By David Van Deusen
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, in the largest gathering of Vermont Unionists since the 2023 VT AFL-CIO Convention, over 150 Union leaders, rank & file members, and allies converged on the City of Burlington for an emergency conference and all day series of trainings aimed at becoming STRIKE READY in the Green Mountains.
The conference included trainings on how to unionize new shops (given by Brandon Lawson of AFT), how to build shop floor power (provided by AFSCME IU trainer Valerie Braman), and how to bargain to win while becoming strike ready (facilitated by AFSCME Council 93 Staff Rep Kristin Warner & former AFT Vermont Executive Director Andrew Tripp).
Speakers included myself (former VT AFL-CIO President David Van Deusen) on why our true power is in our labor and solidarity, Kelly Henderson of Massachusetts Teachers Association on how her Union organized and won an illegal wildcat strike in Newtown MA, Ellen Kaye (co-President of UVM Staff United/AFT) on how UVM workers used rank & file organizing and mass action to fight back against university management to secure a solid Union contract (and why Vermont law must be changed to allow ALL workers the legal right to strike).
The penultimate speaker, AFSCME Council 93 Executive Director & International VP for the Northern New England Region Mark Barnard, affirmed the gravity of the right wing anti-Union attacks emanating from Washington, the need for all Unions and working class people to forge an active solidarity aimed at both mutual defense and as a means to develop our ability to launch a counter attack with the goal of forging true UNION POWER.
The final speaker, APWU International President Mark Dimondstein, in no uncertain terms, asserted that the federal government, under Trump, represents the rise of a new fascism who’s dark conclusion, if unchecked, would have have devastating impacts on not only our Labor Movement but humanity at large. Dimondstein further recognized the past leadership provided by the Vermont AFL-CO (and United!) when Union members voted to authorize a General Strike should their be no transfer of federal power on January 20, 2021. Dimondstein called on all Union leaders and members, today, to recognize that the fascistic threats facing us now are just as dire (if not more so), and that mass action is needed now more than ever to meet these existential challenges. And here, the skills learned at Union Power ’25 must be utilized as part of this resistance.
Also at the conference the United! Caucus elected a new leadership with Graham Lebel (AFSCME Local 1674) now serving as Chair and representatives from four different AFL-CIO Internationals/Unions (AFT, AFSCME, UFCW and VSEA) serving on a new Central Committee. This Central Committee’s primary task over the next year shall be aimed at building internal democratic structures within the caucus and to advance social and political positions within Labor that are reflective of their Ten Point Program For Union Power and which are responsive to the fascist threat in Washington.
United! is the working class-left caucus within the Vermont AFL-CIO which was in power from 2019 until 2024. United! continues to retain seats of the Vermont AFL-CIO Executive Board.
Union Power ’25, organized by UVM Staff United/AFT, UFCW Local 1459, AFSCME Local 1674, and AFSCME Local 3977, was endorsed by the United! Caucus, United Academics at UVM/AFT, AFSCME Local 490, AFSCME Local 1201, AFSCME Local 1369, The Green Mountain Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, and Green Mountain Democratic Socialists of America. This historic strike ready conference drew members from scores Unions including AFT, AFSCME, AFGE, APWU, CWA, IATSE, LIUNA, SAG, SEIU, NEA (School Workers Action Committee), UE, UFCW, USW, VSEA, and WGAE.
Union Power ’25 was just one step in the direction of making our Labor Movement ready to meet the existential threats posed by the far right as Project 2025 continues to unfold. These kinds of mass preparations need to be happening in all corners of our Republic. The threats we face are many. But we are Labor, we are the great majority, and will win win if we have solidarity, if we are prepared to do what needs to be done, and if we become STRIKE READY.
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