For close to a century, workers across the backbone of Vermont’s economy — agriculture — have been barred under federal and state laws from joining a union. A bill that passed the Senate last year, and is now being marked up in the House, would change that.
S.102 would authorize a workplace of five or more agricultural or domestic workers to form a collective bargaining unit, among other measures. The bill would also prohibit employers from forcing employees to attend meetings with express religious or political messages.
That can include messages aimed at union-busting, lawmakers have said.
The House General and Housing Committee is marking up the bill this week. Committee Chair Rep. Tom Stevens, D-Waterbury, called the legislation — known as the “PRO Act” when it was in the Senate — a priority to get onto the floor in the final few weeks of the session.
“The way that the workforce has sugared off since the pandemic, really, has shown that we need to figure out what’s best for keeping a workforce sustainable. And one of those things is being given a right to organize,” Stevens said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.
The proposal to allow ag workers to unionize has drawn mixed reactions during committee testimony this month. Speaking last week in support, Will Lambek, an organizer with Migrant Justice, said approving the proposal was “a basic question of equity, fairness and justice.”
But organizations including the Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance have argued, among other points, that if a farmworker union was to go on strike, it could compromise animal welfare or lead to crops not being harvested in time to get food out to customers.
Richard Nelson, an owner of Nelson Farms in Derby, suggested he wouldn’t have a choice — and would call on friends and family members for help.
“If a group were to go on strike — and I don’t even like to talk about it because I would hope that would never come to that — cows would get milked. Absolutely, cows would get milked,” Nelson said during Wednesday morning’s House committee hearing.
Other sections of the bill have proven controversial, too. Austin Davis, a lobbyist for the Lake Champlain Chamber, has questioned whether the bill’s reference to “political” messaging is too broad and urged lawmakers to hit the brakes because a Connecticut law aimed at curtailing coerced meetings is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit.
Stevens noted, though, that it’s important to consider the power dynamics often at play.
“When it comes to a captive audience, the upper hand is with the employer who can afford the representation to provide their side of the story,” the chair said in an interview.
S.102 also includes measures that could make it easier for public sector workers to form unions. Additionally, the House committee is considering adding language into the bill from a separate House proposal, H.858, to authorize the state’s assistant attorneys general to collectively bargain. There are close to 100 such attorneys working across different state agencies.
Last year, the Senate passed S.102 in late March on a party line vote, 23-7.
As it stands, House General has a vote on the bill penciled in for Friday morning.
— Shaun Robinson
In the know
The Senate Education voted 3-2 on Wednesday to favorably recommend Zoie Saunders as the next education secretary.
The Senate is expected to vote on Saunders’ confirmation next week. She needs the support of a majority of the 30-member body, though the chamber currently has one vacancy due to the resignation of former Sen. Dick Mazza.
Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, the committee’s chair, as well as Sen. David Weeks, R-Rutland, and Sen. Terry Williams, R-Rutland, voted in support of Saunders.
Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central, and Sen. Nader Hashim, D-Windham, voted against recommending Saunders.
— Ethan Weinstein
On the move
After a flurry of last-minute changes over the weekend, the Vermont Senate on Wednesday advanced an $8.61 billion state budget with just about an hour of debate.
As House and Senate budget-writers prepare to hash out the final details of next fiscal year’s spending plan in the closing weeks of the legislative session, the Senate’s version is notable for what it’s missing: a slate of new tax proposals the House approved last month to raise $100 million in new revenues.
— Sarah Mearhoff
The Vermont House on Wednesday voted out the annual yield bill, which helps set property taxes annually.
The bill, which now goes to the senate, received 101 “yes” votes, enough to overturn a veto from the governor. But senators may significantly alter the bill once it’s at their disposal.
Average education property taxes are expected to rise about 15% for homeowners and 18% for business and second home owners.
In addition to property tax-related provisions, H.887 also creates “the commission on the future of public education.”
—Ethan Weinstein
Visit our 2024 Bill tracker for the latest updates on major legislation we are following.
On the hill
The U.S. Senate voted by a wide margin Tuesday night to send a $95 billion foreign aid package to President Joe Biden for his signature.
But among those who opposed it were Vermont’s two delegates to the U.S. Senate: Bernie Sanders, an independent, and Peter Welch, a Democrat.
The sprawling bill would provide close to $61 billion in military aid to Ukraine, more than $26 billion in military aid to Israel and humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, and more than $8 billion to Taiwan and other U.S. allies to counter China.
— Paul Heintz
On the campaign trail
Rep. Katherine Sims, D-Craftsbury, is looking for a new job.
The second-term House member announced Wednesday that she’s seeking to make the jump to the state Senate, now that longtime Sen. Bobby Starr, D-Orleans, is retiring from the chamber.
Sims issued a press advisory saying that she plans to launch her campaign for Orleans County’s sole seat in the Senate next Monday at Butterworks Farm in Westfield.
— Sarah Mearhoff
Go fish
There’s a new face in House leadership. He’s quiet, keeps to himself. Rather scaly. Meet Stanley — Speaker Jill Krowinski’s new betta fish.
Krowinski bought Stanley earlier this month (“with her own money,” I’m told), and the colorful companion has been kicking it, just swimmingly, in her office since.
A quick note: Last week, House Speaker Chief of Staff Conor Kennedy asked Sarah and me for ideas on what to name said fish. After much thought — when we were definitely not on deadline — we settled on a name that we were, frankly, quite proud of: Gill Krowinski. Pun intended!
Apparently, another suggestion floating around the speaker’s office was “Podium,” which I actually think is quite funny. Another idea was “Betta T,” a nod to the electronic aircraft company Beta Technologies (also funny, but likely too corporate.) Regardless, “Stanley” won out — a name reportedly proposed by the young son of one of Krowinski’s close friends.
— Shaun Robinson
What we’re reading
Judge denies delay of Montpelier-Roxbury school budget revote, VTDigger
Mitch Wertlieb to take over as host of ‘Vermont This Week,’ VTDigger
Vermont Rep. Emilie Kornheiser sees raising revenue as part of her mission, Seven Days
