The newly formed Pension Benefits, Design, and Funding Task Force met again last week to begin trying to reach a consensus on how best to address the state employee and teacher pension plans’ unfunded liability. The task force is the Legislature’s response to massive pushback from VSEA and NEA members after the State Treasurer introduced several unacceptable proposals to deal with the unfunded liability. VSEA and NEA members also came out strongly against an initial proposal about who would sit on the task force, saying it favored management. The blowback caused the proposal to go away and be replaced with one that leveled the playing field for workers. VSEA has two rank-and-file representatives on the task force, Leona Watt and Eric Davis.
VSEA members and retirees can watch the task force meetings held to date by clicking on the link below. The task force meets next on July 22.
Link To Task Force YouTube Page
Another Opportunity To Have A Seat At The Table!
One Of The Best Ways To Get Involved In Your Union Is To Run For Election To The VSEA Board!
VSEA is now accepting petitions for the following Officer positions:
President;
First Vice President;
Second Vice President;
Clerk; and
Treasurer.
Any member in good standing can run for an Officer position.
Learn more or download petitions here.
The VSEA Board of Trustees met today and more details about last week’s meeting between VSEA Corrections members and Governor Phil Scott were discussed, followed by the Board voting to send the following statement to members:
“The VSEA Board of Trustees supports and stands by its members working in the Department of Corrections and the people they serve. We value the expert work they perform in the most demanding and challenging of settings and will continue to advocate on their behalf to immediately address:
1) Chronic understaffing
2) Mandatory overtime and double shifts
3) Inconsistent policies/standards among facilities and field offices
4) Recruitment and retention issues
5) Unsafe working conditions
All state employees deserve safe working conditions, to protect them and those that they serve.
Our union, the VSEA, stands with you.”
– VSEA Board of Trustees
