Dear Editor,
Regarding Proposal 4, the so-called “Equality of Rights” amendment, this does not look like an equal rights amendment. The second sentence has a closed list of groups that would be protected, and the third sentence directs the courts to uphold the government’s preferential treatment and benefits to state-sanctioned “historically marginalized groups.” Vote “no” on Proposal 4 so that the Vermont Legislature can draft a real equal rights amendment.
Regarding Proposal 3, the so-called “Right to Collective Bargaining”: Proposal 3 would permanently prohibit Vermont from adopting a right-to-work law for the private sector. Proposal 3 would shift power from the legislature to unions. People already have the right to form or join a union under the First Amendment’s freedom of assembly clause. If farm workers are allowed to unionize under Proposal 3, production would go down and many Vermont farms would fold. This would hurt our state’s food security and working landscape. Illinois passed an amendment that prevented the state from passing right-to-work laws, and people are leaving Illinois. State pensions are underfunded in Illinois just as they are in Vermont, and forcing people to join unions as a condition of employment would only worsen Vermont’s existing pension issues and other affordability issues. Vote “no” on Proposal 3.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Butterfield
Stockbridge, Vt.