VWC

Why the “Report Card”?

Many people rely on the mainstream media (TV and Newspapers) to know what’s going on in their communities and in politics. Having worked for years on workers’ rights and economic justice issues, we’ve gotten used to shaking our heads at the lack of coverage and/or the negative spin that the media outlets put on our events. After all, these media outlets are themselves, employers, often flush with their own workers’ rights issues. They make their money selling ads to the big corporations.

This year’s coverage of the historic May Day rally gives us an opportunity to analyze how the media covered the event, to hold our state’s media outlets accountable, and applaud those who got it right. Media coverage was all over the place as to the purpose of the rally, but were fairly consistent in under-reporting the size of the rally. A few outlets estimated around 1,000, most left it at hundreds and the Vermont Press Bureau went as low as to say “more than 300.” Several volunteers counted almost 2,000 at the peak of the day. With people were coming and going throughout the day, at any given point the crowd was at least 1,500. The Ben & Jerry’s scoopers who arrived an hour after the march said they served 600 people on a cold, wet day. The media also tended to quote only “big name” personalities, not everyday Vermonters who have joined Put People First to make their voices and demands heard.

Ultimately, we are the ones who are going to tell our own stories, so we started our own People’s Media Project. You can check out the May Day podcast to compare it with the reports below.

Among the criteria we employed in grading were:

• Their reporting on the numbers,
• How they described the purpose of the event,
• Whose voices they lifted up/ quoted, and
• The nature of the photo and video they included from the rally (how well did it convey the energy, purpose, and people at the event).

Please email us if you have read, seen, or heard additional media coverage of May 1st: avery@workerscenter.org

Associated Press - Grade A
Article: “Vt. lawmakers confer on key bills; end in sight”
Photographer: Tony Talbot, Reporter: Dave Gram
Weblink: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2012/05/01/vt_lawmakers_confer_on_key_bills_end_in_sight/
Photo carried in nationally in May Day stories: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/may_day_protests_join_imm...
Vermont Papers that Ran AP Article: Brattleboro Reformer (http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_20521515/hundreds-turn-out-may-day...),
Grade Rationale: Tony Talbot gets an A+ for capturing the energy of the day with a number of strong photos that were used in a wide array of media outlets as the feature photo on national stories reporting on May Day rallies throughout the country. Dave Gram’s story had a great quote from VWC member Melissa Bourque and even mentioned the awesome salsa band:

"This May 1st is the culmination of a collective sense of unrest," Melissa Bourque, a member of the Vermont Workers' Center from St. Johnsbury. The Workers' Center was one of more than 30 labor, environmental and other groups that joined to organize the rally on a chilly May Day, one of dozens of similar events around the country. "People are realizing that the system isn't fair," Bourque said, referring to disenchantment with government and business. "People are being awakened to that, and that we can join forces to do something about it.”
Highlight: This Talbot photo at the Statehouse could be the best of the day: http://www.vpr.net/uploads/photos/original/may_day_rally_050112_toby_ap1...

Burlington Free Press - Grade C
Article: Vermont lawmakers joust over labor legislation
Weblink: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120502/NEWS03/120501049/-1/NEWS/Vermont-lawmakers-joust-over-labor-legislation-
Reporter: Nancy Remsen
Grade Rationale: The article was a focused on the early education bill and only mentioned the broader significance of the rally and what it was about briefly in the opening. It’s a decent article, but the Free Press failed to really cover the rally.
Highlight: They did include a AP photo and photo collage on website which was good.

FOX44/ ABC22 - Grade: A-
Reporter: Louisa Moller
Weblink: http://www.fox44now.com/story/18017601/hundreds-rally-for-may-day-in-vt
Grade Rationale: Two great interviews with VWC leaders (Linda Limoges and Sandy Gaffney), great framing (“time for change is now,” making the link between personal stories and systemic problems). The only “knock” is that they described the numbers as “hundreds” instead of the 2,000 that actually turned out.
Highlight: “Rising health care prices and surging student debt, these are just some of the issues brought up at today’s rally, and the people I spoke to said these are issues they’ve had for a while, but the time for change is now.”

Labor Notes - Grade A
Article: Vermont Poised to Issue Driver’s Licenses to Farm Workers
Reporter: Michael Feiner
Weblink: http://labornotes.org/print/blogs/2012/05/vermont-poised-issue-drivers-l...
Grade Rationale: This article focuses on Migrant Justice’s struggle “Drive for Justice” and puts it into the context of its movement building work with VWC and Put People First campaign.
Highlight: “In barely over a month, Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin went from refusing to support licenses to endorsing the legislation, in the process rejecting the federal government’s call to enforce its failed and short sighted immigration policies. “As Shumlin said in an interview with Vermont Public Radio, ‘It's not fair to ask them to be isolated, living in fear on the farms, when we would like to have them as part of our communities. So I think a basic right should be that they can get to the store, get to the doctor and get around while they're here.’”

Seven Days - Grade B
Article: “Noisy and United on a Raw May Day in Montpelier”
Reporter: Kevin Kelley, contributions from Paul Heintz (photos by both)
Weblink: http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2012/05/noisy-and-united-on-a-raw-may-day-in-m...
Grade Rationale: Overall good, but consistent with other outlets in under-reporting the numbers as in the “hundreds.” They also led by focusing on the two “big names:” Bill McKibben and Bernie Sanders, before providing any quotes from emerging grassroots Put People First leaders. They did convey the tone of the event well: “The spirit of the event felt more like the tulips and apple blossoms on the Statehouse lawn than like the sullen sky above the golden dome.” The goals of the event were also accurately reported: “The ambitious aim of the May Day action was to unite these varied voices into a single chorus calling for progressive change in Vermont, the United States and the world.” Unfortunately, the reporter then goes on to discredit some of the new and emerging leaders by saying, “Many of the faces at the protest were as familiar — and as worn — as the rhetoric of many of the speakers.” Another “whoops!”: in describing Bernie Hernandez’s speech, the reporter inaccurately identifies the photo of Bhutanese parents and grandparents as Bernie’s farmworker “compatriots.”
Highlight: “Bernie Hernandez, a farm worker from Mexico, was ringed by a dozen of his compatriots (pictured), mostly women, as he told the crowd, ‘I am one of the invisibles who's becoming visible and being heard.’ Hernandez' speech, delivered in Spanish and translated into English, drew laughs and applause with the line, ‘Without us, there are no creemees!’”

Toward Freedom - Grade A
Article: Photo Essay: Thousands Rally in Vermont Capitol for International Workers’ Day
Weblink: http://www.towardfreedom.com/labor/2810-thsounds-rally-in-vermont-capita... Reporter: Ben Dangl
Grade Rationale: Great photos that told a powerful story and that were up that afternoon.
Highlight: This is the only outlet that included a “group photo.”

Vermont Press Bureau (Times Argus/Rutland Herald) - Grade D
Article: May Day rally draws hundreds
Weblink: http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120502/NEWS02/705029895/1003/SEARCH (subscriber only)
Reporter: Jenna Pizzi
Grade Rationale: In addition to the absurd turnout estimate (see above), there were a number of inaccuracies and the reporter failed to actually quote any of the rally speakers other than Sen. Bernie Sanders. It falsely reported that he had a tent for his campaign (although we did hear there were campaign organizers circulating in the crowd). The reporter also got it wrong saying that the previous three rallies organized by the VWC were focused on our Put People First initiative. They were Healthcare Is a Human Right rallies, but this year we did broaden the message to Put People First.
Highlight: Decent photo of the front of the march arriving at the Statehouse.

Vermont Public Radio - Grade A-
Weblink: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/94353/hundreds-vermonters-rally-on-may-day/ http://www.vpr.net/episode/53521/lake-champlain-floods-one-year-later/ (Melissa Bourque is interviewed starting ay 36:26)
Reporter: Jane Lindholm (news summary by Patti Daniels)
Grade Rationale: Great interview with Melissa Bourque on Vermont Public Radio’s signature program Vermont Edition, and then subsequent write up by Patti Daniels with quotes from the interviews.
Highlight: Melissa’s quote: "The Workers Center and all of these other different groups that are here today are giving an outlet for people to come together and stand together and say, we're not okay with this and we're actually not just ‘not okay' with it, we're going to do something about it.”

VT Digger - Grade: C+
Article: Hundreds rally in Montpelier for May Day labor event
Reporter: Taylor Dobbs Weblink: http://vtdigger.org/2012/05/02/hundreds-rally-in-montpelier-for-may-day-...
Grade Rationale: By focusing on the two “big-name” speakers Sen. Bernie Sanders and author Bill McKibben the article missed the spirit of the day, the fact that there were so many powerful leaders of a growing people movement. A reader’s comment was on the mark about this line “Speakers called for increased government assistance with education, child care, health care and land preservation for Native American tribes – all “basic human rights,” according to the speakers.” Reader Judith Levine wrote: “Providing education, health care, etc. is not “government assistance.” These are the FUNCTIONS of government — to provide, with taxpayer money — the services necessary to life.“
Highlight: Good photo.

WCAX - Channel 3 - CBS - Grade B
Reporter: Alexei Rubenstein (producer)
Weblink: http://www.wcax.com/story/18005367/put-people-first-rally-in-montpelier
Grade Rationale: The only knock on this report was that it was really short, but they did a great job of accurately saying who was there, why we were there, and even recognized that the lousy weather affected turnout.
Highlight: "We need healthy communities, healthy workplaces, healthy planet we can live on. We need to fight for environmental justice, fight to end racism, fight for workers' rights, fight for women's rights, fight for disability justice, fight for immigrant justice, fight for democracy-- that what we're here for today," said Shela Linton of the Vermont Workers' Center. Organizers urged Vermont lawmakers to take action on several issues, including early educators' right to organize, action on climate change and driver's licenses for migrant workers. The event was billed as the largest weekday rally Montpelier has ever seen, but gray skies and drizzle may have accounted for a lower turnout.

WPTZ - Channel 5 - NBC - Grade B
Reporter: Stewart Ledbetter
Weblink: http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/Hundreds-turn-out-f...
Grade Rationale: The coverage of the rally was good, reported turnout at “perhaps, a thousand,” included a good clip of VWC member Shela Linton speaking on health care and David Kreindler talking about the People's Budget, but made a someone confusing transition from the rally to issues being debated inside the statehouse that weren’t really being talked about outside. Good footage of the rally, but interviews were only with lawmaker and one director of a nonprofit in the statehouse. The listing out of other issues at the end framed finished with a short description of the early educators amendment(s), and a description of these ongoing debates as “snags” to hopes of adjournment by the weekend.
Highlight: Shela’s quote: “We do not only want universal health care, we are demanding it!” Also, they provide one of the more accurate counts of the size of the rally: “perhaps a thousand.”

Why the “Report Card”?

Many people rely on the mainstream media (TV and Newspapers) to know what’s going on in their communities and in politics. Having worked for years on workers’ rights and economic justice issues, we’ve gotten used to shaking our heads at the lack of coverage and/or the negative spin that the media outlets put on our events. After all, these media outlets are themselves, employers, often flush with their own workers’ rights issues. They make their money selling ads to the big corporations.

This year’s coverage of the historic May Day rally gives us an opportunity to analyze how the media covered the event, to hold our state’s media outlets accountable, and applaud those who got it right. Media coverage was all over the place as to the purpose of the rally, but were fairly consistent in under-reporting the size of the rally. A few outlets estimated around 2,000, most left it at hundreds and the Vermont Press Bureau went as low as to say “more than 300.” Several volunteers counted almost 2,000 at the peak of the day. With people were coming and going throughout the day, at any given point the crowd was at least 1,500. The Ben & Jerry’s scoopers who arrived an hour after the march said they served 600 people on a cold, wet day. The media also tended to quote only “big name” personalities, not everyday Vermonters who have joined Put People First to make their voices and demands heard.

Ultimately, we are the ones who are going to tell our own stories, so we started our own People’s Media Project. You can check out the May Day podcast to compare it with the reports below.

Among the criteria we employed in grading were:

• Their reporting on the numbers,
• How they described the purpose of the event,
• Whose voices they lifted up/ quoted, and
• The nature of the photo and video they included from the rally (how well did it convey the energy, purpose, and people at the event).

Please email us if you have read, seen, or heard additional media coverage of May 1st: avery@workerscenter.org

Associated Press - Grade A

Article: “Vt. lawmakers confer on key bills; end in sight”

Photographer: Tony Talbot, Reporter: Dave Gram

Weblink: http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2012/05/01/vt_lawmakers_confer_on_key_bills_end_in_sight/

Photo carried in nationally in May Day stories: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/may_day_protests_join_imm...

Vermont Papers that Ran AP Article: Brattleboro Reformer (http://www.reformer.com/latestnews/ci_20521515/hundreds-turn-out-may-day...),

Grade Rationale: Tony Talbot gets an A+ for capturing the energy of the day with a number of strong photos that were used in a wide array of media outlets as the feature photo on national stories reporting on May Day rallies throughout the country. Dave Gram’s story had a great quote from VWC member Melissa Bourque and even mentioned the awesome salsa band:

"This May 1st is the culmination of a collective sense of unrest," Melissa Bourque, a member of the Vermont Workers' Center from St. Johnsbury. The Workers' Center was one of more than 30 labor, environmental and other groups that joined to organize the rally on a chilly May Day, one of dozens of similar events around the country. "People are realizing that the system isn't fair," Bourque said, referring to disenchantment with government and business. "People are being awakened to that, and that we can join forces to do something about it.”

Highlight: This Talbot photo at the Statehouse could be the best of the day: http://www.vpr.net/uploads/photos/original/may_day_rally_050112_toby_ap1...

Burlington Free Press - Grade C

Article: Vermont lawmakers joust over labor legislation

Weblink: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120502/NEWS03/120501049/-1/NEWS/Vermont-lawmakers-joust-over-labor-legislation-

Reporter: Nancy Remsen

Grade Rationale: The article was a focused on the early education bill and only mentioned the broader significance of the rally and what it was about briefly in the opening. It’s a decent article, but the Free Press failed to really cover the rally.

Highlight: They did include a AP photo and photo collage on website which was good.

FOX44/ ABC22 - Grade: A-

Reporter: Louisa Moller Weblink: http://www.fox44now.com/story/18017601/hundreds-rally-for-may-day-in-vt

Grade Rationale: Two great interviews with VWC leaders (Linda Limoges and Sandy Gaffney), great framing (“time for change is now,” making the link between personal stories and systemic problems). The only “knock” is that they described the numbers as “hundreds” instead of the 2,000 that actually turned out.

Highlight: “Rising health care prices and surging student debt, these are just some of the issues brought up at today’s rally, and the people I spoke to said these are issues they’ve had for a while, but the time for change is now.”

Labor Notes - Grade A

Article: Vermont Poised to Issue Driver’s Licenses to Farm Workers

Reporter: Michael Feiner

Weblink: http://labornotes.org/print/blogs/2012/05/vermont-poised-issue-drivers-l...

Grade Rationale: This article focuses on Migrant Justice’s struggle “Drive for Justice” and puts it into the context of its movement building work with VWC and Put People First campaign.

Highlight: “In barely over a month, Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin went from refusing to support licenses to endorsing the legislation, in the process rejecting the federal government’s call to enforce its failed and short sighted immigration policies. “As Shumlin said in an interview with Vermont Public Radio, ‘It's not fair to ask them to be isolated, living in fear on the farms, when we would like to have them as part of our communities. So I think a basic right should be that they can get to the store, get to the doctor and get around while they're here.’”

Seven Days - Grade B

Article: “Noisy and United on a Raw May Day in Montpelier”

Reporter: Kevin Kelley, contributions from Paul Heintz (photos by both)

Weblink: http://7d.blogs.com/blurt/2012/05/noisy-and-united-on-a-raw-may-day-in-m...

Grade Rationale: Overall good, but consistent with other outlets in under-reporting the numbers as in the “hundreds.” They also led by focusing on the two “big names:” Bill McKibben and Bernie Sanders, before providing any quotes from emerging grassroots Put People First leaders. They did convey the tone of the event well: “The spirit of the event felt more like the tulips and apple blossoms on the Statehouse lawn than like the sullen sky above the golden dome.” The goals of the event were also accurately reported: “The ambitious aim of the May Day action was to unite these varied voices into a single chorus calling for progressive change in Vermont, the United States and the world.” Unfortunately, the reporter then goes on to discredit some of the new and emerging leaders by saying, “Many of the faces at the protest were as familiar — and as worn — as the rhetoric of many of the speakers.” Another “whoops!”: in describing Bernie Hernandez’s speech, the reporter inaccurately identifies the photo of Bhutanese parents and grandparents as Bernie’s farmworker “compatriots.”

Highlight: “Bernie Hernandez, a farm worker from Mexico, was ringed by a dozen of his compatriots (pictured), mostly women, as he told the crowd, ‘I am one of the invisibles who's becoming visible and being heard.’ Hernandez' speech, delivered in Spanish and translated into English, drew laughs and applause with the line, ‘Without us, there are no creemees!’”

Toward Freedom - Grade A

Article: Photo Essay: Thousands Rally in Vermont Capitol for International Workers’ Day

Weblink: http://www.towardfreedom.com/labor/2810-thsounds-rally-in-vermont-capita... Reporter: Ben Dangl

Grade Rationale: Great photos that told a powerful story and that were up that afternoon.

Highlight: This is the only outlet that included a “group photo.”

Vermont Press Bureau (Times Argus/Rutland Herald) - Grade D

Article: May Day rally draws hundreds

Weblink: http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120502/NEWS02/705029895/1003/SEARCH (subscriber only) 

Reporter: Jenna Pizzi

Grade Rationale: In addition to the absurd turnout estimate (see above), there were a number of inaccuracies and the reporter failed to actually quote any of the rally speakers other than Sen. Bernie Sanders. It falsely reported that he had a tent for his campaign (although we did hear there were campaign organizers circulating in the crowd). The reporter also got it wrong saying that the previous three rallies organized by the VWC were focused on our Put People First initiative. They were Healthcare Is a Human Right rallies, but this year we did broaden the message to Put People First.

Highlight: Decent photo of the front of the march arriving at the Statehouse.

Vermont Public Radio - Grade A-

Weblink: http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/94353/hundreds-vermonters-rally-on-may-day/ http://www.vpr.net/episode/53521/lake-champlain-floods-one-year-later/ (Melissa Bourque is interviewed starting ay 36:26)

Reporter: Jane Lindholm (news summary by Patti Daniels)

Grade Rationale: Great interview with Melissa Bourque on Vermont Public Radio’s signature program Vermont Edition, and then subsequent write up by Patti Daniels with quotes from the interviews.

Highlight: Melissa’s quote: "The Workers Center and all of these other different groups that are here today are giving an outlet for people to come together and stand together and say, we're not okay with this and we're actually not just ‘not okay' with it, we're going to do something about it.”

VT Digger - Grade: C+

Article: Hundreds rally in Montpelier for May Day labor event

Reporter: Taylor Dobbs Weblink: http://vtdigger.org/2012/05/02/hundreds-rally-in-montpelier-for-may-day-...

Grade Rationale: By focusing on the two “big-name” speakers Sen. Bernie Sanders and author Bill McKibben the article missed the spirit of the day, the fact that there were so many powerful leaders of a growing people movement. A reader’s comment was on the mark about this line “Speakers called for increased government assistance with education, child care, health care and land preservation for Native American tribes – all “basic human rights,” according to the speakers.” Reader Judith Levine wrote: “Providing education, health care, etc. is not “government assistance.” These are the FUNCTIONS of government — to provide, with taxpayer money — the services necessary to life. “

Highlight: Good photo.

WCAX - Channel 3 - CBS - Grade B

Reporter: Alexei Rubenstein (producer)

Weblink: http://www.wcax.com/story/18005367/put-people-first-rally-in-montpelier

Grade Rationale: The only knock on this report was that it was really short, but they did a great job of accurately saying who was there, why we were there, and even recognized that the lousy weather affected turnout.

Highlight: "We need healthy communities, healthy workplaces, healthy planet we can live on. We need to fight for environmental justice, fight to end racism, fight for workers' rights, fight for women's rights, fight for disability justice, fight for immigrant justice, fight for democracy-- that what we're here for today," said Shela Linton of the Vermont Workers' Center. Organizers urged Vermont lawmakers to take action on several issues, including early educators' right to organize, action on climate change and driver's licenses for migrant workers. The event was billed as the largest weekday rally Montpelier has ever seen, but gray skies and drizzle may have accounted for a lower turnout.

WPTZ - Channel 5 - NBC - Grade B

Reporter: Stewart Ledbetter

Weblink: http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/Hundreds-turn-out-f...

Grade Rationale: The coverage of the rally was good, reported turnout at “perhaps, a thousand,” included a good clip of VWC member Shela Linton speaking on health care, but made a someone confusing transition from the rally to issues being debated inside the statehouse that weren’t really being talked about outside. Good footage of the rally, but interviews were only with lawmaker and one director of a nonprofit in the statehouse. The listing out of other issues at the end framed finished with a short description of the early educators amendment(s), and a description of these ongoing debates as “snags” to hopes of adjournment by the weekend.

Highlight: Shela’s quote: “We do not only want universal health care, we are demanding it!” Also, they provide one of the more accurate counts of the size of the rally: “perhaps a thousand.”

Thousands turned out today at the May 1st Put People First march and rally in Montpelier to show support for creating a world where we put people and the planet first.

Vermont Parents United marching:

The day kicked off with music, a “false solutions circus,” a Contestoria with Bread & Puppet and Migrant Justice, and postal workers sharing their struggles to protect the Postal Service from privatization.

The march kicked off at 12:30pm, with over 37 groups represented! Represented in the march were groups organizing around climate justice, farmers, nurses, teachers, farmworkers, early educators, students, disability rights organizations, mobile home park residents, Occupy groups from all over Vermont, members of the Put People First campaign, and many more!

Shela Linton, of the Windham County organizing committee, welcomed the crowd and drew connections between the many struggles represented:

“We need to fight for environmental justice, fight to end racism, fight for workers’ rights, for women’s rights, for disability justice, for migrant justice, for democracy. So my friends, I am honored to be here with you all on May Day 2012 for the Vermont Put People and the Planet First Rally!”

Group picture from the Put People First march & rally!

In addition to celebrating the many victories of the past year--the passage of the first universal healthcare bill in Vermont, the move towards creating a drivers license for all Vermont residents, the birth of the Occupy movement, the organizing and victories of mobile home park residents after Irene, both chambers of the legislature passing bills to create collective bargaining rights for early educators, and saving dialysis units at Fletcher Allen from being sold to a for-profit company--the rally looked forward towards the challenges ahead. Specifically, the People’s Budget legislation and the continued fight for an Early Educators union.

The day culminated in the Unity Cord, representing how many struggles become one movement.

Organizations participating in the Put People First march & rally:
Vermont Workers' Center
Migrant Justice
350 Vermont
Vermont Center for Independent Living
Green Mountain Self-Advocates
Mobile Home Park Residents For Equality & Fairness
Vermont Sierra Club
Rural Vermont
NOFA - VT
Planned Parenthood Northern New England
VT Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5221
Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation Local 3180 AFT
United Academics (AAUP-AFT)
Vermont State Employees Association
Vermont AFL-CIO
Vermont Interfaith Action
Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO
Students Stand Up! (Students for Peace and Global Justice)
Occupy Central Vermont
Occupy Burlington
Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe
UE Local 203 (City Market)
UE Local 255 (Hunger Mountain Food Coop)
UE Local 267 (UVM, Service and Maintenance)
UE Local 208 (Vermont Service Center in St, Albans)
United Nurses and Allied Professionals, Vermont Council
Peace and Justice Center
Burlington ISO
Vermont Progressive Party
Vermont Interfaith Action
SAGE Alliance
Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance
Citizens Awareness Network
Vermont Citizens Action Network
Vermont IWW
National Economic and Social Rights Initiative
Southern Vermont Undoing Racism

TOP TEN REASON TO COME MAKE MAY DAY HISTORY: May 1st celebrates working people’s struggles for justice dating back to 1886 in the fight for the 8 hour day. Come be part of people’s history as we heroically fight to be the first state in the country to have a truly universal healthcare system! Join us in building a movement for all of our human rights and a real democracy!

If you weren’t already excited enough about coming to Montpelier for May Day, here are the top ten reasons to come:

10. Great speakers like Sandy Gaffney from Mobile Home Park Residents For Fairness & Equality, Shela Linton from Vermont Workers’ Center and two guys named Bernie.

9. Inspiring Art for all to take part, including block printing for paper or fabric and banner making.

8. Great Music from Sambatucada, a brass band, a fife & drum band and salsa band!

7. Best Umbrella and Poncho Contest! With a morning sprinkle predicted and possibly a little drizzle, we will be giving a special award for the best umbrella and poncho

6. Free Scoops of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Enough said. ;)

5. Awesome street theater performances from Bread & Puppet, Migrant Justice and climate justice activists

4. Great kids activities include art projects, face painting, bubbles and planting seeds donated by High Mowing Seeds and Intervale Compost Company

3. Vermont Early Educators are on the brink of winning right to organize legislation and this rally will give them a critical boost in the final days of legislature

2. Yes, there will be Pie-a-Corporate-Lobbyist in the Face booth

1. Vermont Can Lead The Way: Seriously, our country needs a new direction. The current road we are on isn’t working for the vast majority of the people now and threatens the viability of future generations. May 1st will be an important step in building a people’s movement to blaze a new trail for a future that puts people and the planet first!

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Join thousands of your neighbors next Tuesday from all over Vermont to send a powerful message to lawmakers that Vermonters support the human right to collectively bargain, and that we should be moving toward a system that meets all of our fundamental needs. Sign up to come, bring your friends and family, and volunteer! www.workerscenter.org/may1

*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Date: April 26, 2012 Contact: Avery Book, avery@workerscenter.org, 802-343-7565

BURLINGTON COMMEMORATES WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY

What: The City of Burlington in partnership with the Vermont Workers' Center and the Barre Granite Cutters Association have created a new Workers' Memorial at Battery Park in Burlington to commemorate working people who have died, been injured or become disabled on the job. This Saturday is International Workers' Memorial Day, which shares the slogan which appears on the Battery park memorial "Remember the dead - Fight For the Living".

When: 2 pm, Monday, April 30, 2012

Where: Battery Park, Battery Street, Burlington

Who: Expected participants include Senator Bernie Sanders, members of the Vermont Workers' Center, Barre Granite Cutters Association, Vermont AFL-CIO, Federation of Nurses & Healthcare Professionals, Vermont Building Trades Council, United Electrical Workers and former Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss. In addition, family members and individuals who have been impacted by death, injury or illness on the job will also speak at the event.

Background: Workers' Memorial Day is an opportunity to highlight the preventable nature of most workplace accidents and ill health and to promote campaigns and union organization in the fight for improvements in workplace safety. Thousands of countries, states and cities across the world participate in this day of mourning and of fighting for workers’ rights. According to statistics provided by the Vermont Workers’ Center, in the U.S. 15 or more workers lose their lives each day * nearly 6000 per year. More than 4 million workers are made ill or injured on the job each year. In Vermont, the most recent statistics show that in 2006, 14 workers lost their lives on the job. This event comes one day before a major statewide Put People First ally in Montpelier which the Vermont Workers' Center is coordinating and is expecting over a thousand participants.

The Vermont Workers’ Center is a member-run organization dedicated to organizing for human rights, including workers’ rights, safe working conditions, and living wages for all Vermonters. They operate a Workers' Rights Hotline and are collecting stories from Vermonters who have experienced workplace injuries. Contact hotline@workerscenter.org to learn more.

After a long and hard fight by providers, parents, and Workers' Center members, the Senate voted last night to give early educators the right to organize! Take a minute to thank the 16 Senators who stood up for a fundamental human right on Thursday night and voted yes for collective bargaining for early educators.

Take action now!

With a vote of 16-13, the Vermont State Senate voted to grant child care providers the right to choose to collectively bargain with the state over issues the state controls. The senators who voted to uphold early educators right to organize are: Ashe, Ayer, Baruth, Cummings, Doyle, Fox, Galbraith, Giard, Kittell, Lyons, MacDonald, McCormack, Pollina, Starr, Westman, White. It was clear from the debate that the supportive senators had nothing but respect for the people who care for our children everyday. 

Senator McCormack: “The arguments against collective bargaining today are the same arguments used against Italian stone cutters in Barre, and Irish rail road workers in Barton, and, just last year, against workers in Wisconsin. They are old arguments and they are wrong, because people have the right to collective bargaining."

Senator Cummings: “When I looked at them (the women in blue) I saw myself. That is what I did for 10 -15 years of my life. I stayed home and took care of children - they were my children. I was voiceless, I was faceless, the only time anyone knew I was there was when one of them threw a tantrum in the cereal aisle. My husband was asked to run for office not me."

Senator Baruth: “The right of unionization is a human right, a way to empower oneself.”

Senator Pollina: “I love the guy who tunes up my car, I really do, but I don’t understand why the guy who tunes up my car makes more money than the people who take care of our kids.... If we respect (early educators) we cannot deny their right to have a voice at the table when their industry is being talked about.”

More on the early educators campaign and Vermont Parents United: http://www.workerscenter.org/parents

The Vermont Workers' Center has a long history of standing with IBM workers. IBM is one of Vermonters largest employers and one of the most profitable businesses in the world, in part by exploiting their workers and by conducting massive layoffs for short term gain. On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, IBM workers all over the country protested this ongoing exploitation. VWC participated locally. Check out the media coverage:

See Burlington Free Press story: "Vermont protesters urge IBM to protect jobs" http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120424/NEWS01/120424045/Vermont-protesters-urge-IBM-protect-jobs-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

See video of story on Fox 44 http://www.fox44now.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=7032709&h1=IBM%20Employee%20Protest&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=94100&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=40885637

*** News Release ***
Date: April 24, 2012
Contact: Avery Book, avery@workerscenter.org, 802-343-7565, Vermont Workers’ Center
See website: www.workerscenter.org/news/may1

Thousands Rally on May 1st to Demand Vermont Lawmakers “Put People First”

Where: Montpelier, VT (March from City Hall to Statehouse; Rally at statehouse)

When: Tuesday, May 1st, 2012; March- 12:30 pm; Rally: 1 pm

What: Put People First Montpelier Rally and March
On May 1st, thousands of Vermonters will converge on the Statehouse in Montpelier to connect struggles for universal healthcare, education, housing, childcare, workers' rights, women's rights, disability rights, migrant justice and a healthy environment and livable planet into the largest weekday rally Montpelier has seen.

“This May 1st is the culmination of a collective sense of unrest,” said Vermont Workers’ Center (VWC) member Melissa Bourque from St. Johnsbury. “People are realizing that the system isn’t fair. People are becoming awakened to that, and that we can join forces to do something about it.”

Who: Vermont Workers’ Center, Bread and Puppet, Salsa Band Afinque, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben from 350.org, Sandy Gaffney of the VWC and Mobile Home Residents for Equality and Fairness will be speaking. More than twenty other labor, community, social justice, and environmental organizations (full list here: www.workerscenter.org/may1).

Why: Building a broad movement to Put People and the Planet First, to reclaim democracy, and meet the fundamental needs of all people in Vermont.

Drawing on May 1st’s history as international solidarity day, the Vermont Workers’ Center is spearheading its fourth annual May 1st Rally. The past three rallies have focused on Healthcare is a Human Right. The focus this year has expanded to a broader Put People First message.

“I’m really excited about this May 1st because we’re focusing on the People and the Planet,” said Bennington Vermont Workers’ Center member Mary Gerisch, “and putting all of that first means that we’re going to have more people to tip the balance of power, and to really accomplish putting together a movement instead of a lot of separate causes. And we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it!”

As a weekday rally, this year the rally will happen while the legislature is in session, and rally speakers and participants will be calling on passage of several key bills. Legislative priorities of the Put People First Campaign are the ongoing Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign, the People’s Budget, early educators’ right to organize, action on climate change, and drivers’ licenses for migrant workers.

For many participants, the rally is both a call to action and a pulling together of Vermont’s many communities: “Living in Vermont can feel really isolating,” said Bourque. “Sometimes people watch the news and feel frustrated because they don’t think there’s much that they can do. The May 1st rally is for people who have realized the unfairness of things and want to see things change. It’s a way to participate in changing the things that we want to see change.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Local Vermont Workers’ Center leaders are available for interview in all parts of the state.

More information on the rally and the Vermont Workers’ Center can be found at www.workerscenter.org/news/may1

BREAKING NEWS: PEOPLES’ BUDGET VICTORY

After hearing from constituents calling upon the Vermont legislature to take a first step toward creating a State budget that puts people first, the Senate appropriations committee voted on Monday to adopt legislation defining, for the first time in Vermont history, the purpose of the State budget.

“The state budget should be designed to address the needs of the people of Vermont in a way that advances human dignity and equity.”

“Spending and revenue policies will seek to promote economic well being among the people of Vermont . . . . “

“Spending and revenue policies will . . . recognize every person’s need for health, housing, dignified work, education, food, social security, and a healthy environment.”

The committee’s amendment also calls upon the administration to develop:

“a process for public participation in the development of budget goals, as well as general prioritization and evaluation of spending and revenue initiatives”

and:

“a current services budget, providing the public with an estimate of what the current level of services is projected to cost in the next fiscal year.”

The legislation also calls for the evaluation of budget and revenue policy for the purpose of measuring success in accomplishing the purposes of the state budget.

This amendment constitutes a first step toward a people’s budget that would satisfy the human rights of the people of Vermont, but we need your help to continue moving it forward in the legislature. We believe the state budget bill H.781 will be voted on the Senate on Wednesday and soon be in conference committee with the Senate and the House.

TAKE ACTION NOW FOR THIS FIRST STEP TOWARD A PEOPLE’S BUDGET

Now that the budget has moved from committee to the full Senate, your Senators need to hear from you that Vermonters Want a People’s Budget!

Call the Sergeant-At-Arms now to leave a message for your Senators: 1-800-322-5616 (or 802-828-2228) (Click here to find your Senators’ names: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/lms/legdir/districts.asp?Body=S)

Tell them you support this first step towards a People’s Budget.

Despite the best intentions of Vermont’s elected representatives, each year an increasing number of Vermont residents suffers because their human needs are not being met. Many of Vermont’s residents lack adequate health care, housing, food, education, work and other fundamental human needs. An increasing number of people in Vermont is falling into poverty, and the disparity between rich and poor, which already is far too great, is continuing to grow. And the natural environment, upon which all life depends, continues to be destroyed by unsustainable consumption and pollution.

Thanks to the hard work of thousands of Workers' Center members and allies from across Vermont, we’re now moving toward a better and more human budget process, where revenue and spending policy focus on addressing the fundamental human needs of everyone in Vermont, and a government that puts people first.

More on the People's Budget Campaign: www.workerscenter.org/peoplesbudget

[also published in VT Digger and Bennington Banner]

The response to the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene should make us proud to be Vermonters. Thousands of people volunteered and contributed to efforts to get communities back on their feet. The new “I Am Vermont Strong” campaign has tapped into this community pride with the goal of rebuilding stronger than before the storm. To me, stronger communities means communities where we no longer have policies that leave so many people vulnerable or threaten the livability of the planet.

Even after we recover from Irene, we will still face an ongoing crisis. The economic crisis and the climate crisis both stem from the breakdown of democracy — the health of people and the planet have been undermined so that a tiny fraction of the population can accumulate enormous wealth.

Strong and healthy communities cannot exist in the presence of poverty and extreme inequality. If our neighbors are not safe and healthy, it affects us all. We need bold policies that ensure everyone has access to the health care, safe housing, nutritious food, healthy natural environment, education and child care they need. In the wake of Irene, we acted immediately to make sure people’s needs were met. This same primary goal should guide all our public policy: meet the fundamental needs of the people.

We must also recognize that climate change and severe weather events are upon us and will likely escalate. Vermont must lead the way — as we have begun to do in economic and social justice — by adopting necessary policy solutions to address the climate crisis, end our dependence on fossil fuels and find sustainable energy solutions.

These deep-seated problems need to be addressed at their roots. For too long, our policies have addressed symptoms, not causes, of the problems. For example, our health care system treats health care as a commodity. Some people can afford to buy health insurance while many cannot or are underinsured. The “solutions” have been to expand taxpayer supported programs and attempt to regulate insurance companies. Yet this approach does not solve the root problem. Insurance companies can continue to pocket premiums, avoid paying for care when people get sick, and then shift the costs onto taxpayers. In Vermont, we have realized that the only real solution is to put the health of everybody first — to treat health care as a public good. We can do this by getting rid of the health care insurance companies and other profiteers and by investing health care dollars into healing people and keeping Vermonters healthy.

What’s next? The Vermont Workers’ Center has joined with organizations across the state in a new initiative called Put People First. Put People First means working to realize a universal health care system, fighting for workers’ rights and putting the needs of our communities and the planet first. It includes creating a People’s Budget in which state spending and revenue policies reflect the true values of our communities and are based on the human rights principles of universality, equity, accountability, transparency and participation.

We are demanding that our elected representatives put people first, but policy makers will not be able to stand up against powerful corporate interests until we organize enough people power to give them the strength to do it.

I am asking you to join thousands of Vermonters at noon on Tuesday, May 1, to make our democracy Vermont Strong. Join us for a major statewide march and rally in Montpelier, beginning at noon at City Hall. This year’s rally is also part of an international day of action called for by the Occupy Wall Street movement — “A Day Without the 99%” — for people to come together across all those lines which too often divide and weaken us, to build a better world. Bring your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors as we join together to make Vermont stronger by demanding that our elected representatives put people first.

---
James Haslam is the director of the Vermont Workers’ Center. More details about the May 1 rally can be found at www.workerscenter.org.

SAY I'LL BE THERE - SIGN UP NOW
Our day begins at Montpelier City Hall, 39 Main Street on Tuesday May 1st 2012...

Action Packed Schedule:

• 11:30am-Noon: The Build Up - drumming, music, skits (bring your own instruments!!)
• Noon-12:30: The Rally Kick-Off - Songs, Postal Workers speak out, Bread and Puppet Theater, songs and more.
• 12:30-1pm: The March - Join nurses, farmers, farm workers, teachers and people from every corner of the state for this exciting march through downtown Montpelier from City Hall to the Statehouse featuring: brass band, drumming, healthcare is a human right, food justice, racial justice, women's rights, disability rights, and education is a human right, parents and children contingents! 
• 1-2:30pm: Rally featuring Senator Bernie Sanders, Bill McKibben of 350, Shela Linton of the Put People First Campaign, Sandy Gaffney of Mobile Home Residents for Fairness and Equality, Luke Willard of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe and Sierra Club, Bernie Hernandez from Migrant Justice, Vermont Parents United, Migrant Justice, healthcare providers, music, skits and much more.
• 2:30-3pm: 10 Piece Salsa Band Afinque performs while we organize and visit the "Take Action Fair" on the Statehouse lawn featuring a Pie-the-Lobbyist booth, kids activities, free health screening with Fletcher Allen Nurses,  opportunities to connect and get organized and much, much more!!
• 3-6pm: Occupy Vermont groups from throughout the state come together for A Labor Speak Out from the 99%- Bringing Capitalism to trial! (3-4pm) and Statewide General Assembly (4-6pm)

SAY I'LL BE THERE - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

We are inviting you to help us make history. Last year began with the Arab Spring and the Wisconsin Uprising and ended with the birth of the Occupy Wall Street/99% protests, which dramatically changed the political landscape in our country and the world. Vermont’s breakthrough for universal healthcare has inspired people across the country. Now, we believe Vermont can catalyze change nationwide by leading the country in a broad movement for human rights and sustainable communities.

Through a unified campaign that we call “Put People First: One Movement for People and the Planet,” we can build the people power that will be necessary to realize the first universal healthcare system in the country, to take the boldest actions possible in addressing the climate crisis, to build resilient community-based food systems which meet the needs of the people and the land, to expand workers’ rights, disability rights and to obtain social justice for immigrants. We will be able to create public policy that puts people first and meets the needs of our communities. Most of all, we will establish the kind of real democracy that we will need to meet any challenge that we face.

You can help make the creation of this powerful social movement happen. By working together, in a coordinated, unified effort, we multiply our power.

Please join us and sign up for these events.

May 1- Put People First March & Rally: One Movement for People & the Planet - As part of a national day of action thousands of Vermonters will converge on the Statehouse in Montpelier with a number of key legislative fights still underway and connecting a broad range social, economic, environmental, worker, immigrant and disability justice struggles into one huge march and rally.

Aug 31 - Sept 2: The People’s Convention: One Movement for People & the Planet - Massive grassroots cross movement event which will stand in contrast to and serve as a people’s alternative to the corporate influenced and controlled political process.

Many struggles, one movement!

Vermont Workers’ Center

Migrant Justice

350 Vermont

Vermont Center of Independent Living

Green Mountain Self-Advocates

Mobile Home Park Residents For Equality & Fairness

Vermont Sierra Club

Rural Vermont

NOFA - VT

Planned Parenthood Northern New England

VT Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5221

Vermont State Colleges Faculty Federation Local 3180 AFT

United Academics (AAUP-AFT)

Vermont State Employees Association

Vermont AFL-CIO

Vermont Interfaith Action

Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO

Students Stand Up! (Students for Peace and Global Justice)

Occupy Central Vermont

Occupy Burlington

Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe

United Electrical Workers Local 203 (City Market)

United Electrical Workers Local 255 (Hunger Mountain Food Coop)

United Electrical Workers Local 267 (UVM, Service and Maintenance)

United Electrical Workers Local 208 (Vermont Service Center in St, Albans)

Peace and Justice Center

Burlington ISO

Vermont Progressive Party

Vermont Interfaith Action

SAGE Alliance

Vermont Yankee Decomissioning Alliance

Citizens Awareness Network

Vermont Citizens Action Network

Vermont IWW

[Note more groups our signing up daily. Please email james@workerscenter.org if you want to learn how you your group can be added. See this video hear to learn more: http://www.workerscenter.org/media/may1promo].

We are inviting you to help us make history. Last year began with the Arab Spring and the Wisconsin Uprising and ended with the birth of the Occupy Wall Street/99% protests, which dramatically changed the political landscape in our country and the world. Vermont’s breakthrough for universal healthcare has inspired people across the country. Now, we believe Vermont can catalyze change nationwide by leading the country in a broad movement for human rights and sustainable communities.

Through a unified campaign that we call “Put People First: One Movement for People and the Planet,” we can build the people power that will be necessary to realize the first universal healthcare system in the country, to take the boldest actions possible in addressing the climate crisis, to build resilient community-based food systems which meet the needs of the people and the land, to expand workers’ rights, disability rights and to obtain social justice for immigrants. We will be able to create public policy that puts people first and meets the needs of our communities. Most of all, we will establish the kind of real democracy that we will need to meet any challenge that we face.

You can help make the creation of this powerful social movement happen. By working together, in a coordinated, unified effort, we multiply our power. Please join us and sign up for these events.

May 1- Put People First March & Rally: One Movement for People & the Planet.  As part of a national day of action thousands of Vermonters will converge on the Statehouse in Montpelier with a number of key legislative fights still underway and connecting a broad range social, economic, environmental, worker, immigrant and disability justice struggles into one huge march and rally.

Aug 31 - Sept 2: The People’s Convention: One Movement for People & the Planet. Massive grassroots cross movement event which will stand in contrast to and serve as a people’s alternative to the corporate influenced and controlled political process.

Many struggles, one movement!

Vermont Workers’ Center

Migrant Justice

350 Vermont

Vermont Center of Independent Living

Green Mountain Self-Advocates

Mobile Home Park Residents For Equality & Fairness

Vermont Sierra Club

Rural Vermont

NOFA - VT

Planned Parenthood Northern New England

VT Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals Local 5221

Vermont AFL-CIO

Vermont Interfaith Action

Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO

Students Stand Up! (Students for Peace and Global Justice)

Occupy Central Vermont

Occupy Burlington

United Electrical Workers Local 203 (City Market)

United Electrical Workers Local 255 (Hunger Mountain Food Coop)

United Electrical Workers Local 267 (UVM, Service and Maintenance)

United Electrical Workers Local 208 (Vermont Service Center in St, Albans)

Peace and Justice Center

Burlington ISO

Vermont Progressive Party

Vermont IWW

Join us for the biggest weekday rally Montpelier has ever seen!

This May 1st, come out to the Put People First March & Rally: One Movement for People & the Planet. As part of a national day of action thousands of VTers will converge on the Statehouse in Montpelier to connect our struggles for universal healthcare, education, housing, childcare, workers' rights, women's rights, disability rights, migrant justice and a healthy environment and livable planet into one huge march and rally. Kids friendly activities, music, fun and rallying for our human rights.

Also please be sure to sign up here: www.workerscenter.org/may1

March starts at noon at Montpelier City Hall, 39 Main Street.

Last week we posted our video about the importance of Universality with healthcare. The video explained how important it is that everyone has access to healthcare regardless of jobs or how much money someone makes. This weeks video talks about equity and how everyone would get the care they need and would pay what they could afford. This would guarantee high quality care for everyone regardless of someone's situation. Like and Share the videos on our Facebook page! And don't forget to sign up for our May 1st Rally Put People First!!

This May 1st, come to the Put People First March & Rally for One Movement for People & the Planet. As part of a national day of action thousands of Vermonters will converge on the Statehouse in Montpelier to connect our struggles for universal healthcare, housing, education, childcare, migrant justice, disability rights and a healthy environment and livable planet into one huge march and rally. Kids friendly activities, music, fun and rallying for our human rights.

Be sure to sign up here: www.workerscenter.org/may1

Join the Vermont Workers' Center in supporting Vermont teachers who are struggling for a fair contract.  Strong public education = strong communities.

From the Vermont NEA: 

Addison-Rutland SU – (Fair Haven and all the area sending schools/towns) This local association saw their school boards unanimously impose working conditions on two days before winter break in February. The imposition included a reduction in pay (loss of step + salary freeze), increase in health insurance co-pay, and loss of step movement when the contract expires and no new contract is in place. They are among the lowest paid teachers in Rutland and Addison Counties and for some small sending schools, also the lowest paid in the entire state. Their boards are also forcing them to pay BACK the money people received already this year who moved on step. They will hold two informational pickets in the next week. First, on Thursday, March 8th  4-4:30PM in front of Fair Haven Graded School, 103 N. Main St., Fair Haven. And the second is on Monday, March 12th, 4-4:30PM at the Castleton Four Corners (intersection of Route 4A and Route 30). Please send notes of support to Chief Negotiator Kim Alexander jkjjalex@comcast.net or President Hurley Cavacas at hrcjr3@aol.com.
 
Rutland Southwest SU (3 different unions who represent Tinmouth, Wells, Middletown Springs and Poultney) – This local association is past fact-finding and has one more bargaining session on March 12th. We are not hopeful that bargaining will result in a settlement and with the neighboring SU (Addison-Rutland SU) voting to impose working conditions two weeks ago, it is not unlikely that the same will happen in Rutland Southwest. Most of the teachers in this SU have worked nearly 2 years without a contract and are among the lowest paid teachers in Rutland and Addison Counties. They will hold two informational pickets. The first on Thursday, March 22nd from 4-4:30PM at the intersection of Route 30 and Main St in Poultney and again on Monday, March 26th 4-4:30PM in the same location. Please send notes of support to Chief Negotiator Gary Jurnak at  jurneyman99@msn.com or Poultney T.A. President Kaitlin Cioffi cioffikc@gmail.com, Rutland Southwest E.A. President Pam HunterBiachegirl@aol.com and Middletown Springs E.A. President Lorraine Wilkins lorraine1122@myfairpoint.net.  
 
Windham Northeast  SU –  (Bellows Falls and all the sending schools/towns) This local association is also way past fact-finding (report came back this summer). They have one more bargaining session on March 29. Their board is trying to remove arbitration from their contract – a huge issue and definitely an issue worth fighting back on. While these teachers fall in the average range of salary and benefits in Southern Vermont, the arbitration issue is a critical one. They are also working without a contract since July 2011. They will hold two informational pickets. The first on Thursday, March 22nd from 4-4:30PM around the town square in Bellows Falls and again on Monday, March 26th 4-4:30PM at the intersection of the bridge in Bellows Falls that leads into NH. Please send notes of support to Co- Presidents Erica Moody e_moody1@yahoo.com  and Kathy Miller kemiller47@gmail.com.
 
 

The United States Postal Service is preparing to cut nearly a quarter million jobs and shut down post offices all over the country. Hundreds of rural post offices and processing centers face closure on May 15th, when a six-month moratorium on consolidations expires, even though an advisory report by the Postal Regulatory Commission will not be finished until August.

Due to a predictable budget shortfall caused by the current U.S. Congress, the Post Master General has recommended cutting the number of delivery days, consolidating processing centers, ending next-day delivery of first-class mail, and downsizing one of the few institutions ordained by the US Constitution. Essentially, the USPS is being forced into a death spiral through service cuts, revenue drops, and bankruptcy-inducing budget requirements that may soon lead to the total collapse of the national postal service.

• Watch the Video below.
• National ACTION Needed! Write Your Senators & Representatives TODAY!
• Post Office Crisis & Closures FAQ

All across the state of Vermont members of the Vermont Workers' Center visited Town Meeting Day and voting poll sites to find out what issues people witnessed in their communities.

Check out the podcast on Town Meeting Day from Put People First Radio:

There was lots of activity in Washington County, with organizing happening in Montpelier, Barre, Middlesex, Northfield, Plainfield and E. Montpelier! In Northfield and Barre, VWC members handed out lots of fliers to people coming and going to polls and town meeting on the proposed post office closures, and many people expressed their support for keeping our post offices open.

In Morrisville, St. Johnsbury, and Johnson, VWC leaders handed out many fliers to town meeting goers for the upcoming Strength of the Storm screenings in Johnson and St. J (to learn more about the Strength of the Storm, click HERE). Lots of people also said that they had already heard about the screening and were excited to attend! In Johnson, lots of people participated in the Put People First Photo Project, and many people said that they also participated last year in the Picture Healthcare as a Human Right Photo Project (check that out HERE). In addition, St. J had some of the VWC’s youth organizers on the scene!

In Springfield, VWC members teamed up with members of Vermont Early Educators United and talked to many parents and families on their struggles around childcare and other fundamental needs. One family didn’t have time to complete the photo petition when they first passed by the table, and so actually came back later in the day to make sure that their photo was taken and their voice was heard! In Brattleboro, leaders there got over 75 photos of people participating in the Put People First photo project and had lots of great organizing conversations with new people. Bellows Falls town meeting also was a huge success. Leaders snapped lots of photos, and continued to build relationships in their community. For example, after participating in the photo project one mother and daughter shared their struggles around finding affordable housing and will be meeting up with a VWC leader next week to get involved with Put People First! In Norwich, corporate greed was on many people’s minds, with community members speaking out against corporate personhood and calling to re-align our government’s values to put people over profits.

In Chittenden County: Milton, Essex, Huntington, and Westford members engaged with people attending their town meetings, and in the cities of Burlington and Winooski over a dozen members visited the different wards where voting polls were taking place from 7am to 7pm. Members asked the voters what issues were noticed in their particular communities. Affordable Housing, and Affordable Education (childhood and college) were overwhelming themes throughout the wards no matter which party they were supporting. Other issues were also mentioned such as healthcare, pollution, and affordable healthy food.One thing everyone agreed with is there are many issues across the board that are affecting their lives or the lives of their neighbors. Over 50 photo petitions were taken, along with great conversations about putting people first. Many people were excited about coming to the May 1st rally, and others exchanged contact information with the VWC leaders in order to get more involved.

Some Quotes from the day include:

“Burlington needs to work with its citizens to make it more affordable for everyone to live in our wonderful community!” - Kelly Orme - Burlington

“Clean Streets!” - India Hammerslough - Burlington

“We need more public spaces for people to congrigate.” - Phinn Sonin - Burlington

“I would like to end childhood hunger in Burlington” - Dave Hartnett - Burlington

“Putting people first, we need education funding to change, we need a progressive income tax to create a fair and equitable system where everyone has a say in the process!” - Vince Brennan - Burlington

“End Corporate Personhood!” - Fauna Shaw - Burlington

'Vermont Parents United' come together with 'Vermont Early Educators United' to form one voice in support of H97 (a bill which would give Early Educators the right to collectively bargain. In addition, State College Students rallied to express their need of more funding. Vermont is currently 50th in the nation for lowest funding for state college students.