Gavel Bangs, Opening The 2018 Legislative Session

The House Speaker and Senate Pro Tem banged their gavels on January 3, officially opening the 2018 legislative session. Governor Scott then delivered the annual “State of the State” Address on January 4.

Here is some of the local press this week on the session opening:

• Vermont Legislature Begins 2018 Session With Work Ahead
   
• Devil Could Be In Details As Vermont Legislative Leaders Launch 2018 Agenda
   
• Legislative Session Expected To Be Contentious
   
• In Montpelier, Challenging Policy Dilemmas Await Returning Lawmakers

Note: As always, VSEA members will have to be on constant guard against any proposed service and position cuts throughout the session. Lawmakers will also have to respond to whatever new contract terms and conditions result from either a fact finder or the Vermont Labor Relations Board. And then there’s the potential
federal cuts…

2018 VSEA Legislative Dinner / Receptions:

VSEA Members’ Chance To Meet Face-To-Face With Key Decision Makers Outside
The Dome

You are invited to participate in one or more upcoming VSEA-sponsored informal dinner receptions, where you can talk face to face with lawmakers about the issues important to you. The following issue dinner receptions are in response to legislators wanting to hear directly from frontline workers:

January 11: Privatization
Prioritize state employee positions over contractual services.

January 18: Safety & Security
Create a safe and secure workplace environment for all state employees.

January 25: Retirement
Advocate to protect and defend state employees’ defined benefit pension system.

Each dinner reception is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at VSEA H.Q. (155 State Street, Montpelier)

Please feel free to attend any or all!

RSVP Online Here

Or RSVP to VSEA Organizer, Danielle Warner: DWarner@VSEA.org

Help Spread The Word! Download, Print and Distribute These Half-Sheet Handouts (Opens/ Downloads a PDF).

Supreme Court To Hear Oral Arguments In Anti-Union Janus vs.
Illinois Case

A few years ago, WIA readers might remember seeing articles pop up about a court case named Friedrichs vs. California Teachers’ Association; a case public-sector unions feared could strip away their hard-won right to represent “non-members,” or in VSEA’s case, “agency-fee” payers. The case collapsed after the untimely death of Justice Scalia, who almost certainly would have voted against labor unions’ right to represent “non-members.” The Court’s 4-4 vote deadlock could not be broken, but now that a new Justice has been appointed, it can. For a new vote to occur, all that was required was for a new case about union dues to come before the Court, and it recently did, in the form of a case named Janus vs. Illinois.

This week, the Supreme Court announced it would hear oral arguments in the Janus case on February 26.

VSEA Organizers are following the case closely and have already been out talking with VSEA members statewide about what this case means and what members can do to help, as well as remind members about how their working lives could change in a potential right-to-work scenario.

VSEA members are urged to continuing educating yourself about the Janus case and what it might mean for Vermont state employees and all of America’s unionized public-sector workers—and eventually our nation’s unionized private-sector workers
as well.

VSEA Members Elect New District 5 Board Of Trustees’ Representative

Congratulations to VSEA member Victoria Thorpe on being elected to be the District 5 representative on the VSEA Board of Trustees. Victoria will be serving as the voice of members working in Rutland and Bennington. She works for the Judiciary as a Family Case Manager in Bennington.

Welcome to the Board Victoria!

Next Week’s VSEA Chapter Meetings

• Bennington Chapter is meeting January 9, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Vermont Veterans’ Home in Bennington; and
   
• Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital Chapter is meeting January 10 at the facility, and there will be two meetings conducted to coincide with each shift change, one beginning at 1:30 p.m. and the other at 3:00 p.m.

Central Vermont Chapter Sending Survey On Monday To Chapter Members

VSEA’s Central Vermont Chapter is sending an email to all Chapter members on Monday, January 8, that includes a link to a survey to learn how members want the Chapter to address the issue of racism, if at all.

The deadline to complete the Chapter’s survey is Friday, January 19. 

Organizer Holding Worksite Meeting In Middlebury On January 11

VSEA Organizer Jennifer Larsen has scheduled a worksite meeting on January 11 to talk about issues and concerns to state employees working in Middlebury.

The meeting begins at noon at 156 South Village Green Middlebury in the first-floor conference room at in Middlebury.

"Join your fellow VSEA members for a bargaining update, updates on VSEA’s 2018 Legislative strategy, topics important to VSEA members and lunch!"

For more information please feel free to contact Jennifer Larsen, VSEA Organizer, 802-338-6052 / JLarsen@vsea.org

Time Is Now To Enroll In VSEA’s Popular Vision Insurance Program

January 2, 2018, marked the launch of the open-enrollment period for VSEA members to participate in your union’s popular vision-care program.

Learn more about the vision benefit being offered here!

Treasurer’s Office Holding Public Meetings On Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan

The meetings will take place on the
following dates:

• January 22, 2:00 p.m., Room 11 at the State House in Montpelier; and
   
• January 29, 1:00 p.m., Franklin Conference Center at the Howe Center in Rutland. 

Please RSVP to: 
Treasurers.Office@vermont.gov  

Click here to learn more about the Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan.

2018 VSEA
Bus Trip To Foxwoods Casino!

The VSEA Membership Recruitment Committee is pleased to announce a 2018 casino trip with a two-night stay.

Dates:
March 23 to March 25, 2018

Bus Cost:
$70 per person

Bus will depart from Waterbury at 12:00 p.m. and White River Junction at 1:00 p.m.

Lodging
(Two Nights/ Two Trees Inn):
$248 / single occupancy
$138 per person / double occupancy
$122 per person / triple occupancy

Included Bonuses:

• Baggage handling;
• (2) $10 food credit or full Festival Buffet;
• $5 food credit or full Breakfast Buffet;
• $20 slot play;
• 20% discount at any Foxwoods gift shop with a purchase of $25 up to $1,000; and
• A Foxwoods souvenir

To register or for more information, please contact VSEA Union Rep Bob South (bsouth@vsea.org) or Administrative Assistant Sue DeVoid (sdevoid@vsea.org). Each can be reached by phone at 802-223-5247.

Important Information!

Payment must be received within one week of registering or you will lose your spot. Cash, check and credit card payments accepted. To pay, please contact VSEA Union Representative Bob South by email (bsouth@vsea.org) or phone 802-223-5247. Thank You!