Action for Botton Chairman Neil Davidson said: “Our campaign has already attracted support from nearly 3,000 well-wishers around the world. We are urging all our local supporters to attend the vigil which will be an opportunity to demonstrate our strong support for the many villagers, co-workers and their families who are against these proposals.”
Supporters are to meet at Danby Church (YO21 2NQ) and it is planned to then walk towards Botton Village. The vigil will include singing, prayers and readings and people are being urged to bring a lantern. More information will be available on www.actionforbotton.org
A recent packed public meeting at Danby Village Hall saw some 250 people unanimously vote to support Action for Botton in its struggle against CVT which wants to replace the long-established system of voluntary working with standard, shift-working, minimum-wage employment contracts.
The vocational workers (known as co-workers) claim the sweeping changes will destroy the culture and ethos of their unique communities, which are based on the principles of Rudolf Steiner. They also maintain CVT is ending the core principle of “life-sharing” in which workers and residents live together as equals in family-like settings. Forty-six of the community’s 58 co-workers have now signed a declaration of independence from Camphill Village Trust.
