Tell Gov. Scott: Save birth at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital!

This month, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital leadership announced plans to close the hospital’s birthing center in six to nine months, citing consistent financial losses.

In response, hundreds of healthcare workers and community members have rallied to keep it open, warning that lives are at risk and arguing that birthing care should be sustained as a public good.

While states like Oregon have used state funds to shore up labor and delivery care, Governor Scott has so far refused to step in to save the birthing center. 

Secretary of Human Services Jenney Samuelson has also downplayed concerns about losing the last birthing center in southeastern Vermont.

In fact, in the event of a closure, the Governor’s office is advising people to give birth in the BMH emergency room if they can’t make it to another hospital. This is a dangerous and outrageous suggestion.

Join people across the state on Tuesday, July 21st for a call-in day to demand the Scott administration save the BMH birthing center.

Take Action!

1. Call Governor Scott’s Office at 802-828-3333
2. Leave a message: Your name, town, and why the state should step in to protect labor and delivery at BMH and around the state.
3. If you have time: Leave a similar message with Vermont Secretary of Human Services Jenney Samuelson: 802-241-0440
4. Add your name here to track how many calls we’ve made: tinyurl.com/BMHCallTracking

This past weekend more than 500 coworkers and community members marched to downtown Burlington last Sunday to push for a fair contract and a stop to the cuts! We heard speeches from union members about safe staffing, the impact of the GLP-1 coverage cuts, and how laying off frontline staff affects all of us. We heard from allies in Migrant Justice about building power together through efforts like VNFHP & SSU’s common good bargaining demands - which include asking the hospital to participate in the Milk with Dignity Campaign. As the March progressed, community members going about their days honked, cheered and expressed their support - this is what building union power & community solidarity looks like. 

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