Symington stresses the importance of Labor Day

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) stressed on the importance of Labor Day and the benefits Vermonters reap as a result of the labor movement in a statement released Monday.

"As a legislator and Speaker of the House, I've been proud to partner with union leaders to develop meaningful policies to benefit working Vermonters," Symington said in a statement.

House Speaker Symington outlined a number of pro-labor measures the Democratic Party has passed in the last few years. She described raising the minimum wage for tipped wage workers and non-tipped workers, expanding the rights and benefits of working members of the Vermont National Guard and adding a cost of living adjustment as signs that the Democrats support labor.

"Governor Douglas has a very different record when it comes to issues important to labor," Symington said.  "He did not move quickly to investigate health hazards at the Bennington Office Building, his failed economic policies have resulted in low wage jobs without good benefits, and Vermont has lost thousands of good manufacturing jobs during his administration."

She challenges incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) and Independent Anthony Pollina.