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 organizing victory!) Each month feautures inspiring social justice quotes and is loaded with Vermont and global historical dates celebrating the struggles and people that have shaped our world.

Get your copy today — order at our online store, come by our new space, or become a monthly sustainer and receive the calendar as a free gift.

Workers' Center to Join Worldwide Mobilizations January 26

On January 26, 2008, people around the world will take to the streets for a worldwide mobilization to demonstrate that "Another World Is Possible," and a determination to converge our many struggles — for workers' rights, against war, for climate justice and others — into one movement.

The Vermont Workers' Center has joined with the Vermont chapter of Iraq Veterans Against the War and the Global Justice Ecology Project to initiate a "Call to Vermont Organizations" to participate in these mobilizations. We are proposing the themes of war, healthcare and climate change for a united public demonstration because we believe these are the three largest issues facing Vermonters today, but in keeping with the spirit of openness of the World Social Forum, from which the call for mobilizations originated, we are encouraging other organizations to plan additional events and activities during the week of January 21-27 around the theme that "another world is possible." Workshops, educational forums, direct actions, and social events are all encouraged.

To view the call, visit wsf2008vt.blogspot.com

We encourage Workers' Center members, supporters and allied organizations to:

1) Sign on to the call (as an organization or an individual) by emailing globaljustice [at] workerscenter [dot] org
2) Stay informed by signing up for the listserve (sign up at wsf2008vt.blogspot.com)
3) Propose (or plan) additional activities. The Workers' Center will publicize a comprehensive list of all activities during the week, so let us know what you're planning at globaljustice [at] workerscenter [dot] org

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 in a great building with community partners like Imani Youth & Family Center, Center For Media & Democracy - Channel 17 and other great groups in the heart of the Old North End. We need your help and we would love to have you involved. Here's what you can do:

• Join the Workers' Center today, become a Sustainer and help support this work! Click here to do it secure online right now
• Seeking donations: Big dry-erase board, big conference table, comfy office chairs, big couch, shelves and newer computers and copiers.
• Also if you have any sweet old Workers' Center-related photos, send them to us, we're trying to collect stuff for our 10th Anniversary.

Thanks!!

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 14th
CC Theater (Billings Theater), University of Vermont, Burlington
Free Admission and Food

A film by Michael Moore about the US health care system. Audiences across the country have said this is Moore's best film by far and have found it to be a must-see hillarious and scathing scathing critique of the health care system of the richest country in the world. Panel discussion about stories from the frontlines of our healthcare system and steps toward establishing longterm solutions. Panel includes Dr. Deb Richter from Vermont Health Care For All, Jennifer Henry, RN and President of the Fletcher Allen nurses union, and Carmyn Stanko, President of the UVM Service & Maintenance Workers UE Local 267.

Hosted by the Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) and Vermont Workers' Center
Other sponsors include: UVM United Academics, Students Against War, International Socialist Organization, and UVM Progressives

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 State House. Immediately afterwards, our group will present a wheelbarrow with thousands of post cards the Governor's office.

Where: State House, Cedar Creek Room, Montpelier, VT

When: 10:30 AM, Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Why: The movement opposing the proposed sale of Verizon to FairPoint is growing. With all public hearings concluded, opponents of the sale want to make sure that the Governor gets the message: Stop the Sale!

More information about why citizens are mobilizing to stop the sale of Verizon’s landlines to FairPoint is at: www.stopthesalenow.org and www.no-deal.org

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 state organizing in their workplaces and communities. What the Burlington Para-educators and the Burlington Education Association has been able to accomplish with this victory is extraordinary. This a livable wage victory translates directly into raising the standards in a profession that is sorely undervalued. Para-educators play a critical role in public education in this community and their contributions should be rewarded.
For the past year, we have helped coordinate the Burlington Livable City Coalition, a group of is community organizations and unions that works to make Burlington truly livable for all its residents. The City of Burlington has been nationally recognized for being one of the most “Livable Cities In the Country”, yet there are still thousands of families living in poverty and thousands of workers still being paid poverty wages. You cannot have a livable city without livable wages. We know our city will be a better city when all the jobs pay real livable wages, when the children of this city are not forced to grow up in poverty, and when people can live with basic dignity. The reason they call the labor movement a movement, is because one victory can inspire other victories. And we hope the food service and other Burlington School staff will be announcing their livable wage victory very soon. These victories will inspire other victories just like them.
The idea of livable wages is the basic principle of respect and what is just. If the job is worth doing than the person doing that job deserves to be able to make a living doing it. The only people I have ever known who do not believe that people should be paid livable wages are those who make far more than a livable wage. We look forward to more and more people getting involved, fighting for livable wages, and for working to make a truly livable community for all of our residents. Thank you and congratulations.