Treasurer Pieciak: Passing Proposition 3 will enshrine workers’ right to unionize

September 3, 2024  |  By Mike Pieciak 

As Vermont’s State Treasurer, I am focused on rebuilding the middle class by lowering costs and creating more economic opportunities for Vermonters. It has always been my belief that the strength of our economy depends on the financial well-being of every Vermonter. 

One of the best things we can do to improve the financial well-being of Vermonters is supporting labor unions. Union labor built the middle class in America, and expanding union membership will be critical to rebuilding the middle class in Vermont. 

This Labor Day, I want to speak directly to Vermonters about the importance of protecting labor rights. 

Next year, Vermont’s Legislature has the opportunity to pass meaningful protections for workers in the form of Proposition 3, a proposed constitutional amendment to permanently guarantee Vermont workers’ right to unionize. Proposition 3 would protect Vermonters’ labor rights from any future political action at the federal or state level, ensuring that every Vermonter can negotiate for good pay and dignified working conditions. 

Earlier this year, I testified in favor of Proposition 3 and was glad to see that the legislature unanimously approved the measure. To amend Vermont’s Constitution, however, it must be approved again by the legislature in the upcoming session and be put to a vote by the public in a General Election. Vermonters will likely see Proposition 3 on the ballot in the coming years, and I hope you will support it. 

Research consistently shows that strong labor rights and union membership lead to better outcomes for workers, including higher wages, improved work conditions, and more comprehensive benefits like healthcare, retirement plans, and paid leave. Unions can also offer valuable job training and career development opportunities and provide crucial legal support to members who might otherwise struggle to protect their rights in court. 

Vermont’s public-sector unions provide greater financial security for our public-school teachers, state employees, and municipal workers—people who have dedicated their lives to serving their neighbors. My office manages Vermont’s public pension system, which is one of the best examples of the benefits unions provide. Protected by unions, pensions not only ensure retirement security for public workers but are also key tools for recruitment and retention. Pensions also benefit our economy; every dollar invested by Vermont taxpayers in our state pension plans generates nearly four dollars of total economic activity statewide. 

To grow our economy, we must protect our labor rights in Vermont and expand union membership throughout the state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership among public sector workers (32.5%) is significantly higher than that of private sector employees (6%). Proposition 3 would strengthen union membership across all sectors of the economy, extending union benefits to more working families. 

In Vermont, we look out for each other. It’s just what we do. Unions embody this value, this small-town solidarity that we know so well in the Green Mountain State. Unions, by their very nature, ask us to consider the fortunes of others as equal to our own. 

On this Labor Day, let us reaffirm our Vermont values and recommit ourselves to fighting for dignified work, fair wages, and financial security for all Vermonters by supporting Proposition 3. 

Mike Pieciak

Mike Pieciak is Vermont’s State Treasurer.