VLWC Action Alerts!
|| Updated 1/14/08 ||

1.10.08 Vermont Livable Wage Campaign Action Alert: 4,000 Vermonters Get Their First Raise in Years 1. Update: Tipped Minimum Wage Increase and Survival Tips Video 2. Livable Wages 101: Presentation at Barre's Aldrich Library Jan. 19, 2pm 3. Reading to End Racism Training - Celebrate MLK Day with the PJC Jan. 21, 1pm 4. Conference: Building a Movement for Worker Justice, Jan. 26, 9am-2pm 5. Focus Groups: Help us Vision and Organize for a Economically Just Society 6. VLWC - Looking Back and Visioning for the Future                                                                                                  1. Update: Tipped Minimum Wage Increase and Survival Tips Video   On January 1st the Tipped Minimum Wage was increase by 7 cents from $3.65/hr to $3.72/hr as a result of the passage of S. 27 last legislative session - this is the first increase in many years.  With this the definition of a tipped worker also change changed from someone who "regularly and customarily receives tips" of $30 or more per month to one who make $120 or more per month in tips. If you haven't had a chance to view our 5 min educational video for tipped workers, Survival Tips, you can watch it on our webpage at www.vtlivablewage.org.   Inform Yourself and Your Friends: If you are a tipped worker and would like to help us organize a half hour "Tipped Workers Rights Workshop" and video showing please send us an email.                                                                                                    2. Livable Wages 101: Presentation in Barre   Livable Wages 101: How we can make the VT economy work for everyone Sat. Jan. 19, 2pm Aldrich Library, Barre FREE   Sponsored by: The First Universalist Church, Barre, VT                                                                                                    3. Reading to End Racism Training - Celebrate MLK Day   Celebrate MLK Day with the Peace & Justice Center Attend our Reading to End Racism Training   Learn how to leverage the power of literature and the importance of reading. Brainstorm ideas for helping to eliminate racism.   Monday, January 21 1pm   Call 863-2345 #7 for more details   This event is part of the Americorps VISTA's MLK Day Celebration                                                                                                    4. Conference: Building a Movement for Worker Justice, Jan. 26, 9am-2pm The VLWC and the PJC, along with conference lead organizer the Vermont Workers Center and many union partners, are helping to mobilize hundreds of Vermonters to attend the up-coming conference: Building a Movement for Worker Justice Sat. January 26th 9am-2pm Davis Center, University of Vermont, Burlington   On January 26, workers, students, educators and health care providers from around the state will be gathering at Building a Movement for Worker Justice. This will be a three part conference, geared for working Vermonters, students and including the annual Justice For Healthcare Workers focus. It aims to build a stronger movement for workers' rights, livable wages, economic justice, quality healthcare for all and global solidarity. After the conference there will be a major rally and march as part of the Global Day of Action. View agenda, download brochures and register at: http://www.workerscenter.org/register/#jan26                                                                                                    5. Focus Groups: Help us Vision and Organize for an Economically Just Society   Are you and your family feeling the effects of declining wages coupled with rising healthcare, fuel and childcare cost?   Do you want to see a Vermont where all jobs pay a livable wage and healthcare, housing, fuel and childcare cost are under control - where Vermont is truly affordable and livable for all of us?   Well, so do we!  We are looking to create transformative change and want your help.  Help us organize a meeting in your community (friends, neighbors, co-workers, family) to discuss the future of Vermont and the work of the VLWC.  Send us an email or call 802-863-2345 x8                                                                                                    6. VLWC - Looking Back and Visioning for the Future   2007 was a year of success and transition for the Peace and Justice Center's Vermont Livable Wage Campaign.  We saw the successful passage of S. 27 which attached a COLA increased the Tipped Minimum Wage and changed the definition of a tipped worker.  Burlington Para-Educators finally won a contract that will guarantee them a livable wage after a difficult three year campaign, and we continue to work with the Burlington Food Service workers in their struggle.  We co-organized, with the Vermont Workers Center, the February Worker Rights Board hearing chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders, as well as the March for Livable Wages in Burlington.  We have continued to educate and engage thousands of Vermonters with our community-based economic justice curriculum.  The PJC and the VLWC also saw staff transition with the departure of Emma Mulvaney-Stanak as she moved on to new and exciting work with the Vermont-NEA and the hiring of Colin Robinson.   As we look forward to 2008 we will continue to build upon our past successes and work towards our vision for the future.  We continue to work with the Burlington Livable City Coalition to help ensure Burlington is truly livable for all it residents.  As the legislative session begins we are working with advocacy organization, labor unions and business to pass H. 337 - Guaranteed Paid Sick Day legislation.  2008 is also poised to be a year of growth and re-engagement.  We are hoping to expand and reinvigorate active organizing and conversations across Vermont about livable wages and the cost drivers, like healthcare and childcare, all of which continue going up while wages decline.  We hope you will join us in the struggle for livable wage and economic justice for all Vermonters and look forward to working with you in this New Year.