VSEA.org

Correction! July 29 Paycheck Will Reflect Newly Adopted VSEA Dues Structure

August 2 Deadline For Eligible Members To Cast Your Ballot In District Board Of Trustee Elections

VSEA Officer Petitions Due July 16, 2021

VSEA ERN Committee Reminds About VSEA Policy, Governing Internal Elections

VSEA Corrections Delegation Meeting With Governor To Discuss Staffing Crisis In Vermont Correctional Facilities

Staffing Crisis At Springfield Prison Prompts DOC To Shift Staff From Marble Valley

Springfield CO Circulating Petition To Get AC Installed At Southern State

VSEA Senior Union Representatives Shifting Territories

VSEA Hosting “A Day In The Park” For Members & Families

Upcoming Union Meetings and Events:

• Independence Day (Observed): July 5
   
• VSEA Board Of Trustees’ Meeting: July 6
   
• Diversity Committee Meeting: July 7
   
• Northeast Correctional Complex Worksite Visit: July 8
   
• Barre Probation and Parole Worksite Visit: July 8
   
• VSEA Day In The Park: July 10
   
• Officer Election Petition Deadline: July 13

Quote Of The Week!

Maine State Workers Rally For Fair Contract

Oregon Lawmakers Vote To Invest In State Workers

Read The Full Newsletter Here!

On Saturday, July 10, VSEA is hosting a “Day In The Park” for members and their families to enjoy one of six Vermont state parks, including:

• ​Elmore State Park – Morrisville;
• Boulder Beach State Park – Lake Groton; 
• Camp Plymouth State Park – Plymouth;
• Emerald Lake State Park – Dorset;
• Molly Stark State Park – Wilmington; and
• Sand Bar State Park – Milton

At each of the parks listed, VSEA Chapters will be providing members and their families with free park entry, plus free food and beverages. The park day is meant to be a small thank you to VSEA members for your hard work during this especially difficult past year.

Learn More Or Register Here!

VSEA issued the following press release this morning:

A delegation of Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) members belonging to the union’s Corrections Unit ​will be meeting with Governor Scott on Friday to discuss the myriad of issues and worries created by a constant lack of staff in Vermont’s correctional facilities. Joining the VSEA delegation will be VSEA leaders and staff.

“It is way past time for the state, lawmakers, and Department of Corrections’ management to seriously address the clear and very serious–possibly dangerous–short-staffing problem in correctional facilities that has existed for years,” says VSEA President Aimee Towne. “Sadly, an already demanding work environment has been made unbearable by COVID-19, which reduced staff even further in many of our facilities and placed even more stress on remaining frontline Corrections employees. More stress at work can translate to more stress at home.”

Towne says employees report sleeping in their cars at the prison to avoid crashing on the way home due to exhaustion after often being mandated to work a double shift of 16 hours. VSEA Corrections’ members also say the demands of the job and associated overtime are negatively impacting their family lives, meaning they are often missing important life events like births, graduations, celebrations. etc.

Continue Reading Here…

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.

VTDigger reports on a severe staffing crisis at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield and how DOC management has now had to resort to shifting staff from Marble Valley in Rutland and shutting down units there.

VSEA has been warning about a staffing crisis at most Vermont prisons for years now. Obviously, the situation is not getting better, rather, it’s getting worse.

“We have a facility in Springfield that is so badly staffed that they are in absolute crisis,” Steve Howard, the union’s executive director, tells VTDigger. “Our members need relief there because they are exhausted, and to do it we’re going to disrupt the lives of people at Marble Valley.”

Continue Reading Here…