James Haslam of the VT Workers' Center takes a look back at the accomplishments of 2012 and Top Ten reasons to look forward to in 2013. Help Build the Movement - donate and participate!

1. Top 10 Reasons to Look Forward to 2013
By James Haslam, VWC Director
Dear Friend,
I have always believed that Vermont can lead the
way. Over the past year, you and thousands others
have participated in countless ways to bring us to
this unique moment in Vermont’s history. From our
breakthrough victory on universal healthcare to the
groundbreaking work with the People’s Budget we are
advancing human rights in Vermont. Together, we are
building one movement for people and the planet.
Here’s my Top Ten list of reasons I’m excited
about the work we are doing. We’ve never been in
a stronger position to pursue our goals and have
positioned ourselves to do some incredibly exciting
things in the year ahead. Please send a donation
and contact us to help out any way you can...
James with his family at the
May Day rally in 2012.

2. 10. Declaration of Human Rights and Human Rights Council
On Labor Day weekend, hundreds of people gathered for the People’s Convention for
Human Rights. One outcome of the convention was the Vermont Declaration of Human
Rights which describes the crises experienced by Vermont’s communities, identifies
common root causes of these problems, describes a shared vision, and proposes a plan
of action.
Several of the organizations which co-hosted the People’s Convention have since formed
the Vermont People’s Human Rights Council. With a common vision, this Council will
truly build one movement for people and the planet!

3. 9. People's Budget Campaign: Re-envisioning Democracy
We need to change the state’s budget process to
be accountable to meeting the needs of all people
and our communities.
In Spring 2012 the People’s Budget campaign
successfully passed a law that mandated that
Vermont’s budget “address the needs of the
people of Vermont in a way that advances
human dignity and equity.” The law also also
requires that “[s]pending and revenue policies
... recognize every person’s need for health,
housing, dignified work, education, food, social
security, and a healthy environment.” On December 7, 2012, Put People First
delivered our proposal for a People’s
Establishing this clear purpose is only a first step Budget to the State Administration.
in creating a participatory democracy grounded Read about our vision for a new way to
in human rights, healthy communities, real do the budget.
democracy and collective responsibility.

4. 8. Building a National People's Movement: VWC helping bring Put
People First nationally
The vision behind our Put People
First campaign is spreading. We
must organize in our communities,
and win as much as we can on a
state level, however, we need a
national and global movement to
truly turn things around to set a
course toward healthy communities
and a livable planet.
The VWC has just been nominated
to help anchor a national organizing
process to build a new grassroots
movement for human rights called
Human Rights At Home. Our Northeast Human Rights Dialogue, Philadelphia, PA
partners in Pennsylvania have June 2, 2012
launched a new effort called Put
People First PA. We have just got
started and in 2013 things are really going to start taking off!

5. 7. Building a National People's Movement: HCHR in MD, OR and ME
As we move forward in Vermont, we are thrilled that other states across the nation
are building Healthcare is a Human Right Campaigns. Right now, HCHR campaigns are
underway in Maine, Maryland, Oregon, and other states. As more states pick up the
unique mix of grassroots organizing, human rights policy, and changing the story that
helped us win in Vermont, we gain new hope for transforming healthcare in the United
States. We call on our peers nationwide to support us and our partners in this growing
movement in 2013.
“Vermont’s success has inspired us to re-invigorate the universal healthcare
movement in Maine. We believe it will take states leading the way for our
country to establish a universal healthcare system. In the coming months we
hope to launch a Maine Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign to change
what is politically possible like they did in Vermont.”
—Ben Chin, Maine People’s Alliance
Public launch of Maryland Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign,
Dec 15, 2012. Columbus, MD

6. 6. HELP: After Irene and Sandy we need to build One Movement for
People and the Planet
As a parent of two young children there is
nothing more important to me right now
than stopping climate change. The right to
a Healthy Environment and Livable Planet
(HELP) is a fundamental human right. Around
the world and here in Vermont, the climate
crisis threatens many other fundamental
human rights, such as the rights to food and
water security, shelter, and personal safety.
We must transform public, economic, and
environmental policy to put people and the
planet first.
In the coming year, VWC’s HELP working
Over 50 VWC members participated
group will work with our partners to take
in the stop-the-tar-sands- pipeline
protest at the Governor’s Conference in action to put people and the planet first.
Burlington this past July.

7. 5. Veteran Leaders and a Movement of Families
Our veterans in the movement
have always helped us realize that
building the world we want is not
a sprint, but we have to be long
distance runners in the movement.
Building a movement is not just a
commitment of individuals, but of
families and generations that take
up the struggle for human rights
and social justice.
Peg joined the VWC in 2003 as a
Hotline volunteer and most recently
served as President for the last
three years. Joyce Werntgen, Peg’s
partner, has been a bedrock for Peg and Joyce were honored with the Human Rights
the VWC, undertaking most of the Heroes Award at the VWC 14th Anniversary Celebration
unheralded, yet key roles that make on Dec 8, 2012.
for a strong organization. In 2013,
incorporating their wisdom and the experience of other veterans in our movement will be
critical for us to meet all of our challenges in the road ahead.

8. 4. The Next Generation of New Young Leaders
I became a VWC volunteer in 1999 at a
time in my life when I really wanted to
help bring about transformative change
for our country but didn’t know where to
start. I was given a tremendous amount
of opportunity to hit the ground running,
organizing to help build and grow the
organization. One of the huge strengths of
the VWC is that we have always prioritized
bringing in the next generation of young
leaders into our movement.
The VWC’s People’s Media Project and
People’s University for Learning &
Liberation have become great ways for the
Power to the youth! Marah and Sierra- both high
next generation to grow as new leaders
school freshmen- getting ready to testify at the
and we are grateful to all of our interns. budget hearings!

9. 3. Biggest Year Yet: Right to Organize Struggles in 2013
We support early childcare educators and
home care workers who are struggling to
win the right to organize from the state
legislature. A victory will redefine the labor
movement and be a major advance for
thousands of low-wage women workers in
Vermont.
These are the struggles of people who are
teaching our children at the most important
stage of their development, supporting
our family members to fully participate in
Members of Vermont Early Educators United-
AFT “Kids Count on Me” at the Vermont community life, and nurturing generations of
Statehouse, April 17, 2012. neighbors and friends.
“Early educators’ fight to organize isn’t just a fight to support childcare
providers, but it’s also a fight for the right for quality affordable childcare for
all children in Vermont. It is essential that we have the support of parents in order
to win the rights to be decision makers on policies that affect our ability to provide
for our children. We’ve come a long distance in the last two years and that’s
directly related to the organizing efforts of the VWC.”
-- Anna Gebhardt, early educator

10. 2. Biggest Year Yet: Re-envisioning Membership & Participation
In our early days, we called
ourselves a “rapid response
network,” to mobilize support for
workers’ rights. Over the years we
have created a membership-run
democratic organization. Today
we have organizing committees
in nearly every county of the
state, multiple statewide work
committees, and over 10 staff
members. As we keep developing
an ever-growing base of grassroots
leaders, our organization has
reached a new level of capacity to
achieve tremendous victories.
VWC Membership at the 2012 Membership Assembly
This year, we’re working with on December 8, 2012.
our members across the state to
develop a new membership and organizational structure, with clearer roles for all, to
maximize this potential.

11. 1. Biggest Year Yet: People's Agenda
Through the People’s Agenda, we will declare in unity
that the balance of power will be shifted back to the
People! Key demands for 2013 include:
• Guaranteeing that everyone gets the medically
necessary care they need, including dental care,
not limited by any benefit restrictions, by ensuring
equitable financing of healthcare as a public good.
• A people’s budget, grounded in human rights
principles, with equitable spending and revenue
policies, that meets the fundamental needs of
everyone in Vermont.
• The right to organize a union and bargain
collectively for early childhood educators and
independent providers of home and community
living services.
• Access to driver’s licenses for all Vermont residents
regardless of immigration status.
• Workers’ rights to basic workplace protections,
including paid sick leave.
• Policies that advance our right to a healthy environment and livable planet.

12. It’s truly amazing to look back at all we accomplished in 2012 before looking ahead to
2013. To realize a human rights based system that is sustainable for humans and Mother
Earth for generations to come, we must continue to get our communities organized and
build a powerful people’s movement based on interdependence, solidarity, and love.
There has never been a more exciting time for the movement we are growing.
Thank you for your participation and your donations that help us build this movement!
James Haslam