Executive Branch Units Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract 

Members of the VSEA Election, Rules and Nominating (ERN) Committee were at VSEA headquarters just before Thanksgiving to certify the tentative-agreement vote count and announce that members of the union’s Non-Management, Corrections and Supervisory Units had all overwhelmingly ratified a new, two-year contract. 

"VSEA and Executive Branch leaders are happy the contract was passed–and by a large margin," VSEA President Dave Bellini, following ratification. "I want to again thank the rank-and-file VSEA bargaining team members who negotiated the agreements for all your hard work and time."

Don’t have a VSEA.org account? VSEA members can request a free account here.

Keep Woodside Open! Workers Launch Campaign To Save Service. Lend Your Support!

• WCAX On State’s Announcement 
• Seven Days On State’s Announcement
• VTDigger On State’s Announcement

To the Woodside workers credit, they immediately contacted VSEA for help and then mobilized themselves, initially by penning group letters to the editor, commentaries and an open letter to the public and press. Their zeal, however, was unfortunately squelched quickly when a DCF boss sent out an email, reminding employees of the department’s policy about talking with the press–which is not to, without the department’s blessing, of course. VSEA’s legal team immediately fired back, informing employees that, "As long as VSEA members are speaking as citizens about matters of public concern, which is true in the case of Woodside, and engaging in concerted activity to protect their jobs, they are protected."

Read VSEA General Counsel’s Memo To Woodside Workers On Speaking With Press & Public

Turns out, DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz agreed with VSEA’s legal opinion.He contacted VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard Tuesday morning to apologize for someone down the chain of command sending the department press directive reminder to the Woodside workers.

Also on Tuesday, VPR‘s Vermont Edition hosted a discussion about the future of Woodside, and VSEA’s Howard called in to the show to voice VSEA’s strong support for the service provided there and the workers providing it, promising to take the fight to keep the facility open to the State House this session, where its fate will ultimately be decided. Howard also directed the public to VSEA’s website to read a heartfelt letter collectively penned by the five members of VSEA’s labor team at Woodside.

Here is the VSEA members’ letter (which posted to VTDigger on December 4):
 

When we see news coverage of the place we work, the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitatidn Center, there are a lot of things we don’t recognize, many aspects of our work to help some of the most vulnerable young people in Vermont that are missing completely, and, finally, a very few nuggets of coverage that ring true in our experience.

Woodside has been a place of healing for hundreds of the most vulnerable Vermonters. We should all protect this vital community asset and ensure that it can remain such a place.

Note: VSEA is urging members to share your union’s "Keep Woodside Open" message with your co-workers, friends, family and especially your local lawmakers, both before and during the upcoming session, which launches January 7, 2020. 

VSEA Judiciary Unit Begins New Round Of Bargaining

The Judiciary Unit Team has already sat down with the Court Administrator, and initial reports are troubling. The Team is reaching out to Unit members to attend upcoming bargaining sessions, as a show of solidarity. Unit members are also being surveyed about a key issue currently on the table. An update was emailed this week to all Unit members, which includes information on where upcoming sessions are being held, how to get involved and how to submit feedback on the issue in question.

Note: VSEA members across the board will almost certainly be asked to engage somehow–at some point–in this process. Please do what you can to support fellow VSEA members. 

VSEA VSCSF Unit Set To Begin New Round Of Contract Negotiations

• January 6
• January 16
• January 23

The initial sessions are where VSEA’s Team and the Chancellor’s Office will establish ground rules to govern the parties’ conduct throughout negotiations, while also addressing both sides information needs, and, likely, a discussion about additional dates to negotiate. The Team will be providing VSCSF Unit members with updates, following each session.

Please reach out to a Bargaining Team member if you have questions and, of course, attend your campus meeting for updates!  

VSEA’s VSCSF Bargaining Team is: 

• Sandy Noyes, Unit Chair, Northern Vermont University-Johnson  
• Billie Langlois, Unit Vice-Chair, Castleton University
• Monique Prive, Unit Secretary, Northern Vermont University-Lyndon
• Karen Tetreault, Unit Treasurer, Vermont Technical College  
• Marc McPhetres, Unit Steward, Vermont Technical College 
• Travis Allen, Campus Negotiator for Vermont Technical College
• Jay Bona, Campus Negotiator for Northern Vermont University-Lyndon
• Donald Kapitan, Campus Negotiator for Castleton University 
• Ken Moore, Campus Negotiator for Northern Vermont University-Johnson

Team Contact Information

Note: VSEA members across the board will almost certainly be asked to engage somehow–at some point–in this process. Please do what you can to support fellow VSEA members. 

Newly Elected VSEA OSA Bargaining Team Meeting To Prep For First-Contract Negotiations 

Congratulations again to this new VSEA Unit. WIA will be keeping readers updated on the status of the Unit’s negotiations, once they formally begin.  

VSEA Policies Updated!

View VSEA Policies in the "Member-Only" Section of the VSEA website. VSEA.org log-in required.

Don’t have a VSEA.org account? VSEA members can request a free account here.

Vermont Game Wardens Stop Salmon Poacher

Seven Days has a story this week about how VSEA Game Wardens (pictured above, l to r) Dana Joyal, Carl Wedin and Robert Currier recently stopped a salmon poacher.

From the story:

"…the officers had a warrant, so they entered an unlocked back door and roused their surprised suspect, 42-year-old Justin Cianchetta, from a nap.

Minutes later, they found the contraband they were looking for: five containers of salmon filets in the freezer and another two in the refrigerator, according to court papers. The bust was for poaching — but not the kind done in a skillet. The officers, all game wardens, cited Cianchetta for taking fish illegally from a no-fishing section of Hatchery Brook in Grand Isle, where salmon from Lake Champlain migrate every fall to spawn.

Well done Wardens Joyal, Wedin and Currier.

VSEA VTC Members Mourn Co-Worker’s Passing

VSEA members working at Vermont Technical College are mourning the death of 14-year VTC Custodian Leigh Lyon, who passed away unexpectedly last Wednesday.  His colleagues say Leigh "was a dedicated employee who could always be counted on," adding that, "His passing is a huge loss for the college and all who worked with him on daily basis."

Condolences to the VTC family. 

Announcing VSEA’s Winter Membership Drive!

Never forget that ongoing recruitment is vital to the strength of your union! 
 

• Members who recruit TWO members will receive a VSEA insulated travel mug; and
   
• Members who recruit FIVE new members will receive a dues holiday for a month; and
   
• Members who recruit TEN new members will receive a check for $50!

 
Each time you recruit a new member during the designated period (December 1 – February 28, 2020), your name is entered into a drawing.  Four names will be pulled at random and winners will receive a check for $100! Just make sure new recruits add your name in the "Recruited By" field on the membership application.

Need a quick reference to help with your recruiting? You can view an informational webpage with some recruitment tips and advice here.

If you have any questions or want a list of non-members in your area, please contact VSEA Director of Operations and Organizing Amy Kinsell by email:
 akinsell@vsea.org

Help spread the word!
Download, distribute and post this flyer in your worksite! Thanks!

Nearly 900 Have Signed VSEA’s Petition To Increase State College Funding. Have You Signed Yet?

To demonstrate how much our state colleges mean to Vermonters, VSEA is urging members, retirees, and the public to sign the union’s online petition, which calls on state officials and lawmakers to immediately increase VSC funding.

VSEA Members Invited To Attend VT AFL-CIO’s Annual Political Summit, Which Is Tomorrow! 

The Vermont AFL-CIO is hosting its annual political summit tomorrow, Saturday, December 7, and VSEA members are being invited to attend. 

According to a Facebook page about the VT AFL-CIO’s political summit:

This historical political summit is being convened on December 7, 2019, to determine how the labor organization moves forward with its political agenda, how it might change its approach to the legislative process, and what kind of relationship to political parties and politicians it has, especially with respect to future endorsements. 

VT AFL-CIO 2019 Political Summit
Saturday, December 7
8:30 a.m.
Old Labor Hall 
46 Granite Street
Barre

Almost Half Of Americans Working In Low-Wage Jobs

Other findings:

• Almost half of U.S. workers between ages 18 to 64 are employed in low-wage jobs, the Brookings Institution found;
   
• Low-wage jobs are pervasive, representing between one-third to two-thirds of all jobs in the country’s almost 400 metropolitan areas; and
   
• Smaller cities in the South and West tend to have the highest share, such as Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Jacksonville, North Carolina, where more than 6 in 10 workers are in low-wage work.

Maine State Employees Launch Drive To Organize Bowdoin College Housekeepers

From the story:

Housekeeper Bonnie Perkins is among those in favor of unionization. For her, membership in the MSEA would mean dignity and recognition, something that, according to past testimonies from over a dozen housekeepers, has often been missing from their work.

“We are overworked and understaffed big time, and [the College] tells us we have enough employees, and we obviously don’t,” Green said. “We’re covering between 13 and 15 assignments a day because people are out, and our bodies are breaking.”

Working Vermont Hosting January 2020 Event With AFT’s National President Randi Weingarten 

Working Vermont (a coalition of Vermont labor unions, including VSEA) is pleased to be hosting a reception for national American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten. 
 
Here are the details:
 
AFT Randi Weingarten Reception
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
State House Cafeteria
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.