Under the current health insurance system, many people are struggling because they do not have access to the health care that they need. The goal of health insurance providers is to maximize profits by charging a lot of money and limiting which services will be covered. With the high costs of health insurance, access to health care is available only to those who can afford it. Insurance also limits the treatments and services that the insurer will pay for, regardless of what type of care is actu...
Aug 29, 2014•11 min
Many people in Vermont are struggling to meet their fundamental needs and fulfill their human rights; such as housing, healthcare, education, livable wages, and paid sick days. Over the past year, we have seen these needs and rights come under attack. Decisions are being made that will affect our lives for years to come, and we aren’t given a seat at the table. This May 1st, come out to Montpelier to take part in a “health and dignity” march and day of action. On this day, we will continue to bu...
Apr 07, 2014•1 min
On Monday, March 17th, CCTA bus drivers began their strike against unsafe working conditions and predatory management practices, like surveillance and unfair discipline, and the threat of part-time status. Drivers were joined by community members, union members, and many other supporters in an informational picket that demonstrated the strong support for the drivers from members of the community. Jim Foutz, a CCTA driver, spoke about the unsafe and unjust working conditions faced by the drivers ...
Mar 27, 2014•5 min
Women hold the majority of low wage, part-time, and temporary jobs, and make up nearly half of the nation’s workforce, yet about half of women continue to be denied crucial rights at work, including essential paid sick days. When women are denied these rights, our communities suffer. The proposed Earned Sick Days Bill would ensure that all workers in VT are able to take time off when they or a loved one are sick. To support paid sick days is to support women’s rights, work with dignity, and gend...
Feb 19, 2014•1 min
On Thursday, January 30th, over one hundred people gathered at the statehouse in Montpelier to support passing PSD legislation this year. With this proposed legislation, all workers would get one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked; up to seven sick days per year, which would allow them to take time off without having to lose wages. Many people testified before the House General Committee to share how they’ve struggled without paid sick days and to show legislators why paid sick days fo...
Feb 17, 2014•11 min
On Friday January 17th, many people gathered at the DMV in Burlington and Montpelier to stand in solidarity with their immigrant neighbors in getting a driver’s privilege card. Last year, as a result of grassroots organizing across the state, migrant farm workers and allies came together and won the right to drivers licenses for all, regardless of immigration status. In order to make sure the driver’s privilege cards are not an indication of immigration status, allies came together to trade in t...
Jan 27, 2014•7 min
On Tuesday, January 7th, more than 100 people from across VT packed the statehouse in Montpelier to kick off the 2014 legislative session. The day began with a rally and press conference, lead by leaders of organizations such as Green Mountain Self Advocates, AFSCME, AFT, and the Vermont Workers’ Center, who spoke about winning our human right to dignified work by passing PSD legislation this year. To kick off the press conference, members delivered over 2,000 PSD petitions to legislators to sho...
Jan 10, 2014•9 min
Hello and welcome to Put People First Radio! Put People First Radio tells the untold stories of everyday people in Vermont, and reports on their struggles to organize for a government that puts people and the planet first. In this episode, we’ll hear about the campaign for Paid Sick Days for all workers in Vermont. Stay tuned! Many people are working to make sure that everyone in Vermont gets paid sick days at work. More than 100,000 workers in Vermont do not receive paid sick days because there...
Sep 23, 2013•15 min
On Monday, June 24th, friends and supporters of Danilo Lopez gathered at the Charlotte Congregational Church to hear his story and to take action against his deportation. Many spoke about Danilo’s positive impact on the community and his diligence in fighting for human rights for all. Danilo was a leader in the passing of S.38, a bill that gives migrant workers the right to drivers licenses, and he has continued to be a human rights leader in the community. Although S.38 marks a tremendous victo...
Jul 09, 2013•6 min
On Thursday May 30th, hundreds of Vermont residents participated in a citizens’ hearing surrounding the potential arrival of the F-35 aircraft in Burlington. Immediately after the Burlington airport was chosen as the base for the F-35 aircraft, Vermont residents came together to express their opposition. Many people expressed their concerns about the noise pollution that the jets would bring to their neighborhoods as well as the enormous costs and technical flaws of the aircraft. If the F-35 air...
Jun 17, 2013•5 min
Thousands of people across Vermont marched to the statehouse in Montpelier on Wednesday May 1st to participate in a day of action. The day was organized by the Put People First Campaign, which is building a movement for human rights and democracy in Vermont. Members from many different organizations and groups such as Migrant Justice, Vermont Early Educators United, environmental justice groups, homecare workers, students, children and families gathered to participate in the action fair after th...
May 10, 2013•9 min
Many people in Vermont are struggling to meet their fundamental needs, such as housing, healthcare, education, work with dignity, and healthy foodOver the past year, we have also seen many of the basic programs that our families and communities depend on come under attack. Major decisions are being made that will affect our lives for years to come, and we dont have a seat at the table. This May 1st, come out to Montpelier for a march and day of action to Put People First - as we build a movement...
Apr 09, 2013•1 min
On Thursday March 14th, the Vermont Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on S. 38, legislation that would permit all Vermont residents to be able to obtain drivers licenses, including undocumented farmworkers. The room was packed with Migrant Justice members and supporters. Danilo Lopez, a leader in Migrant Justice, testified to the ways that a lack of freedom of movement affects farmworkers. Danilo also spoke about the ways that having a drivers license would be a step forward for Ve...
Mar 19, 2013•6 min
On Monday February 11th, the Vermont House and Senate appropriations committee held hearings on the proposed 2014 state budget through Vermont Interactive Television. People from all across the state testified to how the current state budget is not putting people first. Many people also spoke out against the governor’s proposed cuts to Reach Up and the Earned Income Tax Credit. The governor is proposing cuts to both these vital programs instead of raising revenue on the wealthiest people in Verm...
Feb 19, 2013•5 min
On Wednesday January 24th, the Put People First campaign read the People’s Budget Address at the Vermont Statehouse, prior to the Vermont Governor’s state budget address. The People’s Budget Address calls for a state budget that first determines the needs of the people of Vermont, and then proposes raising money equitably to meet those needs. In addition, the address talked about the importance of equity in healthcare financing, based on the idea that people must be able to get what they need an...
Jan 31, 2013•13 min
On the first day of the legislative session this year, a unified, diverse, and growing movement of organizations called Put People First packed the Vermont Statehouse. Put People First believes Vermont can and must protect and fulfill the human rights of all its people, while ensuring a healthy and livable environment. The movement unveiled its Put People First Agenda and delivered thousands of postcards collected over the past year to legislators, showing the breadth of statewide support for ma...
Jan 15, 2013•6 min
In the 2012 Vermont legislative session, the People’s Budget Campaign organized for an amendment to the state budget bill which established for the very first time the purpose of the state budget. The 2012 budget bill stated that the budget’s purpose is to “to address the needs of the people of Vermont in a way that advances human dignity and equity." and that "Spending and revenue policies will . . . recognize every person's need for health, housing, dignified work, education, food, social secu...
Dec 04, 2012•10 min
On Sunday July 29th, hundreds of people turned out in Burlington VT to protest a closed door conference of governors and premiers from New England and Canada. Groups from across the region came together to tell elected officials loud and clear that governments must be accountable and transparent, and must both protect our human rights as well as the environment. Many groups were there to speak out against the tar sands pipeline proposed to be built across New England, and to draw connections bet...
Aug 09, 2012•8 min
This labor day weekend, come out to the People’s Convention for Human Rights in Burlington, VT. The People’s Convention will explore how we can work together to fight for our human rights, a healthy environment, dignity for everyone and real democracy. The People’s Convention will include workshops, kids activities, music, art, street theater, food and much much more. Saturday night of the Convention, be sure to come down to Battery Park for music and food to celebrate the 60th anniversary of To...
Jul 26, 2012•1 min
This May 1st, as part of a national day of action thousands of people in Vermont converged on the Statehouse in Montpelier to connect the 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.
May 04, 2012•10 min
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 Vermonters 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 ral...
Apr 03, 2012•2 min
This town meeting day 2012, members of the Vermont Workers' Center organized at over fifty town meetings all across Vermont, talking with people about healthcare, the proposed post office closings, and the People's Budget Campaign. To find out more, check out our blog post about town meeting day: www.workerscenter.org/townmeeting2012
Mar 09, 2012•9 min
On February 13, 2012 over 150 people with the Put People First Campaign turned out to Vermont Interactive Television sites to speak at the state budget hearings for the Joint Legislative Appropriations Committees. People testified sharing their personal stories. Their message to legislators was that we're here together to do the hard work of transforming the way our state creates its budget to build a system that puts people first and meets all our human rights. In addition, VWC member David Kre...
Feb 15, 2012•9 min
As part of the Put People First Campaign, organizing committees of the Vermont Workers' Center are holding community meetings all across the state. At these meetings, everyday Vermonters are talking about the struggles they are facing with meeting their fundamental needs, such as housing, healthcare, education, jobs with dignity, childcare, and healthy food. Members of the Campaign talk about why so many of our communities' needs are not being met, and why we need to organize to stand up for our...
Feb 02, 2012•9 min
The United States Postal Service is proposing to close down the Processing and Distribution Center in White River Junction, VT. The result will be the loss of 245 jobs from White River Junction, as well as a serious degradation of postal services in the area. On Wednesday January 4th, people from all across the state came to White River Junction to tell the USPS management that our postal service is a public good and must be protected. Listen to find out more! Also, go to http://savewhiteriverpd...
Jan 06, 2012•9 min
The Vermont Workers' Center and the Put People First! Campaign rallied at the first day of the Vermont 2012 legislative session to demand that human rights and needs are put first. Listen to the report to find out more!
Jan 04, 2012•3 min
