by Guy Page
A proposed Constitutional amendment that passed the Senate by a unanimous 29-0 vote on April 2 will receive a public hearing the evening of Tuesday, April 16 in the House of Representatives.
A long list of union members and representatives testified in support of the bill, which Senate Republicans – who did not sponsor but still voted for it on the floor – reflects the current legal status of collective bargaining in Vermont.
The Vermont House Committee on General and Housing will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 1, at 5:30 p.m. in person in room 267, 109 State Street (Pavilion building) or videoconference (Zoom webinar).
This proposal would amend the Constitution to provide that the citizens of the State have a right to collectively bargain. Sec. 2. Article 23 of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read:
Article 23. [Right to collectively bargain]
That employees have a right to organize or join a labor organization for the purpose of collectively bargaining with their employer through an exclusive representative of their choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace. Therefore, no law shall be adopted that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to collectively bargain with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, or that prohibits the application or execution of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization representing the employer’s employees that requires membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment.
Testimony will be limited to the first 45 registrants, and registrants will have up to 2 minutes each to speak. Anyone interested in testifying should sign up in advance of the hearing through the following online form: https://legislature.vermont.gov/links/public-hearing-prop-3 no later than April 15, 2024, at 12:00 noon. Instructions on how to access and participate in the hearing will be sent once you have signed up for the hearing.
The hearing will be available to watch live on YouTube at the following link: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-general-and-housing