Rutland, Vermont, 2019 –The Vermont Republican Party has invited former Union-busting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to talk at a private fundraiser on May 30th, in Burlington at the Hilton Hotel on Battery Street. And while Vermonters are struggling to win a basic $15 an hour livable wage for all, wealthy VIP donors will be paying $1000 a seat to hear how Vermont too should follow his anti-Union lead. This is unacceptable.
Scott Walker is rabidly anti-Union. While Governor he rolled back foundational Union rights for workers in Wisconsin, making that state “right to work,” and essentially stripping all meaningful collective bargaining rights away from public sector workers. He also forced public sector Unions to have annual re-certification votes (which is aimed at draining Labor resources and de-unionizing 10,000s of workers). At the same time, Walker implemented massive tax cuts for the richest 1%. Scott Walker is an enemy of Unions and an enemy of working class people. AFSCME is here to say he and his ilk are NOT welcome in Vermont!
AFSCME Vermont unequivocally condemns those specific persons who believe it is appropriate to invite Walker to our State. We further express our disappointment and displeasure in our Governor, Phil Scott, for agreeing to attend this anti-Union fundraiser. Union busting shall not be tolerated in Vermont.
Therefore, AFSCME Vermont shall organize picket lines outside the Burlington Hilton on May 30th, timed to coincide with Walkers appearance. We further call on Vermont Labor Unions, and allied community organizations to sign on to this call for pickets and to mobilize its membership to resist! And here we ask that those that sign-on contact us so we may add your organization’s name to this statement, and so that we can coordinate with you concerning the details of the pickets as the event draws nearer.
On May 30th, let’s send Walker an unavoidable message that working Vermonters stand united in defending our rights. We will roll over for nobody. Send Walker packing!
In Solidarity,
-Dan Cornel, AFSCME Local 490 President (Bennington County);
-Craig Lemieux, AFSCME Local 490 Vice President (Bennington County);
-Tom Franzoni, AFSCME Local 1201 President (Rutland & Addison Counties);
-Damion Gilbert, AFSCME Local 1343 President (Chittenden & Franklin Counties);
-Randy Edmonds, AFSCME Local 1369 President (Washington County);
-Daniel Peyser, AFSCME Local 1674 President (Howard Center);
-Dana Wilkerson, AFSCME Local 1674 Vice President (Howard Center);
-Rubin Serrano, AFSCME Local 2413 President (Northeast Kingdom);
-Dana Wright, AFSCME Local 3797 President (Windsor County);
-Brittany Rhodes, AFSCME Local 3977 President (Lamoille County Mental Health);
-Sara Williams, AFSCME Local 3977 Vice President (Lamoille County Mental Health);
-Tim Birch, AFSCME Local 4802 International Representative (VT Home Healthcare);
-David Van Deusen, AFSCME Council 93 Staff Rep/VT AFL-CIO District VP;
Also Endorsed [as of 5/3/19] by the following Unions/community allies:
-Jill Charbonneau, President, Vermont State Labor Council AFL-CIO;
-Timothy LaBombard, President, Vermont Building Trades Council AFL-CIO & IBEW Local 300;
-Ray Betis, President, USW Local 4;
-Julie Roberts, Acting President, United Academics at UVM;
– Larry Moquin, Regional Organizer, Laborers’ International Union of North America;
-John Davy, President, VSEA Chittenden County Chapter;
-Michelle Salvador, Organizer, Vermont Labor United;
– Kristen Vrancken, Organizer, Vermont Woman’s March;
-Gwendolyn Hallsmith & Michael Taub, Co-Directors, Vermonters For A New Economy;
-Green Mountain John Brown Gun Club;
-Vermont Liberty Union Party;
*Contact AFSCME-VT to have your Union Vermont Union endorse this action, coordinate picket line details, and to receive updates as planning unfolds. Email AFSCME-VT Union Rep David Van Deusen: dvandeusen@afscme93.org
Or simply follow the Vermont AFL-CIO Facebook page for updates as they unfold:
https://www.facebook.com/vtworkers/
###
