All Hands On Deck! Help Your Union Stop
The O’Neill Confirmation

VSEA’s Facebook page featured a piece this week about Karen O”Neill, who was recently appointed to the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB), but has yet to be officially confirmed by the Senate, per statute.

The post reads:

One of the back stories to the recent Vermont Labor Relations Board’s (VLRB) ruling in favor of the [State]’s last best offer is the Board’s last-minute* seating of Karen O’Neill in a key “neutral” seat. O’Neill has yet to be confirmed by the Senate, but, oddly, Vermont law permits individuals to hear cases on the VLRB prior to be officially sworn in.

The VLRB defines neutral as individuals in high standing, not connected to any labor organization or management position and who can be reasonably considered to be able to serve as an impartial individual. 

Now, here is a snapshot of Karen O’Neill’s work history:

According to the resume supplied by the VLRB, O’Neill is a corporate attorney who served as General Counsel to Green Mountain Power. She most recently served in the same role for the Vermont Electric Power Company.

O’Neill has also served as in-house counsel to several other utility companies in Vermont and Texas, with responsibilities that included oversight of human resources issues. She has also been a shareholder in Gravel & Shea, a management law firm that advertises itself as follows: 

"In both the public and private sectors, we have successfully defeated union organizing drives."

"While we are available to answer all types of employment-related questions from our clients, our services generally relate to preventive labor and employment strategies, the defense of employment-related claims and dealing with union-organized workforces."

The VLRB has stated that O’Neill could serve as a neutral because she is retired and has no current affiliation with management. Statute also asks whether she:

Can be reasonably considered to be able to serve as an impartial individual”; and

Whether the appointment can be said to “ensure a continuing balance on the Board of labor, management, and neutral backgrounds.”

VSEA members, this is the neutral who cast the deciding vote against your union’s very fair last best offer. Before the Senate confirms Ms. O’Neill, which it still has to do before adjourning, contact your Senators and ask them to oppose Karen O’Neill’s forthcoming appointment to the VLRB as a “neutral.” 

Find Your Vermont Senator(s) Here

*VSEA is questioning how the State maneuvered to get Ms. Oneill substituted in at the last minute and will argue that the way it went down has poisoned any credibility she could ever have with state workers. 

Background story from when Ms. Oneill was hired at VELCO.

VSEA
Co-Sponsoring May Day Rally At The State House

VSEA members and retirees certainly have a lot to get off their chests these days, so why not join other Vermont workers on May 1 at the State House in Montpelier to raise awareness about state employee issues and fights and to support other groups of Vermont workers in their fights. 

VSEA is reimbursing members for your mileage to come to the rally but carpooling is being highly encouraged. VSEA members are invited to stop by headquarters, prior to the rally, to make a sign(s) and to park (if room).
 

May Day Rally 2018
Tuesday, May 1
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
State House 
Montpelier

Event Facebook Page

VSEA Executive Director Challenges State To Openly Debate Ramifications Of Imposed Contract

> Listen To Interview
Howard’s segment begins at 1:20:30

At the end of his time, Howard issued a challenge to State leaders to meet with him "anytime, anywhere" in front of a group of workers and retirees to debate the ramifications of the contract terms and conditions the State imposed on them. Howard says that his invitation has been out there, but he has received no response to date.   

Something Fishy? You Be The Judge

From a 4/12 VSEA Facebook post:

After reading and hearing about the Vermont Labor Relations Board’s (VLRB) recent decision in favor of the State’s last-best-contract-offer, a House and Senate joint Committee asked VLRB Director Tim Noonan to testify before it on Tuesday to drill down on how statute-on-the-books currently governs the process to resolve contract disputes. As part of his testimony, Noonan detailed the timeline related to Karen O’Neill’s appointment by the State
to the VLRB.

Noonan told lawmakers that Scott appointed Ms. O’Neill on February 26. He said he (the Board) learned of the appointment on March 8. VSEA was not informed about the appointment until March 19. VSEA submitted its last best offer on February 28, believing the case would be heard by the then-current VLRB. The Administration filed theirs, however, knowing they had Ms. O’Neill in the wings.

Now it gets interesting. On March 14, less than a week before the last-best-offer hearing (after Scott appoints O’Neill, but before VSEA knows of the appointment) the Administration’s legal counsel pens an email to Noonan, copying VSEA, raising the issue that Board member Alan Willard (or the person already designated as the “neutral” to hear VSEA’s contract defense), currently receives state health care benefits. The morning before the contract hearing, Willard recuses himself, stunning both the VLRB’s Noonan and VSEA. Coincidence? Mind you, in 2016, another Board member who receives state health care benefits did hear the VSEA’s contract defense and no conflict was ever discussed. 

So after this Board member recuses himself, who steps in to fill the “neutral” seat? That’s right, Karen O’Neill. And when does VSEA learn about O’Neill being slotted? One day prior to presenting at the VLRB on March 20. VSEA’s Bargaining Teams voiced anger and concerns, but the clock was ticking to meet the established statutory timeline and the Teams were left with few options but to proceed forward and examine the process afterwards to determine what legal options VSEA has, if any, to shine a brighter light on what exactly happened here, which brings us to today.

VSEA’s President, Labor Relations Director and Bargaining and Legal Teams are now looking at options and deciding next steps, but be assured VSEA will be sharing whatever details are unearthed in the coming days and weeks with you. 

In the meantime, contact your state Senators today and tell them to oppose Karen O’Neill’s confirmation to the VLRB. 

Find your Senator(s) contact
information here

Thank you!

Help Spread The Word!
Download, Distribute or Post This PDF Flyer About O’Neill Appointment

VSEA
Rebuts DHR Commissioner’s Flowery Assertions, Regarding Members’ & Retirees’ Prescription Drug(s) Future

Monday evening, after most state employees had already left the office, DHR Commissioner Beth Fastiggi emailed a memorandum to state employees, in which she tried desperately to put a good spin on the prescription drug reality that now confronts most VSEA members and retirees. Not wasting any time, VSEA leaders and staff consulted with members and retirees who know a thing or two about the State’s health care plan, and less than a day after Fastiggi’s email hit, VSEA posted a rebuttal to her memo, and you can read what your union said here. Please also share VSEA’s document with any of your co-workers who might not be engaged all that much with VSEA but will certainly appreciate the heads-up about the changes to their prescription drug coverage, coming in January 1, 2019.  

Help Spread The Word!
Downloadable Flyer About Rx Reality

The DHR Commissioner also protested loudly this week about VSEA’s use of the word “banned,” when letting members and retirees know about the future of the 170 prescription drugs that were on an “excluded” drugs list that DHR’s Benefits Deputy Director recently provided to your union. VSEA was quick to remind that the word “ban” is a synonym for the word “exclude.” Click here to view VSEA’s Facebook post about the “ban” versus “exclude” uproar and here to view a meme about the difference of opinion between the DHR Commissioner and VSEA.  

Prescription Drug Dictatorship?

Remember that the VLRB’s decision takes collective bargaining out of the mix when it comes to deciding which, when, how much and how many prescription drugs will be available to VSEA members and retirees in the future. This is because the State’s last best offer contained a draconian and heavy-handed prescription drug proposal, and the VLRB’s ruling gives the State sole discretion about:   

What prescription drugs state employees and retirees will be offered:

• The quantity state employees and retirees can receive; and
   
• How much state employees and retirees will pay.

View List Here

There is a process available to VSEA members to appeal a drug denial, if there is not another drug available that meets the members’ needs. Learn More About Appeal Process Here

Keep The Pressure On!

VSEA members and retirees have been lighting up the State House switchboard to voice opposition to the changes coming in January 2019 to state employees’ and retirees’ prescription drug coverage, but we can’t let up now. Please continue to contact both DHR and the Governor’s Office to voice your anger about the new “exclusions” and urge each to abandon the move before it causes any Vermonter harm.

Contact DHR at 802-828-6700 (press #1 then #3)

Revised Steward Training Dates Announced

Trainings begin at 8:30 a.m.

The dates are:

• April 27: Diversity Training, VSEA HQ, Montpelier;
   
• May 9: (originally scheduled for December 7), Location TBD
   
• June 8: Holiday Inn, Rutland; and
   
• September 18: VSEA HQ, Montpelier

To register, please email Gretchen Naylor here: gnaylor@vsea.org

Next Central Vermont Chapter Meeting Is April 17

The VSEA Central Vermont Chapter is holding its next meeting on Tuesday, April 17, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at VSEA headquarters, located at 155 State Street in Montpelier. Dinner! One primary discussion will be about the recent VLRB decision, how it came about and what the ramifications are.

Please direct any questions or comments to VSEA Central Vermont Chapter President Cassandra Edson, via email at cedson@vsea.org.  

Three Organizer’s P&P Worksite Meetings Next Week

VSEA Organizer David Oppenheimer is holding three meetings next week at Probation and Parole Offices in Burlington, Bennington and Brattleboro.

• April 17: Burlington P&P, 50 Cherry St., 12:00 p.m.
   
• April 20: Bennington P&P, State Office Building, 200 Veterans Memorial Dr., Suite 12, 11:30 a.m.
   
• April 20: Brattleboro P&P, 41 Spring Tree Rd., Break Room, 3:00 p.m.

Members with questions can contact David by email (doppenheimer@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247.

Organizer’s Worksite Meeting On April 18 In Morrisville

Members with questions can contact Jen by email (jlarsen@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247.

Bennington Chapter Announces April 24 Meeting

Please RSVP to avthorpevsea@gmail.com

Vermont Declares
April 10
“Equal Pay Day”

VTDigger reported this week that the State signed an official proclamation on April 10, marking the day as “Equal Pay Day” in Vermont.

Equal Pay Day was created in 1996 by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. The date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.

“For single women in Vermont, the difference in pay is the equivalent of about seven months of rent,” Cary Brown, the executive director of the Vermont Commission on Women, said at the proclamation signing event.

“In Vermont, Hispanic or Latino women earn 80 percent of what men do, and Asian women earn 58 percent, according to Scott’s proclamation. Disabled women in Vermont only make 37 percent of men’s earnings, it says. Nationally, black women earn 63 cents on the dollar compared to men and Native American women earn 57 cents, according to the proclamation.”

In Advance Of SCOTUS’ Impending Janus Ruling, New York Governor Signs Important Pro-State Worker Legislation

WIA has reported several times about an impending ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on a case (Janus v. Illinois) that could harm public-sector unions across the nation, but on April 12, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill that, according to an online UFT story, “helps New York’s public-employee unions recruit and retain members and reduces the number of services these unions are obligated to provide to workers who do not pay to support those services.”

“The law, which was hammered out as part of this year’s state budget talks, reduces the number of services that New York’s public-sector unions must provide to workers who opt not to join the union. The unions, for instance, will not have to provide free legal representation to these non-members in statutory or administrative proceedings.”

Note: Way to step up Governor Cuomo and NY state lawmakers!

Oklahoma Teachers
Going Back
To Classroom

• Head Of Oklahoma Teachers Union Calls To End Teacher Walkout
   
• Oklahoma Teachers End Nearly Two-Week Walkout That Shut Schools

Now Is The Time To Enroll In VSEA’s Popular Delta Dental Supplemental Plan Benefit

VSEA members should have received a letter and/or email by now, announcing a new, open-enrollment period to participate in your union’s very popular Delta Dental Supplemental Plan. The enrollment period is also when members already in the program can amend their number of dependents also using the program, if this number has changed in the past year.

All enrollment forms will be due back on a May 4, 2018.

Note: If you are already taking advantage of this benefit, and you have no changes this year to your coverage, you do not need to send back a new form, as you will be automatically renewed.

VSEA Members And Retirees Could Save Hundreds On Auto And Home Insurance With Travelers!

For more information view a copy of the email here.

A New VSEA Benefit – LifeLock Identity Theft Protection

From the email:

"We think your identity is worth protecting. LifeLock works to help protect your identity in a digitally-connected world. Protection from LifeLock helps safeguard your finances, credit and good name. Nowadays, that is more important than ever. Help protect your personal information by enrolling in LifeLock before April 30th to take advantage of special pricing being offered to VSEA employees."

View the full email or enroll here.