In an age when the Vermont economy continues to struggle with a diminishing workforce and growing retired population, a new leader in Gov. Scott’s administration has stepped up to right the ship.
In this episode of Vote for Vermont, co-hosts Pat McDonald and Ben Kinsley interview Lindsay Kurrle, commissioner of the Department of Labor, about the challenges employers and employees face in the state.
A Montpelier native and St. Michael’s College graduate in accounting, she first worked with international accounting firm KPMG. Later she ran a convenience store and deli, and now owns fuel hauling firm Kurrle Transportation. Her work in the public sector has included, among other things, a role as assistant director of statewide financial reporting for the Department of Finance.
In the interview, Kurrle discusses economic challenges presented by the governor’s “6-3-1” mantra. The construct reminds everyone that each day six workers leave the state, three children leave the public school system and one baby is born addicted to drugs.
She touts Vermont’s career resource centers, which serve employers and employees alike, and emphasizes that education must partner with industry to develop skilled employees who are ready to fill positions in high demand.
Regarding Vermonters who struggle with mental health issues or drug addiction, Kurrle says employers play a vital role in helping people maintain jobs and keep their lives on track.
Watch full episode:
Jerry, Because .. Contrary to legislative fiduciary responsibility to the tax payers and voters, our legislature state and federal allowed government employees to unionize against the taxpayers or public interest. A “fiduciary felony” against the taxpayer. Federally over 2 million employees . Vermont one of the largest public employees to citizen ratio in the county’s. Bad idea for the tax payer, more profitable for the elected official and public employee via lobbyist incentives or bribes . This allows the unions lobbies representing Govt employees, against the taxpayer, to hold the taxpayer hostage and allow the participation in slow downs and strikes till the taxpayer relent and the lobbies pay out political support for the votes of the paid for legislators.
It’s not that labor of any kind doesn’t deserve fair compensation. It that the working public, approximately 47% of which are low income in Vermont, just doesn’t have it to pay the public employee better wage and Benifits and support their our family’s at the same time. BECUSE The regulation “tax code” cause him “the employer” to buy new euiptment for business purposes “deductions” and prevent him from paying to much to his employees because again the “tax code” punishes him by how much he pays his laborores raising his fees to the state for his generosity to his employee. Consequently the trades laborers get the brunt of the private employer residual profit and risk reward who is regulated stringently enough, yet luckey enough, to stay in business through shear perseverance. Thus Making the private laborers luckey to even have a poorly paid job. Just wait till the minimum wage creeps to $15.00/ hr. There will be even less for the private sector to share with the remaining laborers. And likely less employers to squeeze for trying to run a business. See proposed 9+% property/education tax increase proposed, or the GreenMountain power rate increase request or healthcare increase, or water and sewer, fuel carbon tax, air tax, and service rate fee for the additional Newley unemployed recipients of the 15.00 minimum wage proposal adding new welfare beneficiaries. Oh well there are even proposed taxes for selfreliance efficiencies gardening, compost gassing, solar, non use of enough fuel or mileage tax proposal for efficient cars dispite owner who paid a premium to be green. Are we getting the picture. It’s time for a change are you ready yet. Socialism only works till we run out of other people’s money. Have we heard that before.
The jobs in Vermont don’t pay enough to live. Visiting nurses and companions to the elderly are paid as if they were slaves. They also have to run the wheels right off of their own vehicles.
The construction contractors of Vermont are doing ok,but ask the people that work for them how they’re doing? It’s almost like an unspoken pact between company owners. No matter how much more they are charging for jobs,nothing goes to the guys actually performing the work. The owners drive more and more deluxe king series pick-ups (which never actually see work) and the workers keep their 96 chevy lumina patched up to continue getting to work.
It’s a lopsided economy and not just Vermont. Why do you think an #*&*@! like Trump could get the Presidency? It’s called a hail Mary pass by the people that are in the trenches keeping the country moving. They need more money!
So why exactly are these jobs paid so much less than teachers, police, firemen, or public works?