For Immediate Release

Contact: Kelly Mangan

Phone: 802-324-6560

Email: kellyVFFC@gmail.com

Event: Press Conference

Location: Vermont Workers Center (294 N. Winooski Ave, Burlington, VT)

Date: June 13, 2013

Time: 12pm

VERMONT FAIR FOOD CAMPAIGN PUBLISHES STUDY OF FOOD CHAIN WORKERS, THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS IN VERMONT FOOD INDUSTRY

The Vermont Fair Food Campaign is publishing a study on the conditions of food workers in Vermont, and will hold a press conference on June 13 at 12pm to announce our findings.

The food industry in Vermont accounts for 15% of our state economy, employs more than 57,000 people, and generates about $202 million in state and local revenue. It’s a growing industry, but those who do the work of producing, manufacturing, processing, distributing, and selling our food do not see the benefits of this growth.

The Vermont Fair Food Campaign spent a year surveying food workers. We found that many of them receive low pay, few benefits, no paid sick leave, and have little job security. If their employers offer health insurance, they often can’t afford it. Many struggle with inconsistent hours and schedules, which makes it difficult for workers to predict if they’ll be able to pay their bills from week to week. About 16% of workers expressed concerns about health and safety issues at work, and 23% had been injured on the job. And finally, our survey found a lot of fear among food workers who wanted to speak up about workplace conditions, but were scared of losing their jobs if they did.

This needs to change. It’s impossible to build a healthy and stable food movement on top of substandard wages and poor working conditions. If we are really serious about creating a sustainable food system in Vermont, then we must start by creating sustainable jobs.  

The Vermont Fair Food Campaign is a movement of food workers and community allies fighting for livable wages, paid sick leave, dignity, respect, and voice for food chain workers across our state.

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