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Read this issue of Week In Action!

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In this week’s issue:

• Podcast Explores What It’s Like To Be A DCF Employee, From The Worker’s Perspective
• VSEA “Issue” Receptions Kick Off! Members Make Case To Lawmakers For More Staffing & Against Privatizing Workers’ Comp, Liability and Safety Workers
• Call Your Senators Today! Paid Sick Leave Bill Will Benefits Hundreds Of Temporary Workers
• Last Call To Self-Nominate For Open Combined Unit Seat On VSEA Board Of Trustees
• and more!

Last night, VSEA members like DCF worker Kara Haynes (pictured here, glasses on head) had the opportunity to discuss staffing issues with a group of lawmakers, who were invited to attend the first of four issue education receptions; last night’s theme being "staffing."

Another reception is scheduled for tonight. The issue is "privatization," and it is expected to feature workers from the State’s Risk Management Division, who are currently engaged in a battle to keep their service public.

Dear Judiciary Members:

On Friday, January 23, we met with the Administration to discuss non-financial and financial proposals. The day featured some slight, positive movement by management on non-financials, but they remained unbending on their financial proposals.

The Administration proposed zero COLAs for 2 years, eliminating the Employee Development Fund and the Columbus Day holiday, and cuts to our overtime and mileage reimbursement. We brought forward the following measures that we feel recognize the respect and dignity that we deserve:

• Increase Docket Clerks to a Pay Grade 18, without a formal reclass;
   
• A Cost-of-Living Adjustment in years one and two;
   
• Adjusting the After-Hours RFA Rate of Standby Pay to a percentage amount for each hour on duty, instead of a flat dollar amount for each pay period;
   
• Addition of standardized training on policies and procedures for After-Hours Relief from Abuse work;
   
• A sliding scale for the Judiciary and employee share of the premium cost of the State Employee Health Plan and employee health benefits that are proportional to an employee’s income; and
   
• 100 percent coverage of employee life insurance premiums by the Judiciary.
   

Learn more about our opening financial proposals and management’s on the Judiciary Unit’s “members-only” page on the VSEA website.

Dear Judiciary Members:

Before summing up what’s been happening, allow us first to invite you to join us at our next bargaining session on Friday, January 22, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the AOT Training Center in Berlin, Vermont. Details are below.
 
On Friday, January 15, we met with the CAO for a second time to discuss our non-financial proposals. We remained faithful to our commitment to improve working conditions and satisfy the needs of the membership while management made accommodating gestures towards our proposals throughout the latter half of the day.
 
We opened with a statement from Cindy Foster about the impact of low morale on the Judiciary’s over-arching mission to provide access to justice and quality public service. As management sought to support its proposals by outlining goals of predictability and streamlined processes, Cindy noted:
 
"Putting the welfare of your employees ahead of your streamlined processes and predictable scenarios MIGHT provide a chance for the Vermont Judiciary, at all levels, to start a dialogue based on true ‘good faith.’  Be assured that a proposal consisting entirely of takeaways will erode any existing fragments of trust and respect."

Dear Judiciary Members, 

On January 8, we met with the CAO at the Costello Courthouse to discuss our non-financial proposals. While we brought forward proposals to improve union rights, call-in pay, opportunities for advancement, training, and the reclassification system, among other working conditions, the Judiciary Administration proposed gutting our contract under the guise of making the Judiciary more "efficient, streamlined, and fiscally responsible." 

The Administration proposed the following cuts to the quality of our work: 

• More power to relocate staff long distances, including, forcing employees to voluntarily resign from their duties upon turning down a work reassignment, hence taking away RIF rights for employees who choose not to relocate for conscientious reasons
   
• Eliminate the oral warnings in the performance evaluation and disciplinary processes​, which is the first step in progressive discipline
   
• Bargaining commencement as late as January, after the start of the Legislative Session
   
• Limit VSEA Committee participation by Judiciary Members and eliminate steward training hence weakening your union
   
• More power for the CAO to shift and consolidate positions with greater ease

Want to read more? Our opening non-financial proposal as well as management’s are in the members-only Judiciary folder on the VSEA website.