Vermont-NEA News

Scott Shows 'Appreciation' for Dedicated Teachers, State Workers, Troopers by Threatening Their Retirement Security

Governor Scott Shows ‘Appreciation’ for Dedicated Teachers, State Workers, Troopers by Threatening Their Retirement Security

Members of the state’s largest union pledge to work with lawmakers to override this irresponsible veto

MONTPELIER – The 13,000 members of the state’s largest union are disappointed by the governor’s decision to veto a measure meant to strengthen the pensions of teachers, state employees, and troopers. The bill was passed without a single dissenting vote. The following statement can be attributed to Don Tinney, a high school English teacher who serves as the elected president of Vermont-NEA:

It is unfortunate that after spending the last two years hailing teachers, state employees, and troopers as pandemic heroes, Gov. Phil Scott today rewarded them by vetoing a bill meant to preserve their pensions and give them financial security in retirement. To do so on this opening day of Teacher Appreciation Week, the governor showed he’d rather play politics than do what’s right for the people who have been there for Vermont’s students throughout the pandemic and beyond. Today’s veto is an affront to teachers, an affront to state employees, and an affront to troopers who all worked with lawmakers and a high-ranking member of the governor’s own cabinet to craft this bill in months of open – and publicly available – meetings over the last year.

The legislature already showed its unanimous support for the retirement security of hard-working public employees, and our 13,000 members stand ready to work with lawmakers as they override this irresponsible and thoughtless veto.

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