlington Free Press, Rutland Herald and Bennington Banner) By Dawn Stanger Friday, August 29 BURLINGTON — The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,...

Healthcare Campaign Off to a Great Start

This summer, volunteers and staff from the Vermont Workers’ Center have been asking working Vermonters a simple question — “Do you believe we have a human right to healthcare?” That question is part of a survey being conducted as the first phase of...
BURLINGTON LABOR DAY CELEBRATION

BURLINGTON LABOR DAY CELEBRATION

Monday, September 1stPARADEPICNICCONCERTat BATTERY PARK PARADE: 10:30am gather at the Waterman Building parking lot, UVM off South Prospect Street, march down Main Street to downtown and end at Battery Park. FREE PICNIC: with Ben &...
Canadian Trade Unionists Visit VWC

Canadian Trade Unionists Visit VWC

Last Wednesday, a delegation from the Canadian Labour Congress(shown above, with VWC Healthcare Organizer Erika Simard) visited the Workers’ Center. The visit was part of a week-long class called The Changing Face of the Canadian Labour Movement:...

St. Albans Messenger Article on Campaign

Health care as a human right?Written By Michelle MonroeWednesday, July 16, 2008 ST. ALBANS CITY — The Vermont Worker’s Center (VWC) has launched a statewide campaign to re-conceptualize health care as a human right and change what is “politically possible,” according...

Healthcare Campaign Begins

The Workers’ Center is pleased to announced that we have hired a new organizer for the Healthcare is a Human Right campaign: Erika Simard, who lost her healthcare benefits three years ago when Specialty Filaments, the factory she worked at for 22 years, closed...

A New Path Towards Social Justice

Traven Leyshon, Workers’ Center Coordinating Committee member and President of the Central Vermont Labor Council, interview with Bill Fletcher, Jr. and Fernando Gapasin on their new book, Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path Towards...

VWC on Radio Africa

A couple of weeks ago, VWC leader Jonathan Kissam sat down with the Radio Africa crew to discuss worker rights, protections, and advocacy campaigns. With limited English and lack of legal awareness, Vermont’s African-born community members are some of...

The Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign

The Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign, a project of the Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC), aims to change what is “politically possible” in the healthcare debate through grassroots organizing and a strategic reframing of healthcare as a basic human right and the...
VWC leaders attend US Human Rights Conference

VWC leaders attend US Human Rights Conference

Four VWC leaders and staff attended the US Human Rights Network’s 2008 National Conference in Chicago this past weekend. They learned from and networked with others around the country who are applying international human rights standards to the...

Workers’ Center Internship Opportunities

2008 SUMMER & FALL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIESThe Vermont Workers’ Center has openings for 2008 internship opportunities based in Burlington. We are offering great opportunities for anyone interested in workers’ rights, economic justice, community...

JOB POSTING: Workers’ Center Organizer

The Vermont Workers Center – Jobs with Justice has an opening for a full-time organizer to coordinate our new “Healthcare Is A Human Right” grassroots organizing project. This position will be focused on building a statewide action network of...
10 Year Celebration Dinner !!!

10 Year Celebration Dinner !!!

5pm, Sunday, April 27Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite StBarre, Vermont [ Map ] Join the us to celebrate a decade of fighting for workers’ rights. Solidarity Awards for victories and strugglesFree public event: enjoy great food (SugarSnap & American...
Solidarity School 2008

Solidarity School 2008

On March 29, the second annual Vermont Workers’ Center Solidarity School concluded. 20 union members, students and community activists participated in three days of popular education, spread over six weeks. Participants sharpened their organizing skills,...

Freightliner 5 Solidarity Meeting

6pm, Sunday, March 30thVermont Workers’ Center294 North Winooski Ave, Burlington Two fired United Auto Workers (UAW) members from Freightliner trucks in Cleveland, N.C. will be in Burlington on March 30. Allen Bradley and Robert Whiteside will speak about their...
International Women’s Day Party March 8

International Women’s Day Party March 8

On March 8, 1908, working women in the needle trade industry took to the streets of New York City demanding better working conditions, higher wages, shorter workdays and the overall improvement of women’s lives in this country. This year, on the 100th...

The Truth About Forming A Union at Stanley

[published in the St. Albans Messenger, Saturday, Feb 16th in support of workers forming a union at Stanley Inc, a federal contractor at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service center in St. Albans] By James Haslam Since 1998, the Vermont Workers’ Center...

The Chinese Labor Movement: Stories From The Inside

6:30pm, Vermont Workers’ Center, 294 N.Winooski Ave. Burlington Talk by Ellen David Friedman, Vermont Workers’ Center founding member and long-time labor organizer is just back from a half-year in Guangzhou, where she is engaged in the Chinese labor movement at...

Healthcare Statehouse Rally Day – 11am, Thurs, Feb 7th

Join the Vermont Workers’ Center in saying Healthcare Is A Human Right! Thursday is the follow-up rally from the 200+ people who came to the Statehouse on January 9th to put H.304, the Universal Hospitalization Bill, back on the table. The Vermont WOrkers’...

Social Justice Film Series: SIR NO SIR, Feb 8th

Social Justice Film Series, 7pm, Fri, Feb 8 Vermont Workers’ Center Social Justice Film Series presents:”SIR NO SIR” 7:00pm, Workers’ Center, 294 N. Winooski Ave, Burlington. Free public event. This powerful film that tells the untold story of...
Two Union Victories at Stanley Contractors in St. Albans!

Two Union Victories at Stanley Contractors in St. Albans!

February 1, 2008: For the second day in a row, employees of a contractor of Stanley Associates at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Center have voted to join UE. Despite bad weather, workers employed by Northrup Grumman Technical Services Inc. traveled to NLRB...

Save Vermont Healthcare from the Insurance Companies!

Healthcare Rally INSIDE The Statehouse, in MontpelierTOMMOROW: Wednesday, January 9, 11 am to 1 pmThe Vermont Workers’ Center urges members and supporters to join folks for this rally because we believe healthcare should be a basic right to every Vermonter the...

Highlights of 2007, Movement Building in 2008

Highlights of 2007, Movement Building in 2008 As 2007 began, the Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC) was focused on keeping the momentum of the Burlington Livable City Coalition after the 2006 contract victories for Fletcher Allen nurses (UPV/AFT Local 5221), Burlington...
Community Calls On Stanley To Respect Workers’ Rights

Community Calls On Stanley To Respect Workers’ Rights

(Stanley workers speak at press conference in their St. Albans union office)  On Thursday, the Vermont Workers’ Center organized a press conference with workers at Stanley Associates in St. Albans who are organizing with the UE and and elected officials to...

REGISTER NOW: Jan 26th Building Worker Justice Movement

The Vermont Workers’ Center is pleased to announce that on January 26, workers, students, educators and health care providers from around the state will be gathering at Building a Movement for Worker Justice.  This will be a three part conference, geared...
2008 People’s Calendar now available

2008 People’s Calendar now available

The 2008 People’s Calendar celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the Vermont Workers’ Center and has great photos of workers’ rights struggles and victories in VT from the past decade (like the cover shot is from the 2002 Fletcher Allen nurses union...

SiCKO film & discussion at UVM Nov. 14th

Film: SiCKO film and Panel discussion about establishing a universal health care system [POST EVENT NOTE: Huge turnout, 350+, great job to all the organizers!!]6:00pm, Weds, Nov 14thCC Theater (Billings Theater), University of Vermont, BurlingtonFree Admission...
We have a real CENTER! Open House Party Nov. 17th

We have a real CENTER! Open House Party Nov. 17th

294 N. Winooski Ave (next to Imani), Burlington (sign coming soon, above added in Photoshop). [ more about the center | photos from November 17 housewarming party ] We are very excited to have a real Vermont Workers’ Center space and its...

Tell Governor Douglas To Stop The Sale!

Citizens to deliver message to Governor Douglas:“Don’t let Vermont take a wrong turn on the information superhighway!” Who: Seniors, clergy, first responders, teachers, elected officials, and telephone workers What: Short briefing at 10:30 AM for news media at the...
Burlington para-educators livable wage victory

Burlington para-educators livable wage victory

Statement made at the BEA press conference November 1, 2007 James Haslam, Director, Vermont Workers’ Center The Vermont Workers’ Center is a statewide workers’ rights organization committed to fighting for workers’ rights. DO do this we work with folks across the...
Benefit a success

Benefit a success

Matt Howard from Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW) spoke powerfully at the IVAW and Workers’ Center benefit show Friday night, where there was a big turnout despite some serious pouring rain outside. The weather delayed Bernie Sanders’ flight home, but...

Burlington Para-educators Reach Tentative Agreement!

At 8:30pm on Friday, October 12th, the Burlington Education Association (BEA) and the Burlington School District reached a tentative contract agreement for Para-Educators. Details of the contract will be shared upon ratification. “For the past three years, Burlington...
Friday Night at Metronome!

Friday Night at Metronome!

Doors open at 9pm! Come to dance and support the VT Workers’ Center and Iraq Vets Against The War. If you haven’t heard Matt Howard yet, don’t miss this opportunity. Bernie will be there also, schedule permitting. Email james [at] workerscenter.org...

Velan Valve Strike Over

The Velan Valve workers reached an agreement last night and went back to work today. Mark Nadeau, IAM Local 2704 union president, he said they reached a compromise on health care insurance, still a hike but not as big as the company wanted. Thank you to everyone who...

Support Striking Velan Valve Workers in Williston!

This week 113 workers Velan Valve in Williston, who members of International Aerospace Machinists Local 2704 went on strike. Their contract expired on October 7th and workers voted to strike the factory instead of letting the company almost triple their health...

JOIN US TUESDAY For 2 Burlington Board Meetings

Fletcher Allen Trustees Meeting: Come show your support of the midwives and make sure the agreement is in place to keep the 24/7 midwifery program. The efforts of the community and nurses union has resulted in a tentative agreement (see the Free Press...
Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead

On Saturday, September 29th twenty members of the Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC) spent the day discussing priorities and next steps. In 2006, VWC members decided that they would prioritize leadership development and laid the foundation to start the VWC...
Community Meeting Held To Support FAHC Midwives

Community Meeting Held To Support FAHC Midwives

Dozens of parents, community members and kids joined Fletcher Allen Health Care (FAHC) midwives and the president of FAHC nurses union UPV/AFT Local 5221, Jennifer Henry, RN. They came to ask questions and plan how to stop FAHC’s attempt attempt to eliminate the...
Burlington Community Demands Livable Wages

Burlington Community Demands Livable Wages

Dozens of Burlington workers and residents attended Burlington School Board meeting to demand livable wages. Broad community delegation reads Board their statement: BURLINGTON LIVABLE CITY DELEGATION STATEMENT: “THE TIME FOR LIVABLE WAGES FOR BURLINGTON SCHOOL SUPPORT...

Sept 21st -Workplace Action to End the War

Let’s Engage Our Members to Bring Our Troops Home . . .and Take Care of Them When They Return 70% of Americans are against the war in Iraq. Yet our political leaders have failed to end it. We must find new ways to force an end to U.S. military involvement in Iraq. It...
Labor Day 2007

Labor Day 2007

Remembering Our Past For Our Children’s SakeBy James HaslamBurlington Free Press My Turn, Labor Day, Sept 3rd, 2007(A longer version which ran August 30th in Bennington Banner can be viewed by clicking here) Labor Day has lost much of its original meaning....
Stop The Sale

Stop The Sale

Workers’ Center members Kit Andrews and Tina Scanlon table at the Addison County Fair to Stop The Sale of Verizon. Verizon is trying to sell off its landlines in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine because they do not want to invest in the needed new fiber optic...
Two Labor Day Weekend Events

Two Labor Day Weekend Events

Sept 3rd: 6th Annual Burlington Labor Day Parade & Celebration – Starting 10am at Burlington College, 95 North Ave, ending at Battery Park for free hotdogs, hamburgers, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, face painting & fun activities. Speakers include...

Vermont Labor Against the War work plan for discussion

Draft for discussion  1. a. Work more closely with Iraq Veterans Against the War & Military Families Speak Out. Including Workers Center/Iraq Vets Against the War Fundraiser October 19th.  b.Identifying union members who are Iraq war vets, or...

USSF report from VWC delegate Julie Winn

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi I’ve recently been inclined to exert myself in every way possible to advocate for social justice and to continue to wage a fight for people who are oppressed in my own community,...

Upcoming USSF Report-backs from VWC delegates

At the end of the month, VWC supporters will have two great opportunities to learn about Vermonters’ experiences at this exciting and important event. Most of the VWC members who went to the US Social Forum will be presenting a report at the VWC’s summer...

Reports, photos and video of US Social Forum

Stay tuned for more reflections on the US Social Forum from the Vermont Workers’ Center members who went, but for now, here’s a collection of articles written by other people, as well as some videos and photos: ARTICLES:US Social Forum Forges Common...
Workers’ Rights Plenary Closes US Social Forum

Workers’ Rights Plenary Closes US Social Forum

On Saturday night, the final plenary of the US Social Forum 2007 was a plenary on workers’ rights in the global economy. Stewart Acuff, AFL-CIO Director of Organizing (who spoke at the Burlington Labor Day parade last year), eloquently detailed the class war...

Verizon Forum a Success, UVM Wokers get contract and more

UVM WORKERS GET CONTRACT: Thanks for your help!On October 11, members of UE Local 267 ratified a three year agreement guaranteeing all members a minimum wage increase of 4% retroactive to July 1, 2006 and at least 4% in each of the nexttwo years. The contract was the...

Some (Not So) Surprising Laws Affecting Vermont Workers

by Kim Lawson, VWC Hotline Coordinator Volunteers on the Workers Rights Hotline answer phone calls from workers who are feel they have been mistreated on the job. We get all sorts of questions. Some questions are asked often and are easy to answer. For example: Q: Can...

Labor unites to make Burlington a Livable City

Published: Sunday, September 3, 2006Burlington Free Press (versions also published in Times Argus and other VT newspapers) By James Haslam On the evening of Aug. 24, an unusual meeting took place. Burlington teachers, construction workers, University of Vermont...

Rally For Livable Wages at UVM

Student Labor Action ProjectStudents for Peace and Global JusticeRALLYSeptember 29thNOON on the steps of Waterman, UVMforLIVABLE WAGES FOR ALL!DIRECTLY EMPLOYED AND CONTRACTED WORKERS!Come celebrate the Basic Needs Task Force’s recommendation to the...

Organizer Position Opening

Vermont Workers’ Center – Jobs With Justice Organizer Position Job Posting The Vermont Workers Center – Jobs with Justice has an opening for a full-time organizer to coordinate our workers’ rights and economic justice solidarity campaigns. Work in an...

Organizing to Win Affordable Health Care

by Traven Leyshon, VWC Member On May 30th, leaders and activists from Vermont labor and community-based organizations met at the Vermont State Employees Association headquarters to craft an action campaign to build a powerful grassroots, labor-led movement for health...

Hotline Volunteers Help to Achieve Workplace Resolution

To Vitaliy Pristupa, an immigrant from the Ukraine looking for a job, it seemed like a reasonable deal at the time. A private school bus company would train Vitaliy so he could receive a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) at no cost, in exchange for Vitaliy’s promise...

Vermont Labor Against the War Needs You…

by Traven Leyshon, VWC Member On April 29th, Vermont union members joined the largest labor antiwar contingent ever in New York City. The spirited 15,000-20,000 trade union contingent came from across the country. Altogether, 350,000 people joined the March for Peace,...

Student Labor Action Project: A Two Year Retrospective

by: Katherine NopperLiving Wages–An Issue of Human RightsTwo years ago, a handful of students recognized a problem at the University of Vermont. Amidst major overhaul, both in terms of new building projects and progressive visioning over UVM’s future, conditions for...

UVM Rallies for Better Pay

Burlington Free Press , Friday, March 31, 2006By Jill Fahy, Free Press Staff Writer A group of University of Vermont students, staff and labor rights activists rallied on campus Thursday to demand better wages and working conditions for university workers and...

Case in Point: AP’s Firing of Chris Graff

By James Haslam In a joint letter to the Associated Press (AP), Vermont Congressional delegation of Sen. Jim Jeffords, Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Bernie Sanders expressed that they were “stunned, outraged and saddened by the summary dismissal” of longtime Vermont AP...

SLAP Delivers Demands to UVM Board of Trustees

Students at the University of Vermont, including more than 1,200 who signed the Good Jobs @ UVM petition this past semester, countless staff, faculty, Sodexho employees, housekeeping staff, maintenance workers, construction workers and others all stand together in...

Wal-Mart and the Low Road

By Ellen David Friedman Listen to this commentary on VPR: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/vpr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=872541 If Wal-Mart expands in Vermont – as it clearly intends to do – some will say this is great thing: New jobs and low...

Organize to Win

Organize to Win: Old North End Community Fights to Save Neighborhood Elementary SchoolsBy James Haslam, Director of Vermont Workers’ Center – Jobs With Justice When unions are at their best, workers are united – organizing with their fellow co-workers and crafting a...

Vermont workers recount injustices to rights panel

Shay TottenVermont GuardianDecember 21, 2005 BURLINGTON — A panel of legislative and ecumenical leaders heard testimony from dozens of Vermonters about the challenges they face with low pay, a lack of job security, no health care for their families, and how many...

What teachers’ strike teaches us

Op-ed in Rutland Herald and Burlington Free Press. By James Haslam The Colchester teachers strike was Vermont’s largest and longest strike in recent memory, a big-impact event that provoked wide-ranging discussion all over the state. After taking time to talk...

Op-Ed on Community Standards at UVM

By Colin M. Robinson ’06 The University of Vermont is in a time of both transition and great success. It is a time when national attention around the academics, the student body and the “Vision” of the University is at peak. The administration has...

Labor movement gives all of society a lift

By James Haslam When we celebrate Labor Day, we celebrate the contributions of the hard-working families who get up every day to make society run. Postal workers deliver our mail, iron workers construct our buildings, firefighters and health care workers save our...

Why Montpelier’s downtown union drive ended

By James Haslam – Published: July 15, 2005Montpelier Times-Argus For several years, there was a steady flow of calls to the Workers’ Center’s Workers Rights Hotline from workers in downtown Montpelier. All kinds of workers in all kinds of workplaces...

Taking a trip to nowhere

Brian McGroryBoston GlobeJuly 5, 2005 Their journey should have ended far better than it did. Last week, a group of Vermont bristle factory workers who are being dismissed from their jobs with a mere two weeks severance pay decided to come to Boston and make their...

Action to Defend Immigrant Workers in Bennington

By Eesha Williams | Special to the Vermont Guardian BENNINGTON — Three Latino men at a gathering of about 40 supporters in Bennington Thursday said a Pennsylvania-based construction company had refused to pay them for weeks of work. Only one of the men spoke English....

Speech for Iraqi Trade Union Tour (Jonathan Kissam)

By Jonathan Kissam We are living in an era when the United States government, both at home and abroad, has committed itself to defending the fortunes of a very small group of people. The result of this is exorbitant military funding and the substitution of military...

Speech at Iraqi Trade Union Tour (Dawn Stanger)

By Dawn Stanger I’m Dawn Stanger. I’m a Teamster who works up at United Parcel Service in Williston. I’m also vice president of the Vermont Workers’ Center. My fellow activists and I hope you will join our struggle, and there are sign up sheets...

Brushed off in Vermont

Brian McGroryBoston GlobeJune 17, 2005 If you ever wonder how it is that big business has earned such a bad name these days, look no further than a Boston-based venture capital company by the name of Capital Resource Partners. First, CRP, as it’s often known,...

Speech at Anti-War, Anti-Budget-Cuts Rally

By Dawn Stanger Hello. I’m Dawn Stanger and I’m a Teamster. I work up at UPS in Williston. And I’m here representing folks from the Vermont Workers Center, and U.S. Labor Against the War – USLAW. The Workers’ Center is a coalition of...

Unions work for everyone

Op-Ed in Burlington Free Press, August 26, 2003 By James Haslam The main reason people need unions is to have a voice about their working conditions. As the saying suggests, “united we bargain, divided we beg.” Organizing a union is the only way for...

Victory at Fletcher Allen Healthcare

The Fletcher Allen nurses reached a tentative agreement, moments before the rally this Saturday, June 21st (see their news release below)! Congratulations to all of the Fletcher Allen nurses! You were incredibly strong, committed and united through this whole struggle...

Universal Healthcare Now!

June 2003, Op-Ed in Rutland Herald and Times Argus By Sue Lucas, RN, President of United Nurses & Allied Professionals Local 5109 at Copley Hospital As someone whose job is to heal people when they are sick and keep them healthy, my heart aches because our...

Livable Wage Rally Speech

From Livable Wage March and Rally, April 12, 2003 By Cindy BubrouskiHello! I’m Cindy Bubrouski. I’m an Instructional Assistant at Montpelier High School and have worked in that district for six years. I am also the president and chief negotiator of our...

The Livable Wage Battle Hymn

(to the tune of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”) Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the dayWhen we won’t just work for peanutsWe will work for decent paySo it’s time to stop complainingAnd draw action from our rageIn the fight for a...

Vermonters Need Livable Wages and a Fair Economy

April, 2003 Op-Ed in Burlington Free Press By James Haslam, Director, Vermont Workers’ Center Vermont’s working people are facing the greatest economic crisis in recent memory. Workers in Vermont and around the country are working harder, longer, and more...

Vermont Workers’ Center Resolution Against the War

Adopted at 1/18/03 Steering Committee Meeting WHEREAS, the Vermont Workers’ Center has, in its mission, already resolved to fight for economic justice for all workers; and, WHEREAS, the burdens and dangers of war would fall disproportionately on working people,...

Labor Statement Against the War

At Montpelier Antiwar Rally, January 18, 2003 By Jonathan Kissam Good afternoon. I bring greeting on behalf of the national executive board of the United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE). UE was the first national union to denounce this war,...

Labor Struggles Are Community Struggles

Op-Ed In the Rutland Herald and Times Argus newspapers, December 2002 By James Haslam When workers organize to collectively bargain fair wages, benefits, and safe working conditions they are exercising a basic and important human right. They are struggling for dignity...

Workers’ Center Director Receives Top Labor Award

VT AFL-CIO Press Release, October 9, 2002 Burlington – At the Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO Convention Saturday, September 14th James Haslam was awarded the Lena Brown Labor Award, Vermont’s top labor award. Haslam is the Executive Director of the...

The Struggle

A poem dedicated to the Steering Committee of the Vermont Workers’ Center and performed at the 2nd Annual Burlington Labor Day Weekend Parade & Picnic at Battery Park August 31, 2002. By James Haslam All these plant closings keep going down.Town after...

Vermont’s Workers Need to Protect Their Rights

August 2002 By Dawn Stanger, Vermont Workers Center Steering Committee Member It’s only natural for employers to seek concessions from workers. Improvements in working conditions, wages, benefits and Vermont’s environment — all undermine profits. The...

Free Trade Is Bad For Everybody

(That is, except Executives and Shareholders of Mega Corporations) Op-Ed in Rutland Herald, August 2002by James Haslam On August 6th the Rutland Herald ran an editorial “Back On Track” which began “President Bush signed legislation Tuesday giving him...

Three commentaries on the state budget crisis

Three commentaries by Workers’ Center Steering Committee member Dawn Stanger on the state budget crisis. An Op-ed from the Burlington Free Press, a “That’s the Way I See It” commentary from WNCS, and a statement from a February 28, 2002 rally...

Proposed Cuts Will Hurt All Vermonters

Op-Ed in Burlington Free Press, February 2002 By Tenaya Lafore, Vermont Workers Center Steering Committee Member In his Jan. 22 budget speech, Gov. Howard Dean proposed major cuts to health care and other essential public programs. In doing so, the governor threatened...

For-Profit Nursing Homes

By Tanya Waters, RN, Vermont Workers Steering Committee Member For-profit nursing homes have always had their critics, those that say that it is fundamentally wrong for corporations to make profits from the sick and dying. While in Vermont we do not have any...

Globalization Hurting Vermont

By James Haslam, Vermont Workers Center Director It’s become all-too-common that good jobs are leaving Vermont and getting shipped out of the country. Back in September, officials from Stanley Works announced they were shutting down their plant in Shaftsbury...

VWC Organizes Protest Against Union Busting Seminar

On a gray winter day–the first of the seminar–about 100 protesters gather outside the hotel. The demonstration, organized by the Vermont Workers Center, includes not only union members, but church representatives, politicians and students. “We are...