VSEA State House Day Is Tuesday, February 28!

VSEA’s Legislative Committee is hosting your union’s annual State House Day event on Tuesday, February 28. If you have not registered to attend you can still register by clicking here.

At State House Day, VSEA members get a chance to talk face-to-face with legislators about the services you provide and the issues and challenges you and your colleagues face.

Agenda:

• 8:00 a.m. – Coffee with Legislators – Meet your State Legislators in the State House Cafeteria
• 10:00 a.m. – Attend Legislative Committee Meetings
• 12:00 p.m. – Panel Discussion – VSEA members representing various services will be participating in a panel discussion about the key issues facing state employees. Listening to the conversation will be House Speaker Mitzi Johnson and other legislators. Panel will convene on the floor of the Vermont House of Representatives.
• 1:00 p.m. – Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Attend Legislative Committee Meetings
• 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Annual VSEA Legislative Reception with State Legislators and Statewide Elected Officials. Being held in the State House cafeteria.

Register today to help make this VSEA’s most successful State House Day ever. With Vermont facing another budget deficit, it’s important again for VSEA members to demonstrate their collective power at the State House to remind lawmakers that we’re not only state employees who provide services, we’re also Vermont voters, and we care about the adverse impact service and personnel cuts have had—and will have—on the communities where we live.

Council Chair Conducting Social Media Challenge During State
House Day

Last year, VSEA Council Chair Aimee Towne decided to try something new around State House Day, asking VSEA members to compete in a “social media challenge.” It went very well, so Towne is conducting the challenge again this year.

As VSEA members navigate the State House on February 28, Towne is asking them to pose for photos with officials, lawmakers and others. Once the photo is snapped, members are asked to share it to VSEA’s Facebook and/or Twitter page. Some of the State House leaders members will be seeking out for the challenge include the House Speaker, Senate Pro Tem, Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Members also score points for photos in the House and Senate chambers, in front of the State House and in front of their favorite quote found on marble inside the building.

> Check out the Social Media Challenge!

The best posts to VSEA’s Facebook and VSEA’s Twitter page on State House Day will be shared by VSEA on your union’s social media pages.

Deadline To Sign Up For New VSEA Supplemental Vision Benefit Is Tuesday,
February 28!

Since February 1, VSEA has been openly enrolling members into your union’s new VSEA discounted Vision Benefit. Please note that the vision benefit open-enrollment period ends next week on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. Please follow the links below to learn more and sign up today!

> View Vision Plan Summary and Rates

> Enroll Today!

Questions? Feel free to email vsea@vsea.org or call 802-223-5247.

Note: VSEA has taken steps to ensure this vision benefit is available to all members who want to enroll, but know that the payroll-deduction process for Executive Branch and Judiciary Unit members is different than the one for State Colleges and Housing Authority members. Members in the Executive and Judiciary Branches have their premium deducted automatically but State Colleges and Housing Authority members’ premiums will be paid through direct monthly billing. State Colleges’ members are reminded that this vision benefit is different than the one offered by the colleges.

VSEA Mourns Passing Of Past-President Samuel Hudson Jr.

VSEA is sending condolences to the family, friends and past colleagues of Past-President Samuel Hudson Jr., who led the union from 1975 to 1977. Hudson, who passed away on February 16, was VSEA President when lawmakers amended the State Employee Labor Relations Act to allow employees to bargain over wages. Hudson’s position was Franklin County Forester for the State of Vermont from 1957 to 1982. His nickname was “Tree Man.” In addition to fighting for his fellow union members, Hudson also fought for his country, serving in both World War II and the Korean War.

> Read Sam Hudson’s obituary

Seven Days Columnist Correctly Sums Up The Status Of Budget Discussions At State House—And It’s Not Reassuring

Seven Days “Fair Game” Columnist John Walters filled part of this week’s entry with a piece about the status of the budget under the Golden Doom. According to Walters, the State’s budget plan is “currently foundering in the legislature.” Sen. Chris Pearson (P-Chittenden) explains that part of the reason might be that the State “just sort of plopped it on our desks and walked away.” Sen. Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland) seems to agree with Pearson, adding, "I don’t think there was enough preplanning and enough getting buy-in from people. If you’re going to try to sell sweeping change, it takes a lot of people with boots on the ground—going out and meeting with people across the state to sell that approach—and I just don’t think there was enough time." Pearson then offers, "Talking to colleagues on House Appropriations and elsewhere, they’re really having to start from scratch. As I understand it, folks have asked the [State] if [it] has a second draft that we can work from, and I gather the answer is, ‘No, we do not.’"

The State’s failure to effectively sell its budget proposals to lawmakers means the job of formulating a new budget could soon fall to the legislature’s money committees. With the State promising to veto any new revenue measures, coming up with a fair budget (one that doesn’t again balance Vermont’s budget on the backs of state employees and our clients) could prove very difficult. VSEA’s legislative team continues to monitor any and all budget conversations at the State House, and VSEA will be sharing whatever information it learns with members.

WCAX Takes Viewers Inside Vermont’s Forensic Laboratory

Photo: WCAX

When Vermont law enforcement needs help examining key pieces of evidence important to a case, they turn to the VSEA members who work at the Vermont Forensic Laboratory in Waterbury. WCAX aired a story on February 20 that takes viewers inside the facility to learn about how the staff would handle a request to examine a firearm in evidence.

“I look at what I’m given for evidence and provide answers based upon what I see," explains VSEA member Kendra Cyr, a firearms examiner at the lab. "I look at the manufacturers specifications, the rifling, make sure the firearms functioning properly." Cyr says her job is to try to confirm that the evidence matches what the police say happened. She does this by examining “the anatomy” of guns, bullets and casings. "You wouldn’t think that you would need to send it,” she says, “but as part of their investigation they need documentation that the firearm was actually functioning properly instead of, well maybe the person dropped and it accidentally shot themselves."

Cyr, who the story reports wears a lab coat and not a badge, reminds that her job is about the evidence and not the accusation.

Free Press Reports: VSEA Committing Resources To Advance Legislative Agenda

Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS

The Burlington Free Press reports on February 22 that VSEA has spent more on lobbying in the first quarter of the 2017 legislative session than any other Vermont organization. The paper notes that VSEA has spent nearly double what it did during the same period in 2016. VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard explains why the union decided to commit more financial resources to lobbying in 2017.

“We’re facing a new administration, many new legislators, new legislative leadership," Howard explains. "Where there’s uncertainty, the best strategy is to have a strong offense." He adds that
"This year we’re actually promoting our own agenda." The paper lists two VSEA agenda items being passage of a strong anti-privatization bill and passage of a bill to allow Parole & Probation Officers to carry a firearm.

Rep. Fields Writes Letter In Support Of VSEA Member’s Candidacy

The February 21 Bennington Banner included a great letter to the editor from House Rep. Rachael Fields, supporting VSEA member Chris Murphy’s candidacy for District School Board on Town Meeting Day, March 7. When not serving at the State House, Fields can be found serving VSEA members in her full-time role as Union Representative.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Not only is he thoughtful, considerate, compassionate and an incredibly forward thinker, Chris [Murphy] is also a fighter for the public good. When the Bennington State Office Building was found to have a large number of employees getting sick from sarcoidosis, Chris stepped up against political pushback and fought hard to ensure his colleagues could work in a safe and healthy environment and that the citizens of Bennington would not be risking their health and safety by coming in to access state services.”

> Read The Full Letter

Note: Chris Murphy is a 14-year VSEA member who works as a Social Worker in DCF’s Family Services Division.

Vail Resorts Officially Buys Stowe Resort, But Will The Mountain Lease Be Renegotiated?

It was big news this week across Vermont after Vail Resorts Inc. announced that it had officially purchased Stowe Mountain for $50 million. WIA readers may remember that Stowe Mountain is one of several ski resorts that the State Auditor’s Office had singled out in a 2015 report as having an outdated lease.

Here’s what WIA published about the Auditor’s report in June 2015:

Early in 2015, Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer released an audit that showed some of the leases the state signed with major ski resorts are outdated and that payments have actually declined over the years, when adjusted for inflation. This has resulted in the resorts enjoying some very lucrative deals, which has allowed them to expand and reap higher profits.

Vermont Senator Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) had the courage this session to pen a letter to the ski industry, asking the owners of Bromley, Okemo, Killington, Stowe, Smuggler’s Notch, Burke and Jay Peak to willingly reopen lease negotiations, even though their leases don’t expire for several decades. Ashe wrote, “the ski world of the lease’s origin would be unrecognizable today.” Auditor Hoffer supported Ashe’s effort, saying, “I don’t think it’s unreasonable for someone to ask the question ‘are taxpayers getting a fair term?’”

With a budget deficit still looming large over Vermonters, VSEA believes it’s time for the State to renegotiate this lease, which could generate potentially millions in new revenue for Vermont. Call your lawmakers and the Governor’s office today to demand that this mountain lease be renegotiated with Vail Resorts Inc. The Jay Peak lease should be renegotiated as well, now that the resort is in a state of flux, with no real plan in place to date

> Find your lawmakers contact information

Franklin/Grand Isle Chapter Meeting Is March 3

The next VSEA Lamoille Valley Chapter meeting is Friday, March 3, at the 14^th Star Brewery, 133 N. Main Street in St. Albans. The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m., and food is provided. Questions? RSVP? Please contact Chapter President Michael Gordon by email at michael.gordon@vermont.gov

VSEA’s March 2 Legislative Issue Reception Focus Is Health Care!

The topic of the March 2 VSEA Legislative Issue Reception is “Health Care.” If you’re a VSEA member or retiree who is concerned about the future of your health care, please attend to make your voice heard to lawmakers in the room.

The reception is March 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at VSEA headquarters at 155 State Street in Montpelier. VSEA members are welcome and urged to attend. Please RSVP to VSEA Organizer Danielle Warner by email: dwarner@vsea.org.

Attacks On Workers Rise At Nebraska State-Run Psychiatric Hospital

Just a few weeks after VSEA members working at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital testified to lawmakers about an increasing number of patient-on-employee assaults, frontline mental health care workers at a Nebraska psychiatric hospital are sounding a similar alarm. Nebraska’s KETV reported on February 20 that employees at the Lincoln Regional Center are on edge after a rise in the number of assaults on frontline workers, including one incident where an employee had to undergo plastic surgery after a patient bit the top of his ear off. Another complains of suffering five concussions and being stabbed in the face. The head of the Nebraska state employees’ union issues a warning in the story, saying, "We’re going to get someone killed. Someone’s going to die out there if we don’t get this under control." The state agency that oversees Nebraska’s mental health system says it is making efforts to track assaults better and set up an incident-reporting mechanism.

Illinois State Workers Vote To Strike

The Chicago Tribune reports today that a years-long contract battle between Illinois state workers and their Governor may soon be coming to a head after workers voted on Thursday to authorize a strike. The workers have been attempting to get the Governor back to the bargaining table for months, and they are hopeful that the fear of a strike will make that happen soon.

"Let’s be clear, we have come to this juncture today for just one reason only: the refusal of Gov. Rauner to negotiate with our union," says Roberta Lynch, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31."We are willing, more than willing to work to find common ground. But we won’t just roll over."

The Illinois workers’ contract expired in July 2015.

VSEA Organizer’s Monthly Worksite Meeting Schedule

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.

• March 14
• April 11
• May 9

Brattleboro
Room 148
State Office Building
232 Main Street

• March 10
• April 14
• May 12
• June 9

White River Junction
Room 170
State Office Building
118 Prospect Street

• March 21
• April 18
• May 16
• June 20

Springfield
First Floor Conference Room
State Office Building
100 Mineral Street

• March 15
• April 19
• May 17
• June 21

AMENDED! VSEA Labor Educator Alters Winter 2016 Training Schedule

VSEA Labor Educator Tim Lenoch asked WIA to make members aware that he has made some changes to his previously announced winter 2016 trainings schedule. Some trainings have been cancelled and the date for others has been changed.
(* = date change)

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

All trainings 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.

TARGETED DEPARTMENT/BARGAINING UNIT TRAININGS

Vermont State Colleges’ Stewards
VTC Campus, Randolph Center
Thursday, April 6

Judiciary Stewards
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
Tuesday, April 11

NEW STEWARD TRAININGS

Steward 1: Introduction and the Basics
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
*Friday, March 17

Steward 3: The Contract and Challenges in the Workplace
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
*Friday, March 30

Steward 2: Protecting the Contract and Building the Union
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
*Friday, March 31

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

ALL STEWARD TRAINING

All-Steward Training
VTC Campus, Randolph
Friday, May 26

> Click here to register for a training(s)!

Subscribe To VSEA!

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.

To help VSEA more effectively reach active members—and really all those members who want to know what’s going on in their union—VSEA will be working hard in the coming months to collect members’ emails on its own and begin to build contact lists that cannot be altered by a State download.

You can help us get started by clicking here and signing up for the VSEA communications you are interested in receiving.

Thank you in advance for subscribing. Please urge your colleagues to do the same.