At 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 26, 2010, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will preside over a Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing in the Vermont State House in Montpelier, Vt. on the need to expand worker-owned businesses in the United States in order to create a more productive and democratic economy.
Vermont has been a national leader in the area of worker ownership and Vermont companies will be participating in this hearing to discuss their experiences. Studies have shown economic benefits from employee ownership including a greater likelihood that a firm will keep its jobs in America as well as greater productivity and worker morale because workers share in future profits and have greater control over their work-life. Sanders has proposed establishing state programs designed to expand employee ownership and participation in business decision making throughout the United States. He has also proposed the establishment of the United States Employee Ownership Bank.
What: U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on ‘Investing in American Workers: The Benefits of Expanding Employee Ownership’
When: 11 a.m., Thursday, August 26, 2010
Where: Vermont State House, Room 11, 115 State Street, Montpelier, Vt.
Who: Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Witnesses:
Bill Carris, Former Owner of Carris Reels, Proctor, Vt.
Jeff Clark, Operations Manager of Chroma Technology Corp, Bellows Falls, Vt.
Jon Crystal, Executive Director of the Vermont Employee Ownership Center, Burlington, Vt.
Christopher Mackin, President of Ownership Associates, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.
Bill McIntyre, Director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio.
Bruce Seifer, Assistant Director for Economic Development of the Community and Economic Development Office of the City of Burlington, Vt.
Mike Sessions, Senior Vice President of Pizzagalli Construction Company, South Burlington, Vt.
Cindy Turcot, Chief Operating Officer of Gardeners Supply Company, Burlington, Vt.
Steve Voigt, CEO of King Arthur Flour, Norwich, Vt.