November 7, 2022
The Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA), as the union representing Vermont state employees, is calling on Governor Phil Scott to make immediate visits to the most chronically understaffed worksites across state government.
“Right now, there are far too many state worksites statewide where employees are having to hold their crumbling worksites together with massive amounts of overtime—giving up time with their families as a result,” explains VSEA President Aimee Towne. “These dedicated state employees deserve to hear directly from the Governor on his plan to solve what is a very serious and chronic staffing crisis in far too many Vermont state workplaces.”
VSEA has been outspoken for several years about the need for Governor Scott to meaningfully address dangerous staffing levels. Last week, the union sent him a demand to reveal his plans to end 16-hour shifts for VSEA’s members in the Department of Corrections and added responsibilities for its members working in Probation and Parole Officers. To date, the union has received no response.
“Frankly, Governor Scott’s lack of a response to VSEA’s urgent request, coupled with his apparent lack of a plan to help employees at these worksites—including at our PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points), health care facilities and Corrections facilities to name a few—is inexcusable,” says Towne.
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