Vermont
What is closed on Juneteenth in Vermont? Check the list
What is Juneteenth, America’s newest federal holiday?
Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
This week, people across the country will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
Celebrated each year on June 19, the holiday’s roots go back to June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of Black people after the end of the Civil War – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln. According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the holiday has become known as America’s second independence day, and it officially became a federal holiday in 2021.
This is the first year Juneteenth will be recognized as a state holiday in Vermont.
As a federal holiday, many businesses and organizations will be closed for the observance of Juneteenth, but not all. Here is a guide of what is open and what is closed on Juneteenth in Vermont.
What is closed on Juneteenth in VT?
- All state, local and federal offices will close to observe Juneteenth, including the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- While many schools are already out for the summer, those that are not will likely be closed for the holiday. It is best to check with your school district.
- Libraries will be closed on June 19.
- Trash collection on Juneteenth is often delayed by one day, but the decision is up to each specific town or provider.
Will the post office be closed on Juneteenth?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will be closed on Juneteenth, meaning no mail will be delivered. However, FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available, according to the company’s website. FedEx Office locations will also be open.
Is the stock market closed on Juneteenth?
The New York Stock Exchange is closed on Juneteenth.
Are the banks open on Juneteenth?
All banks will be closed on Juneteenth, but online banking and ATM services will still be available. Transactions made on June 19 will not be posted until the next business day.
What is open on Juneteenth in VT?
- Most supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor stores and retail chains remain open on Juneteenth. Some stores, such as Costco, choose to close for the holiday, so check before you shop.
- Many restaurants and fast-food chains remain open for the holiday, but locally-owned eateries may be closed. Check with the individual restaurant.
- All National Parks will be open and free on June 19.
Jenna Prestininzi of the Detroit Free Press contributed to this report.
Vermont
Vermont state employees’ union files labor complaint over Gov. Phil Scott’s return-to-office plan — and sues – VTDigger
The union representing Vermont state employees is turning to two legal venues to challenge Gov. Phil Scott’s order that many of its members return to the office in person.
On Nov. 10, the Vermont State Employees’ Association filed a charge with the state’s Labor Relations Board alleging the Scott administration skirted a union demand to enter formal bargaining over the return-to-work plan, in violation of labor protection laws. The plan will require many employees to come into the office at least three days a week.
The union also filed a separate grievance with the Labor Relations Board arguing that parts of the plan violated the collective bargaining agreement it has in place with the state.
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Then, on Nov. 12, the union filed a lawsuit in Washington County Superior civil court asking a judge to bar the Scott administration from implementing its workplace plan — set to take effect Dec. 1 — until the labor board adjudicates the union’s complaints.
The union wrote in its lawsuit that “neither the unfair labor practice charge nor the grievance is capable of being decided” by the labor board before Dec. 1. The suit seeks a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction that allows state employees to continue working remotely.
Steve Howard, the union’s executive director, said in an interview Wednesday that he hoped the suit would at least slow the implementation of the governor’s directive. He said he thought a hearing could be held on the lawsuit as soon as next week.
The legal challenges mark a significant escalation in the monthslong fight between the union and the administration over the plan to have state workers, with some exceptions, return to the office. The union contends that the hybrid work mandate will cause experienced employees to quit, decreasing the quality of state departments’ work.
At the same time, administration officials say that the order will improve government services by boosting collaboration and helping to preserve institutional knowledge. They’ve argued Vermonters want government workers to be present in-person.
In a statement Thursday, Amanda Wheeler, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, said the union’s legal challenges had no impact on Scott’s support for the plan.
“The Administration’s decision to implement this standard is well within our authority,” Wheeler wrote. “The Governor’s position on returning to a hybrid work standard has not changed, he continues to believe human connection is an important part of employee engagement, as well as team building and learning from each other.”
According to court filings, after the administration formally announced its return-to-work plans in late August, it wrote to the union in September requesting a meeting to discuss the plans and hear the union’s concerns. In that letter, which is attached to the lawsuit, John Berard, the state’s director of labor relations, said the plan did not need to be the subject of formal bargaining. That’s because the planned hybrid work requirement was permissible under an existing teleworking policy for state employees, he said.
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But the union doesn’t see it that way. In court filings, the union contends state leaders agreed to remote working arrangements for their employees, starting at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, that did not fall under the stipulations of the teleworking policy. Those arrangements “have become an established condition of employment which the State is not free to change” without entering formal bargaining, the union wrote in an Oct. 24 letter to the state. It demanded, in that letter, that bargaining take place.
Berard then wrote the union back Nov. 10 saying the state’s position had remained unchanged, according to court filings. That’s the same day the union filed its challenges with the state Labor Relations Board.
The legal challenges are set to play out as the state has expanded its workspace ahead of the planned return to office for many employees. On Monday, it signed leases for three new office spaces in the privately owned Pilgrim Park complex in Waterbury, which records show would be used by workers at the state Agency of Human Services.
That agency has been facing a shortage of office space at the nearby Waterbury State Office Complex, where much of its operations are based. The shortage could delay the restart of in-person work for some employees past Dec. 1, officials said previously.
The state is set to pay about $2.3 million to lease the new office space over the next five years, according to the leases.
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ProblemSolved, USA TODAY
One Vermont company was deemed among the “most ethical” in the United States by the financial media company MarketBeat.
MarketBeat said it surveyed more than 3,000 people from different demographics last month to determine which companies they feel best align with their personal ethics and values. The results were then adjusted to reflect national population benchmarks.
The survey found that people value businesses that remain close to their founding towns, prioritize employee ownership and focus on sustainability.
The financial media company pulled together a list of 118 businesses considered to be the “most ethical” across the nation.
See how the Vermont company ranks and how it stacks up against other New England businesses.
MarketBeat’s ‘most ethical’ Vermont company
Here is the Vermont company that made MarketBeat’s “most ethical” list:
King Arthur Baking Company in Norwich, which sells flours, mixes, and baking tools, was ranked #24 in the country.
The baking company lists four environmental commitments on its website – regenerative agriculture, emissions reduction, zero waste and sustainable packaging.
King Arthur is employee-owned and is focused on “fostering an inclusive and welcoming baking community, taking meaningful steps to ensure all bakers feel they belong,” it said.
How other New England companies stack up
Here are the New England companies that made MarketBeat’s top 118 list:
- Ocean Spray – Lakeville, Massachusetts (#4 nationally)
- CVS Health – Woonsocket, Rhode Island (#5 nationally)
- L.L. Bean – Freeport, Maine (#12 nationally)
- King Arthur Baking Company – Norwich, Vermont (#24 nationally)
- Timberland – Stratham, New Hampshire (#30 nationally)
- Stonyfield Organic – Londonderry, New Hampshire (#34 nationally)
- Taza Chocolate – Somerville, Massachusetts (#56 nationally)
- New Morning Market – Woodbury, Connecticut (#65 nationally)
- Narragansett Beer – Providence, Rhode Island (#86 nationally)
- ReVision Energy – South Portland, Maine (#89 nationally)
- Allagash Brewing Company – Portland, Maine (#109 nationally)
- Cape Air – Hyannis, Massachusetts (#110 nationally)
Top 20 ‘most ethical’ companies in the US
Here are the top 20 “most ethical” companies in the U.S., from a list of 118, according to MarketBeat:
- Hershey Company – Hershey, Pennsylvania
- The Campbell’s Company – Camden, New Jersey
- Burt’s Bees – Durham, North Carolina
- Ocean Spray – Lakeville, Massachusetts
- CVS Health – Woonsocket, Rhode Island
- Publix Super Markets – Lakeland, Florida
- McCormick & Company – Hunt Valley, Maryland
- Hallmark Cards – Kansas City, Kansas
- Tillamook Creamery – Tillamook, Oregon
- Buc-ee’s – Lake Jackson, Texas
- Jack Daniel’s Distillery – Lynchburg, Tennessee
- L.L. Bean – Freeport, Maine
- Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Community Coffee Company – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Zapp’s Potato Chips – Gramercy, Louisiana
- Ozark Natural Foods – Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Clif Bar Baking Company – Twin Falls, Idaho
- Peace Coffee – Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Honolulu Coffee Company – Honolulu, Hawaii
- Milo’s Tea Company – Bessemer, Alabama
MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – State officials in Vermont and New Hampshire are warning SNAP recipients about phishing scams involving fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and emails.
Officials say scammers are calling and sending messages fraudulently claiming that the client’s EBT card has been “locked” and instructing them to call back to verify their eligibility.
Officials advise recipients not to share personal information with the sender and never give EBT card numbers to an unknown caller.
In Vermont, the scam should be reported to the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424.
Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.
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