Oct. 27, 2022
For Immediate Release
Steve Howard
802-793-7930
MONTPELIER, Vt.— Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) Corrections Unit leaders representing frontline staff in Vermont’s correctional facilities statewide are demanding to meet with Gov. Scott to discuss what plan he has—if any—to end excessive overtime and increased workloads due to a years-long staffing crisis that continues to erode employee morale and drag the Corrections Department down.
Union leaders signed a letter that was sent this morning to Gov. Scott, and they are demanding a plan from the Governor to immediately end the staffing shortfalls that have resulted in 16-hour shifts, mandatory hospital coverage, and staff being constantly on-call. The letter notes that Probation and Parole staff are routinely called in on their days off.
“Our members are tired, they are stressed, and it is impacting their health, their families, and their communities,” explains VSEA Corrections Unit Chair Michael Liff, a correctional officer II in St. Johnsbury. He adds, “We are writing to urge you to take immediate and decisive action to address this management failure by Corrections officials in your Administration.”
The employees want a meeting to hear directly from Governor Scott when the excessive workload will end. Their letter calls on the Governor to answer why the Administration has refused to assign trained managers who work in Corrections Central Office in Waterbury to assist frontline workers on the ground to meet the demands caused by the chronic staffing shortfall.
“Frankly, the ability to do these already challenging jobs is proving even more difficult because of these additional hours and responsibilities,” said Roy Catella, the Supervisory Unit Chair and a Supervisor at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility, adding “the public safety is at risk.”
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