The Rutland Herald reports today on VSEA President Aimee Towne’s recent letter to the Scott Administration, requesting the work-from-home period be extended to January 1, 2022.
VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard said this was the first time the union had weighed in on the issue. The VSEA had hoped to have more conversations with the Scott administration.“What we’re hearing from members is a real concern for the public’s health, for their health, the health of their families, and a lot of questions about what happens with schools and kids, if kids are sent home to quarantine what do you do if there’s no child care?” he said.
He noted that other state worker groups have decided to push back the in-office date.
Attorney General T.J. Donovan said Monday he was planning to have his people back in the office by September but chose to delay it, only to look at the case counts in mid-October and decide that waiting until 2022 was best.
Leadership of the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA) learned today that Vermont’s Corrections employees have voted to retain the VSEA as the workers’ bargaining representative. The vote was prompted by a recent attempted raid on the Unit by the New England Police Benevolent Association (NEPBA), a Massachusetts-based union. The count was conducted at and by the Vermont Labor Relations Board.
“This is terrific news, and VSEA applauds and thanks everyone who cast a vote for VSEA,” says VSEA President Aimee Towne. “Now that this chapter has concluded, VSEA looks forward to working with our Corrections members—both “yes” and “no” voters—to address the many issues they identified to us both pre- and post-election. This means short staffing, forced overtime, COVID, and low morale to start. We are looking forward to meeting with the new commissioner in the very near future.”
Towne explains that prior to the vote, VSEA leaders and staff spent months talking with Corrections members, in person (when able), electronically, and by phone.
“This was very much an organizing drive that, due to the number of workers, required an all-hands-on-deck approach,” she adds. “I want to stress that today’s vote would not have happened without the help and knowledge of our rank-and-file leaders in each correctional facility. Now, it’s time to get to work.”
VSEA has represented Vermont Corrections employees for more than four decades.
This is important to remember. Why? Because, in just a few months, the House Speaker and Senate Pro Tem will gavel in the 2022 legislative session, and there’s a host of issues for VSEA members to come together to support, including: full funding of the Pay Act, fair pension reform, enhanced employee safety and health protections and finding ways to address the staffing crisis across state government.
