"The two-year quest by deputy state prosecutors to join a labor union is growing more contentious. After failing to win recognition as state employees in recent years, deputies from eight counties filed petitions with the Vermont Labor Relations Board asking to be recognized as county employees — as some state officials have long suggested they are."
Continue Reading at sevendaysvt.com
Nice piece on what VSEA Executive Director Mark Mitchell was able to accomplish (with VSEA members!) in his time with the union. This paragraph really stands out:
"Over the course of his two and a half year tenure, Mitchell has taken the union from a service organization in which the staff managed relationships with the Legislature and the governor’s office to a member-led union that gives rank and file workers more say in how the union works with the administration and lobbies at the Statehouse. The idea was to empower union members to become involved in union drives and issues that have an impact on their day to day work."
Read the Digger story here: http://bit.ly/RG70C0
This morning, VSEA Associate General Counsel Rebecca McBroom (pictured here speaking to reporters) was proud to attend the Governor’s official signing ceremony of the “Whistleblower Protection Bill.”
McBroom said VSEA is hopeful the legislation will cause more and more state and public employees to begin reporting waste, fraud and corruption.
Also joining the Governor for the signing was State Auditor Doug Hoffer, who drafted and championed the legislation. Following the signing, a FOX44 reporter asked the Governor about the status of VSEA whistleblower John Howe’s investigation and his lawsuit against the State. He answered “we absolutely do not condone retaliation.” FOX44 will be talking with John Howe later this afternoon for its piece on the whistleblower bill signing.
VSEA issued the following press release this morning, asserting that Southern State Correctional Facility Superintendent Mark Potanas violated employees’ right to engage in protected, concerted union activity:
This morning, the Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) will file an unfair labor practice charge with the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB), asserting that Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) Superintendent Mark Potanas “interfered with, restrained and /or coerced employees in the exercise of their rights guaranteed by 3 V.S.A. §903(a).”
VSEA joins the Agency of Transportation in reminding motorists to drive carefully and slow down for work zones.
