Witnesses tell House panel Prop 3 would enshrine collective-bargaining rights; proponents say statute framework would remain

Summary

Testimony to the Vermont House General and Housing Committee on Proposition 3 framed the measure as a constitutional affirmation of workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain, with union leaders saying existing statutory frameworks would continue to govern certification and bargaining procedures.

Rebecca McBroom, general counsel for the Vermont National Education Association, told the House General and Housing Committee on April 17 that Proposition 3 would enshrine in the state constitution the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain.

"This constitutional amendment could open pathways for new groups of individuals to organize, but this would be accomplished inside our preexisting statutory framework," McBroom said, adding that Vermont already has several labor statutes dating back to 1969. She described Vermont NEA as the state's largest union, with about 13,000 members.

McBroom walked committee members through existing law, saying the National Labor Relations Act governs most private-sector organizing while Vermont statutes cover public employees and certain other groups. She listed current state statutes by name — including the State Employees' Labor Relations Act, the Municipal Employees' Relations Act, the Labor Relations for Teachers Act, the Judicial…

Witnesses tell House panel Prop 3 would enshrine collective-bargaining rights; proponents say statute framework would remain

Summary

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