Over 150 community members participated in a forum on our Human Right to Healthcare organized by Vermont Workers Center / JwJ on October 1st at the Imani Center in the Old North End of Burlington.  Nearly a dozen Chittenden Co. Legislators were present, mainly to listen, as the focus was on the voices of the people.

Burlington resident Felicia Smith spoke of her inability to afford $700 monthly premiums for the Catamount health plan for her family as a part time worker.

Shelburne resident Pat Flanagan spoke about nearly dying because of bleeding from stomach ulcers caused by too much aspirin which he took to relieve a bad toothache over a long period of time because he could not afford the dental care he needed.  He also explained that he was unemployed because his electrical workers union cannot compete for jobs with contractors who do not provide health benefits for staff.

Similarly, Judith Janone, a long time Burlington city employee argued how unjust it was that her part time colleague must pay more than a third of her wage to provide her family with health insurance. “Healthcare should not be tied

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