House committee recommends Proposition 3 — constitutional amendment on collective bargaining — to the floor after 10‑1 vote

The House General & Housing Committee voted April 24 to recommend Proposition 3 — a proposed constitutional amendment regarding the right to form unions and collectively bargain — to the full House, approving the proposal by a 10‑1 roll call and designating a committee reporter.

Committee members expressed support for elevating collective bargaining protections in the constitution and discussed the amendment’s scope and process. One committee member summarized the view of several witnesses and members: making the right to form a union constitutional would preserve current organizing rights and provide a pathway for groups currently excluded under statute to seek statutory changes through the legislative process.

Emily (committee member, online), who seconded the motion and agreed to serve as committee reporter, gave a detailed statement in favor of the amendment. Emily said the change “would strengthen union membership across all sectors and extend union benefits to more working families,” and added that “strong labor rights and union membership lead to better outcomes for working Vermonters, higher wages, improved working conditions, and more comprehensive benefits.”

A member who spoke in support observed the amendment would not automatically alter existing statutory exclusions; rather, it would preserve the right and allow groups to pursue bargaining unit recognition through existing procedures administered by the Vermont Labor Relations Board. The sponsor emphasized the amendment’s intent to protect workers’ ability to organize while leaving the specific statutory and regulatory steps for forming bargaining units unchanged.

Motion and committee vote A motion to recommend Proposition 3 to the House floor was made on the committee floor and seconded; the transcript does not record the maker by name. The committee clerk called a roll; members recorded as voting were: Representative Farley (yes), Representative Burrows (yes), Representative Charlton (yes), Representative Dodge (yes), Representative Dalton (yes), Representative Howard (yes), Representative Krasnow (yes), Representative Lamont (yes), Representative Parsons (no), Representative Peso (yes) and Representative Mahali (yes). The committee chair announced the outcome as 10‑1 in favor.

Reporter and next steps Emily volunteered to serve as the committee’s reporter, and the chair asked Emily to email the clerk (Nigel) and copy staff (Magali and the chair) with the report and vote. The chair said the Speaker had requested the committee act promptly and that, if reported today, the proposition could appear on the House floor next week; the committee noted the constitutional amendment process in Vermont includes subsequent consideration in the next legislative session after an election.

Ending With the 10‑1 committee recommendation, Proposition 3 will advance to the House floor for consideration under the normal constitutional amendment process.