BRATTLEBORO — A recent decision of the Vermont Labor Review Board (VLRB) clearly shows severe cracks in our system of democracy in Vermont.
Under the administration of Governor Phil Scott, Karen O'Neill - a retired corporate attorney - was seated at the last minute to this board who then voted against the interests of many hard-working Vermonters. This seat was supposed to be a “neutral position,” meaning “not connected to any labor organization or management position and who can be reasonably considered to be able to serve as an impartial individual.”
However, this individual's resume on record depicts a strong conflict of interest and one that favors corporate management. In essence, the board was stacked against and on the backs of public employees who work to provide services that benefit us all.
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Labor Unions have long been demonized by corporate interests, politicians who serve them, and well-crafted messaging that pits labor members against other working-class people.
This attack has reduced workers' right to organize, which in turn leads to loss in bargaining power, benefits, and wages.
And this loss does not just impact union members. Unions are not just about the rights of workers; rather, they are about building solidarity and creating more power for everyone.
The Right. The Trump administration. Corporations that are anti-union. All are part of creating an electoral stranglehold in hopes of altering the political landscape - one town, one county, one state at a time.
And this is happening in Vermont right now.
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As one fellow Vermonter, James Ehlers (a Democratic candidate for governor), stated on his Facebook page, “Workers' rights are a cornerstone of a healthy economy and society. Vermont values of community and personal liberty are our foundation. We need that strong foundation to ensure 'Freedom and Unity,' Vermont's state motto, for all of us.
“One way by which we ensure that strong foundation is having a government that is transparent, fair, and without bias against the public interest.
Ehlers wrote that the background of Scott's VLRB nominee “is clearly at odds with impartiality. That's not in line with Vermont's values of fairness and respecting the public interest.”
The right to organize and to influence local policies is critical for all and the history of labor unions is to stand for all workers' rights, not just the rights of their union members. The power of unions to organize helps to fight racism, raise class consciousness, work for health care, and address issues of poverty for all.
Labors' voice is a voice of all people, and I hope that our legislators say no to this biased appointee and further question these shenanigans by our current administration.