Unions - Vermont

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Vermont has labor relations laws; however, they provide similar protections as those of the National Labor Relations Act and Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act and do not apply where the NLRB has jurisdiction. The state’s Labor Relations Act covers private sector employers with five or more employees. The state law does not cover agricultural laborers, individuals employed by their parent or spouse, domestic service workers, independent contractors, those covered by the Railway Labor Act, or supervisors.

Under state law, professional employees can only be in a bargaining unit with non-professional employees if a majority of the professional employees vote for inclusion in such a unit.

Right to work

The state has no right to work law.

Public employees

Vermont has specific labor relations and collective bargaining laws for certain public employees, including state and municipal workers and teachers.

Captive audience law

Employers cannot require employees to attend meetings or listen to communications about religious or political topics. They cannot take or threaten to take adverse action against employees for refusing to attend employer-sponsored meetings, or refusing to listen to communications, where the primary purpose is to share employer opinions about religious or political matters.

State

Contacts

National Labor Relations Board (Region 1)

Vermont Labor Relations Board

Regulations

Vermont State Labor Relations Act, Title 21, Chapter 19, Subchapters 1 – 4, §1501 et seq.

Vermont Municipal Labor Relation Act, Title 21 §1721 et seq.

Labor Relations for Teachers, Title 16 §1981 et seq.

State Employees Labor Relations Act, Title 3 §901 et seq.

Federal

ContactNational Labor Relations Board

Regulations29 U.S.C. §§ 151-16929 U.S.C. §401 et seq.