|
|
Follow @VSEAUnite |
UPDATE: July 31, 2018
Contract Mediation With State Scheduled For Tuesday, August 7
At the request of the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB), VSEA’s NMU, Corrections, and Supervisory Bargaining Teams recently agreed to contract mediation with the State on Tuesday, August 7, to determine if there is any room for compromise from either side on certain issues and if a revised deal of some kind is even possible. The VSEA Teams agreed to attempt mediation, with the understanding that the legal process will resume if mediation is unsuccessful.
VSEA members and retirees can watch and review the VLRB hearing that led to mediation on VSEA’s Facebook page and website.
If you have any questions in advance of mediation, please direct them to a member of your VSEA Bargaining Team. Find Team members’ contact info here.
Note: Until mediation and a possible return trip to the VLRB are complete, the State’s last best offer is still the contract in place right now. Wage increases and certain healthcare co-pay increases do not kick in until January 1, 2019.
July 13, 2018
VSEA’s NMU, Corrections and Supervisory Bargaining Teams were back at the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) on July 12, asking the Board to reconsider its March 30 decision in favor of the State’s last-best-contract-offer.
The following is a short summary of what transpired yesterday that VSEA posted last night to Facebook:
The VLRB heard oral arguments on VSEA’s motion for the Board to reconsider its March 30 decision in the contract last-best-offer (LBO) case. VSEA’s motion challenges the LBO decision from several angles, asking the full VLRB to adopt the VSEA proposal. VSEA outside counsel Al Gordon represented the union and argued forcefully and effectively for reconsideration. Board members Clark and Park heard the case as the last two members of the original panel, now that Karen O’Neil’s appointment has been rejected. The Board faces a difficult bind since it is required to make decisions with three-member panels and two of its five remaining members are recused.
At the start of the lunch break, Chairman Park urged the parties to consider returning to mediation as a way to resolve the dispute. The VSEA Teams agreed to attempt mediation, with the understanding that the legal process will resume if mediation is unsuccessful. VSEA Teams expect to attempt mediation in early August.
In the meantime, VSEA members and retirees are invited to watch and review today’s hearing on VSEA’s Facebook page. If you have any questions, please direct them to a member of your VSEA Bargaining Team. Find Team members’ contact info here.
Note: Until mediation and a possible return trip to the VLRB are complete, the State’s last best offer is still the contract in place right now. Wage increases and certain healthcare co-pay increases do not kick in until January 1, 2019.
VTDigger July 13 Story: State Employees Contract Dispute Goes To Mediation
2018 Contract Fight Timeline:
- March 30, 2018: "VLRB Rules For State’s Last Best Contract Offer"
- April 11, 2018: "This Is “Neutral”? Stop The Confirmation!"
- April 19, 2018: "VSEA Files Unfair Labor Practice, Alleging State Bargained in Bad Faith With Three Executive Branch Units"
- April 23, 2018: "Administration Denied VSEA & Other Unions The Right To Representation On The "Review Panel" To Fill VLRB Vacancies"
- May 12, 2018: "VICTORY! Senate Votes "No" On O’Neill Confirmation"
- June 19, 2018: "VLRB Grants VSEA Bargaining Teams A New Hearing On Contract"
Related VSEA.org Posts:
Stay Up To Date!
Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter!
Follow Our Facebook And Twitter!
|
|