VSEA’s Week In Action Newsletter: April 21, 2017

 

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Displaced VSEA St. Johnsbury Members Receive List Of "Frequently Asked Questions" To Reference

State Begins To Examine If Chemical Residues In Building Had Adverse Impact On Employees’ Health

The Department of Human Resources released a list of "Frequently Asked Questions" on April 18 to try to address the health and safety concerns of the employees who were recently displaced from State offices on Eastern Avenue in St. Johnsbury. The FAQ also instructs employees on protocol and next steps.

VSEA hopes this document is useful not only to the current employees who were displaced, but also to the state employees who worked at the building and retired, or who worked there at some point in their career and always had questions or concerns.

State Signs Contract To House Displaced St. Johnsbury Workers!

The Associated Press reports on April 18 that BGS Commissioner Chris Cole has signed a new, five-year lease to house displaced St. Johnsbury workers at the former microData building in that town. More than 80 workers were recently removed from the 67-72 Eastern Avenue Building(s) after environmental testing found elevated levels of three potentially harmful chemicals thought to be the nasty remnants of a dry cleaning business that occupied the space for decades.

VSEA is still working with displaced members and the State to determine next steps, now that the new housing issue seems to be resolved. Primarily, this means making sure employees’ health concerns are being adequately addressed by the State and that their questions are being answered in a timely manner. VSEA has also heard from members who at some point in their career worked at the now abandoned building. They too have questions and are looking for answers.

VSEA Judiciary Members Go To State House To Lobby Legislators To Fund Their Retro Pay

VSEA Judiciary members were in Montpelier on April 18 to lobby legislators to include full funding for their negotiated wage increases in any budget passed. This means enough money to ensure the workers also receive retroactive pay back to December 15, 2016, when they ratified their new contract. The vote to ratify included an agreement from management to conduct an employee wage review, which was completed and found in favor of raises for the Judiciary workers.

VSEA’s Judiciary members have argued for years that they were not properly classified, and this fact was confirmed by the neutral, third-party’s wage-review findings. Now they say the onus is on the Vermont Legislature to fully fund their negotiated pay increases. It’s estimated that $300,000+ is required to fully fund the raises.

VSEA’s Legislative team is optimistic right now that full funding for the Judiciary workers will be included in whatever budget is passed, but VSEA is promising to remain on guard until that happens.

Vermont Setting Up To Go Backwards On Private Prisons?

VTDigger reports on April 20 that the State may soon sign a contract with an unnamed Pennsylvania prison, and the agreement will require Vermont to fill a 250-bed quota for three years. This means that instead of working to bring Vermont inmates back in state, the State may instead end up shipping more out of state to meet its contractual yearly quota.

Senator Dick Sears (D-Bennington) says in the article that DOC Commissioner Lisa Menard has "assured" him and Senate Appropriations Chair Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia) that Vermont won’t be housing inmates out of state if in-state beds are available.

This said, it does still beg the question: "If Vermont is held to a contractual obligation to furnish this prison with 250 inmates, how do State officials and lawmakers fulfill this quota if enough empty beds exist here in Vermont that the numbers don’t add up?"

Note: VSEA’s DOC Unit and Board of Trustees have repeatedly voiced the union’s opposition to the State’s use of private, for-profit, out-of-state prisons, arguing against sending taxpayer money to out of state, for-profit prison operators who simply do not provide the same level of rehabilitation that inmates incarcerated here in Vermont receive.

VSEA State Colleges’ Chair Pens Letter To Editor About The Need To Adequately Fund The System

Note: VSEA State Colleges’ Unit Chair Sandy Noyes asked WIA to share this letter to the editor she sent this week to her local newspaper. She is also urging VSEA members from other units to support the VSC workers’ campaign for the legislature to adequately fund the colleges.

“My name is Sandy Noyes. I have worked at Johnson State College since 1993. I am the unit chair for the represented staff of the Vermont State Colleges, and I am asking you to help me spread the word.

PLEASE CALL the Vermont Sergeant at Arms, 802-828-2228, and leave a message for your representative that you support fully funding the Vermont State Colleges.

We need to make sure they know the importance of funding the Vermont State Colleges. All across Vermont you will find someone who was a staff, student, and/or faculty member at a Vermont State College. These people and their families help keep the economy moving. They eat at the local restaurants, shop at the stores and gas stations, plus pay rent to a landlord and/or a mortgage to our local banks. In turn, those businesses pay taxes into the state coffers, which helps pay for the state services such as the Veterans’ Home, food for our children, assistance for the elderly, the list goes on. Local businesses count on this support to help them stay open. We all need to stick together to tell the State of Vermont – WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

If the VSC doesn’t start getting more support from the state, our high school graduates will go to other states to finish their education because they will graduate with less debt. This move will take more money out of the State of Vermont. The Vermont State Colleges have so much to offer so we are asking for everyone’s help whether you are a business owner, family member, or John Q. Public. The state needs to hear more voices so please call the Sergeant at Arms and tell your representative ‘I support fully funding the Vermont State Colleges!’

Please demonstrate your support for Vermont’s State Colleges by working with us to ensure any budget passed includes full funding for the Colleges.”

Commentary Pushes Back Against Economist’s Ongoing Rant About State Employee & Teacher Pensions Dragging Vermont’s Economy Down

A commentary in the April 16 Free Press by Millard Cox calls the paper’s go-to Economist Art Wolff out for always blaming state employee and teacher pension plans for dragging down Vermont’s economy. He concludes:

"Labor unions in the private and public sectors have done more to increase the economic power of working people than any other historic factor, and the current levels of wealth inequality in America are directly related to the demise of unions over the past 60 years. The death of unions in America has been engineered by corporations and the wealthy who have influenced elections and lobbied for anti-union legislation. Unionized American jobs have been moved to countries where impoverished, non-unionized workers can be exploited.

Art Woolf is an economics professor who teaches at UVM, which has a unionized faculty. My experience as a public school educator and union partisan is that those faculty members who do not agree with the concept and purpose of unions nevertheless do not refuse to accept the enhanced pay and benefits that are won by the union they do not believe in."

Waterbury Chapter Meeting Is April 26!

VSEA’s Waterbury Chapter is meeting Wednesday, April 26, beginning at noon in the State Office Complex’s Cherry C (Room A202) in Waterbury. Lunch is being provided!

Please RSVP Here!

** If you are not located in the new WSOC building (ex: DPS), please RSVP above or to tracerann@gmail.com to ensure access to the building. **

VSEA 2017 Scholarship Application Deadline Is
May 8!

Time is running out to apply for a 2017 VSEA scholarship award. The deadline to apply is Monday, May 8. VSEA members and their spouses, dependents and domestic partners are eligible.

VSEA Scholarship & Awards Committee 2017 scholarship applications are now available for download online here.

If Searching For Child Care, Don’t Forget This Important Resource For State Employees

Longtime VSEA member, now retiree, Dave Clark has served on VSEA’s Child and Elder Care Committee for many years, and he recently asked WIA to remind state employees about an important child-care resource that is currently available to them.

“The Committee has noticed a recent decline in employees’ usage of the valuable child-care resources available to them, so we asked WIA to help us remind VSEA members about what is available,” explains Clark.

VSEA members can click here to learn more about the Committee’s “Child-Care Referral Service” and other child-care resources for state employees, including possible child-care reimbursement to qualifying employees.

Central Vermont Chapter Members Participating In 4/29 Climate March In Montpelier

Inviting All VSEA Members To Join Them!

Activists belonging to VSEA’s Central Vermont Chapter are inviting other Chapter and VSEA members to participate with them in the “People’s Climate March” on Saturday, April 29, in Montpelier.

If you would be interested in marching with VSEA members at this event, please contact VSEA Central Vermont Chapter member Ned Swanberg for more information. You can email Ned at ned.swanberg@gmail.com. Members of the Chapter will be carrying the Chapter’s banner at the event.

 

VSEA Organizer’s Upcoming Worksite Meetings

VSEA Organizer Tim Lenoch is personally conducting informational meetings in set workplaces on set days in four locations. He says the purpose of the meetings is to provide members with an opportunity to “join with their colleagues and VSEA staff for updates and discussion on the issues and challenges facing state employees and the impact on your working conditions and the services they provide.” He adds that members are welcome to “come share their ideas and hear from co-workers on how to build a stronger union and improve public services.”

Snacks and refreshments are provided.

St. Johnsbury

AHS Conference Room
DOH
107 Eastern Ave.

  • May 9

Brattleboro

Room 148
State Office Building
232 Main Street

  • May 12
  • June 9

White River Junction

Room 170
State Office Building
118 Prospect Street

  • May 16
  • June 20

Springfield

First Floor Conference Room
State Office Building
100 Mineral Street

  • May 17
  • June 21

Lamoille (Morrisville)

AHS Conference Room
State Office Building
63 Professional Dr.

  • May 18
  • June 15

VSEA Spring Training Schedule

The spring 2017 training schedule is winding down, but one session remains.

If you are interested in registering to attend one of the remaining trainings, you can do so by clicking here. Please direct your training questions to Tim at tlenoch@vsea.org.

All training begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m.

Location may change based on worksite location of registered participants. If this happens, registered participants will be notified at least a week ahead of the training. Mileage and lunch may be reimbursed or provided.

Steward 2: Protecting the Contract and Building the Union
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
Thursday, May 16

Click here to register for this training!

Workers Worldwide Observe “Workers’ Memorial Day” On 4/28

On April 28, workers across the globe will observe “Workers’ Memorial Day”; a day to pause to remember those who have been injured or killed on the job and renew the fight for strong worker safety and health protections.

Four decades ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker the right to a safe job. Since then, unions and our allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality in Vermont and across the country—winning protections that have made jobs safer, saved hundreds of thousands of lives and prevented millions of workplace injuries and illnesses.

From a national AFL-CIO flyer about Workers’ Memorial Day:

“On April 28, unions nationwide will observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe workplaces. This year, we will come together to call for good jobs in this country that are safe and healthy. We will seek stronger safeguards to prevent injuries and save lives. We will stand for the right of all workers to raise job safety concerns without fear of retaliation, and for the freedom to form unions and speak out and bargain for respect and a better future. Please join us and make your voice heard.

More Proof That Attacks On Public-Sector Workers Primarily Benefit The Wealthy

The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) released the findings this week of a recent study it conducted to determine who benefits from cuts to public employees and the services they provide. The EPI used Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s cuts to services and jobs to find out where the promised tax cuts that resulted from Walker’s cuts went. The answer is the wealthiest Wisconsiners.

Read more here!

Nebraska Corrections’ Union Leader Blames OT For Violence

The York News Times reports this morning about testimony recently offered to a Nebraska Senate Committee that is investigating the reasons behind a spike in violence at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. The director of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees, Mike Marvin, provided lawmakers with details about the impact of the increased violence is having on the frontline workers, and an overview of the many challenges they face daily. He talked about chronic understaffing and explained how even if the facility was fully staffed, the workers are “often exhausted because of mandatory overtime.”

“Things happen, people get tired and the inmates get stressed,” Marvin said.
The department has “got to figure out a way to get staffing levels up to where they need to be,” he added. “I think that’ll go a long way toward addressing the violence there.”

This Week:

Displaced VSEA St. Johnsbury Members Receive List Of "Frequently Asked Questions" To Reference As State Begins To Examine If Chemical Residues In Building Had Adverse Impact On Employees’ Health

State Signs Contract To House Displaced St. Johnsbury Workers!

VSEA Judiciary Members Go To State House To Lobby Legislators To Fund Their Retro Pay

Vermont Setting Up To Go Backwards On Private Prisons?

VSEA State Colleges’ Chair Pens Letter To Editor About The Need To Adequately Fund The System

Commentary Pushes Back Against Economist’s Ongoing Rant About State Employee & Teacher Pensions Dragging Vermont’s Economy Down

Waterbury Chapter Meeting Is April 26!

VSEA 2017 Scholarship Application Deadline Is
May 8!

If Searching For Child Care, Don’t Forget This Important Resource For State Employees

Central Vermont Chapter Members Participating 4/29 Climate March In Montpelier

VSEA Organizer’s Upcoming Worksite Meetings

VSEA Spring Training Schedule

Workers Worldwide Observe “Workers’ Memorial Day” On 4/28

More Proof That Attacks On Public-Sector Workers Primarily Benefit The Wealthy

Nebraska Corrections’ Union Leader Blames OT For Violence

 

 

 

Week In Action Reminders:

VSEA Legislative Reports Available Online

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

VSEA Schedules 2017 “Steward Summit” Series

NMU Sick Leave Bank Teetering On Bankruptcy! VSEA Members Urged To Contribute

Threatened While On The Job? VSEA Wants
To Know

2017 Corporate Cup Seeks Volunteers

What’s VSEA Done For Vermont State Employees? See For Yourself

VSEA Schedules 2017 “Day At Fenway” Event For August 27

Bolton Valley Already Offering VSEA Members Discounted 2017-2018 Passes

Reminder: VSEA Membership Recruitment Committee Sponsoring 2017 Recruitment Drive. Prizes Being Awarded!

VSEA Advantage Discount Program

 

Calendar:

 

April 26
Waterbury Chapter Meeting
Room A202
WSOC Cherry C
Waterbury

April 27
Retirees’ Chapter Meeting
VSEA HQ
Montpelier
9:00 a.m.

April 28
OCS Labor-Management Committee Meeting
VSEA HQ
Montpelier
9:00 a.m.

April 28
Workers’ Memorial Day
Worldwide

April 29
People’s Climate Rally
State House
Montpelier
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

 

Read Contracts Online At VSEA.org

VSEA members belonging to the Non-Management, Corrections, Judiciary, Defender General and Supervisory Units can click here to view your contract. All these contracts expire on June 30, 2018.

Quote of The Week!

"State AOT employees have done the bulk of this work for years, and we have done it well when asked to by management— and we want to continue doing it. This is our pledge to you: tell us your timeline, and we’ll show you that we’re up for the challenge.”

Line from a message being sent this week by VSEA AOT members to the State’s top official, imploring him not privatize guardrail work in Vermont.

How To Print Week In Action

Looking for a quick and easy way to print Week In Action to post in your worksite?

Print A Condensed Version Of This Week’s Issue Here!

VSEA Legislative Reports Available Online

VSEA’s Legislative Team has begun to post weekly reports to let members know what’s been happening at the State House in Montpelier. To get the latest VSEA updates from under the Golden Dome, you will first need to log into your VSEA.org account (log in here) and then click here.

Need a VSEA.org account?
Sign up for a free account here

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

Letters should have arrived by now in the mailboxes of VSEA members, announcing the 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 are due back to VSEA by Friday, May 12, 2017.

VSEA members can also find information and an enrollment form here.

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 Schedules 2017 “Steward Summit” Series

In an effort to better educate frontline worksite Stewards about their role in VSEA, as well as provide them with enhancements to their existing skill set, VSEA’s Field Department is hosting a series of “Steward Summits” across Vermont throughout 2017.

Stewards will also learn the latest developments relating to contract enforcement and receive an overview of the budget, safety and health and other challenges that lie ahead for state employees. Stewards who attend will be asked to immediately help out by taking some of what they learn back to the worksite to educate their colleagues.

Four, six-hour trainings have been scheduled, and every current VSEA Steward is required to attend one session.

The Steward Summits (all 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) are:

  • May 19 – Best Western, 45 Blush Hill Road, Waterbury
  • August 18 – Best Western, 45 Blush Hill Road, Waterbury
  • October 20 – Hotel Coolidge, 39 South Main St., White River Junction
  • November 3 – Holiday Inn, 476 Holiday Drive, Rutland

Register For Steward Summit Here!

NMU Sick Leave Bank Teetering On Bankruptcy! VSEA Members Urged To Contribute

Donations Being Accepted
April 1 To June 30

VSEA member Dawn Carrillo staffs the Non-Management Unit Sick Leave Bank, and she is again asking WIA to sound the alarm that the bank is nearly depleted of hours. She is also announcing that NMU members can donate a few hours to your Unit’s sick leave bank from April 1 to June 30, 2017.

“Just donating an hour of your time can mean the world to a fellow employee,” reads a new flyer DHR is circulating. It also informs state employees that they can donate any amount of annual- or personal-leave time to the NMU Sick Leave Bank. “Know that you are performing a wonderful service by helping your friends and fellow employees, who, along with their families, are struggling due to serious health issues,” the flyer concludes.

VSEA members interested in donating some much-needed time to the NMU, Corrections and Supervisory Sick Leave Banks can find a donation form here.

“I want to thank every member for considering a donation to your Unit sick leave bank,” says VSEA President Dave Bellini. “Even if you only donate one hour to the bank, these one-hour donations add up. It’s so worthwhile because your donation is going to help a fellow state employee who is battling a serious illness.”

Threatened While On The Job? VSEA Wants To Know

VSEA President Dave Bellini is asking all state employees who are threatened while performing your job duties to provide an account of the threat not only to your supervisor or the State, but also to VSEA.

“VSEA wants to begin to compile its own record of threats against frontline state employees, no matter your occupation,” explains Bellini. “I’m asking all employees who are threatened, especially those working in AHS, to take a few minutes to fill out an online form VSEA made to collect your report. The information will help us provide a firsthand account of the number of threats being made and where they are being made, in addition to some other things.”

If you are a state employee who is threatened on the job, please click here to find the online report form, which will remain confidential, unless otherwise approved by you.

VSEA On-The-Job Threat Report Form

2017 Corporate Cup Seeks Volunteers

The 2017 Corporate Cup 5K Race is being held Thursday, May 11, at the State House in Montpelier, beginning at 6 p.m. Once again, race planners are casting a net for volunteers, and VSEA is urging members and retirees who are able to sign up to help—much as you have in years past!

Volunteer opportunities include registering races, distributing t-shirts, manning the food tents and mid-point water stop, helping at the start and finish lines, assisting the timing company with posting race results and two individuals to help on the cone truck.

To volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Hier by email at chier@zclpc.com. Please let Cindy know your task preference and your anticipated arrival time.

Remember: volunteers can walk or run, too. Invite friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to volunteer with you. Receive a free t-shirt!

View The Event Facebook Page Here!

What’s VSEA Done For Vermont State Employees? See For Yourself

A lot has happened since the VSEA was officially recognized in 1944 as the voice for Vermont’s state employee workforce, and VSEA’s Communications Department has now compiled many of your union’s notable victories and achievements in a new online chronological history of the VSEA.

“Thankfully, VSEA formed a special committee in the mid-eighties to put together a historical synopsis of what had happened within the union from 1944 to then, and it was a great piece for us to build from,” explains VSEA Communications Director Doug Gibson. “This up-to-date history will hopefully help educate more VSEA members about the fights and campaigns of past state employees, reminding them how long it actually took for workers to get to where they are today, in terms of wages, benefits and working conditions. We hope it will be a good resource and tool for members.”

View VSEA’s new online history timeline here.

VSEA Schedules 2017 “Day At Fenway” Event For August 27

Last year, VSEA scheduled its first-ever “VSEA Day at Fenway” event, and it was a huge success. This year, VSEA will again be sponsoring a trip to Fenway, this time to see the Red Sox battle the Baltimore Orioles in a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday, August 27. The estimated cost is $80 per person, which includes a bus ride to and from the park, as well as a ticket to the game.

If you and your family would be interested in joining your union and fellow members at Fenway on August 27, 2017, you should contact VSEA Union Representative Bob South. You can reach Bob by email at bsouth@vsea.org or by phone at 223-5247.

Bolton Valley Already Offering VSEA Members Discounted 2017-2018 Passes

Bolton Valley (BV) Ski Resort has been a VSEA Advantage Program participant for years, offering state employees discounted season passes. It’s a popular item, and while winter 2016 is not even over yet, BV is already offering VSEA members discounted 2017-2018 ski passes.

Check out the different options and pricing here.

Important! To purchase an online, discounted BV 2017-2018 pass, you must first receive a special promotional code directly from the VSEA Advantage Program. To get a promo code, contact VSEA’s Susan DeVoid by email (sdevoid@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247. Susan is only available during normal VSEA operating hours.

After receiving your VSEA online promotional code, simply log on to www.boltonvalley.com /industry to purchase your pass(es).

Reminder: VSEA Membership Recruitment Committee Sponsoring 2017 Recruitment Drive. Prizes Being Awarded!

Last fall, VSEA’s Membership Recruitment Committee launched a “Membership Engagement and Recruitment Initiative” to grow the union’s ranks. The Committee asked members to talk with current agency-fee payers about the benefits of full-fledged membership and why the member should make the switch. If the member decides to upgrade their membership, the recruiting member will have the satisfaction of knowing they helped their union become stronger, but, in addition, the Membership Recruitment Committee will be awarding different levels of prizes to members, based on the number of new VSEA members recruited.

Here are the guidelines to participate and be eligible for a prize:

  • Whether submitting your recruited member(s) name(s)on a physical recruitment card or online, you must include your name as the recruiter;
  • Every member who recruits a new member will has his or her name entered into a drawing for the Grand Prize. The winner’s name will be drawn at VSEA’s Annual Meeting in September 2017, and the winner must be present to claim the prize;
  • Team entries are being accepted. Please register with Membership Recruitment Committee Chair Katelyn Chase by emailing her at kchase@vsea.org.
  • Members who recruit a new member, who then agrees to join your union’s political awareness committee (VTPAC) will receive an additional chance to win the Grand Prize, and
  • The cut-off date for this competition is August 30, 2017.

Here are the different prize levels:

  • $10 gift card and a VSEA water bottle (75 prizes awarded)
  • $25 gift card and a VSEA hat
    (40 prizes awarded)
  • $50 gift card and a VSEA tote bag
    (15 prizes awarded)
  • $100 and a VSEA vest
    (8 prizes awarded)
  • 1 Grand Prize of $1200

Note: WIA is periodically reminding members about this effort until its culmination in August 2017.

VSEA Advantage Discount Program

Member only discounts on goods and services such as skiing, clothing, automotive, insurance, lawyer referral program, workers compensation advice and more! The VSEA Advantage Program is proof that there is power in numbers. It keeps working for you when the workday is through.

Just Present Your VSEA Union Card To Receive These Great Discounts! Don’t Have A Union Card? Request One Here!

Popular Advantage Program Discounts Include:

  • Discount Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom (2016 discount was $23 off day passes)
  • Discount Passes for ski resorts like Sugarbush Resort ($899 season passes) and Bolton Valley ($70 off season passes) – 2015/2016 season enrollment period has ended.
  • Winter/ Summer tire discounts for various locations across Vermont (5-10% off depending on location)
  • Movie theater discounts at select theaters in Vermont.
  • Restaurant discounts throughout Vermont (5-20% off depending on location).
  • and more!

View a complete list of participating vendors and discounts here!

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VSEA’s Communications Department is happy to disseminate any and all communications the leadership, Chapters, Units, and others request, however, the lists the Department currently pull from are provided to the union by the State of Vermont. VSEA’s Communications Department has found the lists to be dated, incomplete and sometimes lacking key information that was entered by a VSEA staff person but later overwritten or deleted during a State data dump.

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