VWC in the News

Media Report Card: May Day Rally 2012

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.

IN THE NEWS: VWC stands in solidarity with IBM Workers

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:

Article on the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign in "Health and Human Rights: An International Journal"

Check out the article on the national and international significance of the Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign in "Health and Human Rights: An International Journal" Here's a link to the website for the full article: http://hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr/article/view/456/722

Human rights from the grassroots up: Vermont's campaign for universal health care

Mariah McGill

Abstract

350.org: Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign Launch

350 Vermont launched a Fossil Fuel Freedom Campaign at the statehouse on January 25. The campaign is a statewide grassroots initiative to encourage Vermonters to mount a full-scale urgent response to global climate change. Partners in the campaign are the Vermont Workers’ Center, the Vermont Sierra Club, the Vermont chapter of the AFL-CIO, the Vermont Energy Education Program, and the Vermont Institute for Social Ecology.

TIMES ARGUS Legislative Kickoff Coverage

Vt lawmakers get good news about budget

January 4, 2012, Times Argus/Rutland Herald

MONTPELIER — An optimistic tone reverberated through the Statehouse on Tuesday as Democratic leaders sought to paint a happy face on the hole in next year’s budget.

Lawmakers returned to Montpelier facing a $75 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2013 general fund. But before the lunch hour came around on their first day back, the Legislature’s fiscal analysts had lowered the gap to about $46 million, thanks largely to revised projections for Medicaid spending.

TIMES ARGUS Legislative Kickoff Coverage

Vt lawmakers get good news about budget

January 4, 2012, Times Argus/Rutland Herald

MONTPELIER — An optimistic tone reverberated through the Statehouse on Tuesday as Democratic leaders sought to paint a happy face on the hole in next year’s budget.

Lawmakers returned to Montpelier facing a $75 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2013 general fund. But before the lunch hour came around on their first day back, the Legislature’s fiscal analysts had lowered the gap to about $46 million, thanks largely to revised projections for Medicaid spending.

Activists demand that lawmakers adopt “People’s Budget”

Vermont Workers Center activists descended on the Statehouse Tuesday on the opening day of the 2012 legislative session and demanded that lawmakers pass a “people’s budget” that meets the basic needs of Vermonters.

Members of the group packed the Cedar Creek Room during the noon hour and gave speeches and delivered a petition for a People’s Budget signed by more than 3,000 Vermonters. The petition was given to Governor Shumlin’s office, and the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate.

Vermont Legislature opens with pomp, a song and some early business

medium_kick_off.jpg12:04 p.m.: Peg Franzen, president of the Vermont Workers’ Center, stepped up to the microphone before a throng of folks in red shirts to begin a Put People First rally. The organizers delivered petitions to legislative leaders calling for a new budgeting process. “We are here to be the voice of the people, the 99 percent,” Franzen said. “We are here to demand a budget that puts people first.”

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120103031