VSEA Bargaining Teams Head To VLRB Next Week For Hearing

With the State leaving VSEA’s Non-Management, Corrections and Supervisory Unit Bargaining Teams with little choice but to argue their case for a fair contract to the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB), Team members and staff negotiators are readying themselves for the initial VLRB hearing on March 20.

The hearing is a step in the process that all Teams had hoped to avoid this year, but, as in 2016, the State is choosing to roll its dice again at the VLRB. VSEA members working in 2016 will recall that the VLRB ended up ruling largely in favor of VSEA members that year, and VSEA Teams are hopeful the result will be similar in 2018.

The hearing begins at 9:00 a.m. in the VLRB’s hearing room, located at 13 Baldwin Street in Montpelier.

This is the final stage of the collective-bargaining impasse process, following unsuccessful negotiations that began in August 2017. The VLRB is charged with selecting between the parties’ last-best-offer packages, considering them in their entirety and without amendment. However, should the VLRB find that each side’s last-best-offer is unreasonable and likely to produce undesirable results—or likely to result in a long-lasting negative impact upon the parties’ collective-bargaining relationship—the VLRB may select the fact-finder’s recommendations on disputed issues submitted to the VLRB in the last-best-offers. 

The VLRB’s decision is expected by March 30, and it will be final and binding. 

Note: If you are not a Bargaining Team member, you will need to use your own time to attend the hearing. Please know that seating is very limited so arrive early if you are attending.

VSEA Creates “2018 VSEA Member Bargaining Resources” Page

In an effort to provide all VSEA members in good standing with access to both sides’ last best offers, staff and union bargaining statements and other helpful information, VSEA’s Communications Department has created a special “2018 VSEA Member Bargaining Resources” webpage.

The page will be updated with new information, as needed, and members are encouraged to reference the page throughout the negotiating process.

In order to view the resources page, VSEA members in good standing will need to first log into their VSEA.org account.

Need a VSEA.org account? 
Sign up for a free account here

Last Call To Get On Board VSEA’s Foxwoods Casino Bus!

Today is the cutoff for VSEA members wanting to hop on the bus to Foxwoods next week for a two-night stay at the resort casino.

Lodging Cost:
(Two Nights at Two Trees Inn):

• $248/single occupancy;
• $138 per person/double occupancy; or
• $122 per person/triple occupancy.

Bus Cost:
$70 per person
Bus will depart from Waterbury at 12:00 p.m. and White River Junction at 1:00 p.m.

Included Bonuses:

• Baggage handling;
  (2) $10 food credit or full Festival Buffet;
• $5 food credit or full Breakfast Buffet;
• $20 slot play;
• 20% discount at any Foxwoods gift shop with a purchase of $25 up to $1,000; and
• A Foxwoods souvenir.

To register or for more information, please contact VSEA Union Rep Bob South (bsouth@vsea.org) or Administrative Assistant Sue DeVoid (sdevoid@vsea.org). Each can be reached by phone at 802-223-5247.

Important Information!
Payment must be received within one week of registering or you will lose your spot. Cash, check and credit card payments accepted. To pay, please contact VSEA Union Representative Bob South by email (bsouth@vsea.org) or phone 802-223-5247. Thank You!

New LifeLock Identity Theft Protection Benefit Being Offered To VSEA Members, Beginning
April 1!

VSEA H.Q. sent an email this afternoon to all members, announcing that long-time VSEA insurance provider R.K. Tongue Company will begin offering LifeLock identity-theft protection to union members on April 1, 2018. In the email, it’s explained that additional information and enrollment instructions will be emailed to all VSEA members on April 1. The enrollment period begins April 1 and ends April 30.

In the interim, VSEA members with enrollment questions can contact R.K. Tongue by phone, 800-638-6353 or by email info@rktongue.com

Can’t Say It Enough, But “Thanks AOT!”

This week’s Nor’easter is another reminder of how valuable Vermont’s AOT plow operators are, and, once again, VSEA is thanking all the men and women who keep our highways an byways clear, ensuring Vermonters can get where they need to—safely. VSEA also thanks its members working in Public Safety and all other agencies and departments with employees who contribute to keeping Vermonters’ safe during storms. 

May 11 Deadline To Submit Bylaw Changes

Proposals should reference the number, section, sub-section, etc. of the bylaw you would like to change. You should also include the language you want to add, delete or substitute. Also include the reason(s) you are making this proposal.  Example:  “Bylaw 0 A (1) (b) Change: Monday to Sunday. Reason: Makes it easier to work with the calendar.”

Please be sure the changes you are recommending include all Articles and/or Bylaws that may be affected by the proposed change.

If you have questions, please contact Cassandra by email at cassandraedson@hotmail.com.

Alaska Taking Action & Hiring Special Investigator To Look Into Staff & Patient Assaults At The State’s Lone Psychiatric Hospital

As Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (VPCH) management and State officials and lawmakers continue to debate how to better protect patients and frontline employees from being assaulted, Alaska leaders aren’t wasting time and are taking action, hiring a special investigator this week to look into assaults on workers inside the state’s sole
psychiatric-care hospital.  

From a March 10 Anchorage News story:

Mike Robbins, business agent for the Alaska State Employees Association, said the union drafted a letter to API’s management this week. He said the union would like to see more experienced, permanent staff hired in place of temporary staff.

"I think that this is a good opportunity to make a significant impact in changing the way mental health workers, those on the floor of mental health institutions, have been treated nationwide," Robbins said. "It’s an occupation that suffers from an unbelievable number of physical assaults."

Note: Pretty sure VPCH employees appreciate Alaska union’s work to bring change for the nation’s mental health workers.

In Vermont: VOSHA/ VPCH Agreement Benchmark Dates Clarified

A few weeks back, WIA informed readers that VPCH management signed an agreement on February 17, 2018, with the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) to implement a series of actions designed to improve the safety of frontline employees and patients. Within the agreement, there are timelines attached to each of the actions VPCH management is required to complete, and VSEA staff and members were originally told the timeline benchmarks started when the agreement was signed. Not so.

This week, VOSHA’s top official informed VSEA that management is not forced to begin implementing the agreement’s action steps until the document is “reviewed” and signed off on by members of the Vermont Occupational Safety & Health Review Board. According to VOSHA’s Dan Whipple, that officially happened on March 8, 2018, which means the dates VSEA thought the steps needed to be implemented are now pushed forward by almost a month. Whipple’s clarification means VPCH management must now produce a required survey by Friday. March 23. Another training is required to be offered 15 days after this one.

VSEA will keep members updated on how VPCH management is doing when it comes taking the actions required in the 
timeframes assigned.

New Hampshire Mental Health Worker Who Was Assaulted At Work Helps Write Bill To Better Protect Employees, But Lawmakers Punt

The New Hampshire Union Leader reports on March 13 that a patient recently assaulted three mental health workers at one of the state’s hospitals. This attack and others finally prompted one worker to try to change things, but…

From the story:

"Former NHH nurse June Garen, injured in a patient attack last year, has tried to get improved worker protections enacted through a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mark MacKenzie, D-Manchester, a Democratic candidate in the First Congressional District.

‘At this point, I feel that in spite of our efforts, the culture in the New Hampshire political arena is invested in stonewalling HB 1500. This stone wall is built along partisan lines, seemingly, and ignores the actual issue of safety in the workplace. It will be up to the folks who have sent this bill off to interim study to explain the wisdom behind this move if more workers suffer workplace injuries similar to mine.’”

Related: Vermont Lawmakers Not Prepared To Move On Construction Of A Much-Needed Mental Health Forensic Unit

From a March 14 Seven Days article:

"A secure forensic unit, to house inmates with significant mental illness, may not make the cut. The administration wants a placeholder unit at the Northwest State Correctional Facility. [House Institutions Chair Alice] Emmons is skeptical: ‘Why should we put this kind of money into a temporary 12-bed facility? Is a prison the best setting?’ She suggests the forensic unit "may be down the road.’"

VTDigger also published a story on March 14 about lawmakers’ hesitation to move on building a forensic unit, titled: House Not Funding Scott’s Proposed Mental Health Facility This Year

Note: A forensic unit is an idea VSEA, advocates and workers have been trying to get lawmakers to green light for more than a decade now, stressing its importance to relieving the VPCH of some long-term, forensic patients and freeing up beds for Vermonters in need. Looks like we all will continue to watch and wait.

In The Public Interest’s Guide To The Dangers Of Allowing CoreCivic & Other Private Firms Build Prisons For States

The publication In The Public interest published a “guide” in January 2018, titled “Corecivic And GEO Group’s Push For Public-Private Partnerships In Building Prisons.”

The piece lists reasons why dealing with firms like CoreCivic should be concerning to states. They include:

• Private prison construction deals embed private interests in the criminal justice system, perpetuating mass incarceration;
   
• Public-private partnerships result in higher financing costs for the public;
   
• Public-private partnerships limit the government’s flexibility to respond to changing correctional needs;
   
• The private prison corporation may not properly maintain the facility;
   
• Public-private partnerships may decrease opportunities for public and stakeholder input; and
   
• Private prison construction deals prop up companies with records of human rights abuses.

Franklin/ Grand Isle Chapter Meeting Rescheduled For March 20

Weather forced the VSEA Franklin / Grand Isle Chapter to cancel its March 13 meeting and reschedule it to Tuesday, March 20, at 5:00 p.m. at Mimmo’s Restaurant, located at 22 South Main Street in St. Albans. Food is being provided!

Please direct any questions or comments to VSEA Franklin / Grand Isle Chapter President Janine Cary via email at janine.cary@vermont.gov.

Brattleboro Chapter Meeting On March 22

VSEA’s Brattleboro Chapter is meeting Thursday, March 22, at 12:30 p.m. at the State Office Building, located at 232 Main Street in Brattleboro. Pizza is being served!

Please RSVP in advance—or direct any questions or comments—to VSEA Brattleboro Chapter President Robin Rieske via email at robin.rieske@vermont.gov.

Organizer’s Worksite Meeting On March 23 In Burlington!

Help Spread The Word!
Print and post this flyer in your worksite. Thank you!

Two Men To Plead Guilty To Using Stolen VT State Employee Data To File Fraudulent Tax Returns

The Times Argus reports on March 13 that two Nigerian men will plead guilty to filing fraudulent tax returns with stolen personal information from hundreds of Vermont state employees.

From the story:

"Eneye Dania, 30, and Osariemen Isibor, 31, are both scheduled to admit to a felony wire fraud charge on March 22 in U.S. District Court in Rutland, court records show. Both have signed seven-page plea agreements that have been filed in federal court."

&

"Vermont officials said an estimated 500 state employees potentially were affected in January 2016 when they clicked on a link on a bogus email sent by scammers.

The bogus notice told Vermont state employees that their electronic W2s were available and to click on the link to log in to view and print them.  The employees thought they were connecting to a state human resources website, but it was bogus, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said in September. When they logged in, their credentials with personal information were stolen."

Oklahoma State Employees Vote To Strike With Teachers If Raises Not Approved

"Oklahoma state employees will join teachers in an April strike if lawmakers fail to deliver on demands for increased pay and funding.

Following a Saturday morning meeting, the Oklahoma Public Employees Association board of directors voted to move forward on a work stoppage plan if more than $213 million in state employee pay raises is not approved by April 2."