The Vermont Progressive Party passed a resolution last week that supports state employees by calling on the State to come to the bargaining table with fair contract proposals and end the posturing. It reads:
"Whereas Governor Shumlin deliberately pushing toward imposition of contracts with VSEA Executive Branch Units rather than working toward settlement shows serious disrespect for the collective bargaining process; and
Whereas Governor Shumlin deliberately failed to include a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA ) increase for State employees in its 2017 Budget Proposals and is thereby requesting the Legislature not honor nor even acknowledge the position of State workers; and
Whereas Governor Shumlin has been incrementally expanding the size of management while at the same time pushing front line workers to provide the same level of services with fewer resources; and"
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In this week’s issue:
Yesterday, VSEA Social Worker Trissie Casanova was back at the State House, testifying in support of S. 154; legislation that will enhance the penalties for assaulting a DCF worker and criminalize the act of making threats.
This needs to happen, and Casanova’s testimony yesterday explains why:
“I personally have been threatened to be killed, my building blown up, I’ve had people waiting for me outside by my car. I’ve had things sent to my personal home. I have been personally sued for doing my job. And I know I’m not the only person that’s experienced these things.”
Thanks to Trissie and all the VSEA members who have been coming to the State House to make their case for enhanced safety protections while at work.
We Are Sobel Strong!
Read the full VTDigger story here
Nearly a dozen Vermont state employees working in the State’s Risk Management Division recently learned that their service has been put out to bid to private, for-profit vendors, some located out of state. The bids are due February 26, and the jobs of the seasoned VSEA members who provide Workers’ Compensation, Liability and Security services are at risk.
- Here’s just a few of the reasons the workers want to keep their services public:
- Workers represent more than 100 years of combined and specialized knowledge;
- Workers are the ones helping state employees get back to work after suffering a work illness or injury;
- Workers are “Vermonters serving Vermonters,” and they know the people they serve;
- Workers know state worksites and the nature of state employee work, across the board; and
- Workers understand the system’s challenges and how best to navigate them.
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VSEA members belonging to three of the union’s largest bargaining units (Non-Management, Corrections & Supervisory) and the union’s Judiciary Unit are in very difficult negotiations right now with the Shumlin Administration and the Court Administrator. For the first time in three contract cycles, VSEA’s big three Units are in front a fact finder because of the State’s hardball tactics and, frankly, a lot of bad proposals. This after years of the Administration’s cuts to services and positions, numerous botched multi-million-dollar IT project failures, documented abuse of sole-source contracting with private vendors and other examples of financial mismanagement across state government. Very few the fault of VSEA frontline workers.
While state employees (many your family, friends and neighbors) wait for a fact finder’s report to be delivered (could be weeks), please join VSEA members in sending this simple message to the Shumlin Administration and the Court Administrator. Vermont state employees deserve a fair contract now!
Find Your Lawmaker’s Contact Information Here!
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