Rights at Work

Stephanie Yu of the Public Assets Institute makes the case that now is the time to raise Vermont's minimum wage.

Eric Blanc, the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics discusses how teachers in West Virginia self-organized themselves, successfully overcame the divisions with school service personnel, and won broad community support for a mass political strike that despite a Republican-controlled statehouse and a coal baron governor, beat back charter school legislation, attacks on seniority, a paycheck “protection” bill, and won a pay raise for all public employees.

Jeremy Brecher, of the Labor Network for Sustainability, discusses the Green New Deal & Jobs for All; Chris Maisano the Anti-Democratic Character

Eric Blanc, the author of Red State Revolt: The Teachers' Strike Wave and Working-Class Politics, explains the significance of the successful Los Angeles teachers' strike. It wasn't all about wages. At its core, the strike was a fight against a hostile takeover of public schools by the super rich.

Lt. Governor David Zuckerman says we should focus on the challenges that face Working Vermonters.  Many Vermonters are not benefiting from the state's economic growth. While the wealthiest have seen their incomes climb dramatically, working class Vermonters' incomes remain flat. We should pass legislation that will ease the struggle for many. Affordability is a coin with two sides: expenses and income.