Valvoline Corp. paid its CEO just under $5 million in the most recent fiscal year, according to its SEC filing. The company is building an oil change facility next door to Brattleboro's beloved, locally-owned, Fletcher's Auto Repair. Across the street is the Home Depot and its vast parking lot, both of which have been vacant for nearly two decades thanks to a locally-organized boycott. The beloved, Vermont-owned, Brown and Roberts hardware store is thriving on Main street. Lumber is available at two locally-owned sawmills in Brattleboro and from deconstructed vacation homes at Renew Salvage.

On the morning of August 19, the Valley Post sent the following email to Valvoline's PR person: “I heard a rumor that Valvoline removes the old oil by vacuuming it out through the dipstick hole. Is that correct? If so, my understanding is this would cause major engine damage by leaving residue in the bottom of the oil pan. Please let me know. Thanks.”

On the morning of August 20, the Valley Post left voicemail to follow up. As of August 21, the PR person had not replied to either message.

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New Hampshire’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Vermont’s minimum wage is $14.42 an hour. The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $15 an hour. Keene, New Hampshire is 15 miles from Brattleboro. From the Keene city limits to the Brattleboro town line takes about 20 minutes by bus or car.

Keene resident Rick Cohen has a “net worth” of $21 billion. He owns the notoriously anti-union C and S wholesale grocers, which has warehouses in every state, including ones in Brattleboro and the Pioneer Valley.

The Keene Sentinel daily newspaper recently quoted a former member of the state legislature saying ICE recently arrested three people in Keene. The newspaper quoted the mayor saying ICE had arrested one person in Keene this summer.

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In Amherst on August 18, hundreds of people marched for jobs with justice. This union organized the march:

https://universitystaffassociation.org/about-usa/history-of-usa