Vermont Democratic Party leaders cleared the path Saturday for party staff members to join the United Steelworkers union.
Calling the move “historic,” VDP executive director Conor Casey said he thinks it’s the first time a state party has voted to recognize a staff union. As executive director, he’ll be on the opposite side of the bargaining table from his four staff members. But as the former political director for the Vermont State Employees Association, he’ll likely be a sympathetic negotiator. He may not have much to offer, however, given the party’s recent fundraising drought.
“We were looking at our platform [which has] an enormous concentration on collective bargaining rights,” said Casey. “We want to practice what we preach.”
The party also elected new leaders at its annual meeting Saturday. Terje Anderson, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist from Montgomery, will take over as chair, replacing Faisal Gill, who decided not to run again. Anderson’s opponent, Bolton town chair Peter Jemley, dropped out of the race earlier in the week, endorsing Anderson.
All the other seats were contested. Former state representative Tess Taylor won the race for vice chair; former Democratic National Committee member Billi Gosh was elected treasurer; field organizer David Glidden was elected assistant treasurer; and Noah Detzer, a Bernie Sanders delegate to the Democratic convention in 2016, was elected secretary.
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As a county delegate to the state party, who was in attendance and voting today, I note that 7 Days has omitted perhaps the most important vote of today’s proceeding, which was the adoption of a resolution calling on the DNC to enact spefic and badly needed reforms. A copy of the resolution can be made available to the paper, if it is interested.
And just why is this article showing a photo of Faisal Gill, since he was not even running for a position nor quoted in the article? How about a photo of Conor Casey, who is quoted in the article a couple of times, or the new Chair, Terje Anderson? Or any of the other new relevant leaders selected for various positions? Huh?
What on Earth? No mention of the Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate James Ehlers? Where is that coverage? It is my understanding he presented his platform. Many of us who could not attend the meeting would like to know what he’s all about. More coverage of Ehlers please!
A great new leadership team elected Saturday.
Dems elected a great new leadership team. A cross section of youth and experience, a balance of men and women, and a good representation of every corner of Vermont.
And with the election of Terje Anderson the Prog takeover of the Vermont Democratic Party is complete. There is no longer any room under the tent for moderate Democrats. Its pretty sad.
“And with the election of Terje Anderson the Prog takeover of the Vermont Democratic Party is complete. There is no longer any room under the tent for moderate Democrats. Its pretty sad.”
Amen. With the national Republicans taken over by right wing nuts, the Vermont Democratic Party is handed a golden opportunity to identify itself as a home for moderates. But no. So Scott will cruise to reelection in 2018 because he takes the moderates.
Roy – a moderate Dem platform was uniformly rejected by the voters in 2016. Those who voted for HRC dragged themselves stockholm syndrome style to the polls to swallow their vomit and vote for the lesser of two evils. If you want to see excitement in the Democratic party its not in the clintonite, neoliberal, “moderate” camp – all the positive energy is with the progressive wing.
Either hop on board and we can get to where we are going faster – or you can be obstructionist and cling to the politics that have lost over 1,000 legislative seats since 2010.
Adam Salem, NOTHING about your comment had anything to do with “all the positive energy” you speak of (or reality). Please stop spouting such insulting nonsense.
Adam, youre a pretty good example of the fact that people like you on the extreme left are just as toxic as those on the far right. There isnt a snowballs chance in Hell that moderate Democrats are going to jump on board the progressive crazy train and the bile that you spew certainly isnt going to pursuade anyone to get on board with your political pipe dreams.
Ok Im confused, I thought the whole purpose of “a Union” was to represent employees of organizations that were not treating them fairly. Fair Pay, working conditions, etc..
Is this saying that the Vermont Democratic Party has been screwing over its (4) employees to the point that they need Union Representation for decent working conditions?
Speaks volumes.