Proposal 3: Right to collectively bargainA right for workers to organize and bargain together, in the constitution
Read the full text of the measure: Governor's proclamation of the proposal (PDF)
In plain words
This would add a new Article 23 to the Vermont Constitution. It says workers have a right to form or join a union and to bargain as a group with their employer about pay, hours, working conditions and safety. It says no law can weaken that right. It also says no law can ban a contract between an employer and a union that requires workers to be union members to hold the job. Vermont's constitution has no such right today, so changing it back later would take another statewide vote. (sevendaysvt.com )
Before and after
| Question | Today | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Right to organize and bargain together | Not in the Vermont Constitution | In the Vermont Constitution (new Article 23) |
| Can lawmakers weaken that right? | Not confirmed yet | No law could interfere with, cancel out or reduce it |
| Contracts that require union membership for a job | Not confirmed yet | Lawmakers could not ban them |
Our summary of the sources linked here. It is not checked line by line against the Governor's proclamation.
Biggest change
- Puts a worker's right to organize and bargain together into the constitution, so lawmakers could not remove it with an ordinary law. source: sevendaysvt.com
- Bars "right-to-work" laws, which stop employers and unions from agreeing that workers must belong to the union. Ballotpedia says Illinois is the only other state with such a ban in its constitution. source: news.ballotpedia.org
Who it affects most: Workers who are in a union or want to join one, and employers that bargain with unions.
Cost to the state: No cost estimate found. Unknown.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
Workers get a right to organize and bargain together written into the Vermont Constitution, and lawmakers could not ban union-membership requirements in job contracts.
The constitution stays as it is, and the right to organize and bargain together, and any ban on union-membership requirements, stays up to ordinary state law.
Our one-line summary, not official wording.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
The Legislature put this on the ballot. It changes the state constitution, so only another statewide vote can change it back. It passes with a majority of the votes cast on it.
Why supporters want it
- Rep. Conor Casey (D-Montpelier): "It's largely a defensive measure against some of these attacks on workers by greedy corporate America." source: sevendaysvt.com
- House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D-Chittenden 16) said the amendment "is about standing up for what is right" and "paving the way for future generations to come." source: news.ballotpedia.org
Why opponents object
- Clara Morrison, executive director of the Right for Vermont Foundation, says the amendment removes workers' freedom to decline paying union dues in a union shop and takes the question away from lawmakers' ordinary debate. source: sevendaysvt.com
- Rob Roper, a former chair of the Vermont Republican Party, said the proposal "effectively strips, in key cases, one's right to individually bargain on one's own behalf." source: news.ballotpedia.org
Who backs each side
No public record found of a campaign committee or campaign money for either side.
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
INCOMPLETE: not shown. The Governor's proclamation carries the amendment text but no separate ballot question, and we could not read the sample ballot. Your ballot question is on your sample ballot (Vermont Voter Portal).
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
No articles collected yet for this measure.
Full text of the measure
Read it in the Governor's proclamation of the proposal (PDF) , or on the Legislature's page for Proposal 3 (legislative page: P.R. 3, "Declaration of Rights; right to collectively bargain") , which also shows the votes in each chamber.
Read more
- Governor's proclamations of Proposals 3 and 4 (July 2026)
- Seven Days: Vermonters will vote on two constitutional amendments
- Ballotpedia News: Vermont voters to decide on collective bargaining amendment
- Governor's proclamation of Proposal 3 (PDF)
We link to analysis from several sources; we don't endorse it.