VSEA Press Release Honors VT Public Employees During “Public Sector Recognition Week”

“Against a backdrop of very hostile and unwarranted attacks on public employees across the country, has there ever been a better year to honor Vermont’s public employees and correctional employees for the quality services they deliver to Vermonters day in and day out?” asked newly appointed VSEA President John Reese.

Vermont State Employees Association Celebrates “Public Service Recognition Week” & “Correctional Officers and Employees Week” 

            The Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA) is proud to join once again with all Americans in celebrating the important work our nation’s federal, state and local government employees and corrections employees do every day.

            Since 1985, America has paid tribute to its public service employees by honoring them during “Public Service Recognition Week,” which, this year, is May 1-7. VSEA also joins the nation in celebrating the dedicated service of our nation’s correctional officers and employees, during Correctional Officers and Employees Week, which is also May 1-7.  

            “Against a backdrop of very hostile and unwarranted attacks on public employees across the country, has there ever been a better year to honor Vermont’s public employees and correctional employees for the quality services they deliver to Vermonters day in and day out?” asked newly appointed VSEA President John Reese. “Lately, it’s become popular to launch ugly wars against public employees for all the wrong reasons, but, thankfully, our continuing model of civil discourse here in Vermont has prevented us from being dragged down into this kind of gutter politics. This isn’t to say that life has been easy over the past few years for Vermont’s public and correctional employees. It hasn’t. But Vermont’s political leaders—and Vermonters as well—have historically recognized and acknowledged the hard work of our state’s public workforce. That’s good news because it means that Vermont’s political leaders have thus far risen above spewing the heated anti-public employee rhetoric currently being heard in some states across America.” Reese reminded that Vermont’s public employees are especially important because of the increased role they play due to the state’s lack of county government structures, which do operate in most states nationwide.   

            “No one does it better than Vermont’s public employees and our corrections employees,” praised Reese. “True, we are doing it these days with a lot less people and for less money temporarily, but Vermont’s dedicated and committed state employees continue to work hard every day, maintaining our roadways, working with offenders, protecting our environment, defending our wildlife, ensuring a safe food supply, providing needed services the elderly, disabled and poor and so much more. VSEA continues to be honored every day to represent the finest public service and corrections workers in the nation.”

            The VSEA is Vermont’s second largest union, representing more than 7,000 state and other public sector workers.

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