Bill H.173 proposes to grant employees at public institutions of higher education in Vermont, specifically the Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont, the right to strike. The bill amends existing laws regarding employee rights and duties, specifically 3 V.S.A. § 903 and § 962. It removes the prohibition against state employees striking or recognizing a picket line while performing their official duties, explicitly stating that this prohibition does not apply to employees of the aforementioned institutions. Additionally, it clarifies that it is not considered an unfair labor practice for employee organizations to encourage strikes among these employees.

The bill also includes changes to the language used in the existing law, replacing gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral terms. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, H.173 aims to enhance labor rights for public higher education employees in Vermont by allowing them to engage in strikes without facing penalties that apply to other state employees.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-903, 3-962