Vermont Labor Board Rules Against Governor's Office

0:00The Vermont Labor Relations Board just ordered Governor Phil Scott's administration to scrap its rule-forcing state workers back to the office three. Days a week, they ruled the state skipped good-faith bargaining and messed with employees' rights. This nonjudicial panel handles labor gripes for Vermont's public servants. Earlier this week, the board dropped the decision, saying the policy rolled out ignored union input. Officials argued it would boost teamwork and make government more reachable for folks, but the board wasn't buying it. Now the state has to rewind and fix the fallout. Governor Scott called it disappointing, but expected. Slamming the board is tilted toward labor even though he picked its members under strict rules. His team blasted the panel as broken and fired off an appeal notice to the Vermont Supreme Court right away. Meanwhile, the employees union hailed it as a huge win, stressing bosses can't just dictate terms without talking. To order his hard, the state must offer jobs back to anyone who quit over the mandate and reimburse all effective workers for losses like extra gas or childcare costs.

1:05Union leaders want those payouts as wide as possible, though December numbers show employee headcounts held steady despite the push. State reps are pushing for a stay on the ruling during the appeal, betting they'll overturn it up top. Union head Steve Howard says, clean up the mess and bargain right looks like this tussle heads to the big court next. Canada news today powered by AI bringing you what matters.