New Contracts For NMU, Corrections & Supervisory In Final Review. View New Pay Chart Now

VSEA and the State are in the process of conducting final proofreads of the newly negotiated Non-Management, Corrections, and Supervisory Bargaining Unit contracts, which are effective July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018. Employees’ 2% pay increase is effective the first full pay period, which is July 10, 2016.

> In advance, members can review the new pay chart here.

This Is Justice? Judiciary Bosses Attempt To Shut Down Fact-Finding Process

VSEA’s Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team and staff negotiators have been embroiled in difficult negotiations with the Judiciary Branch for months now. Hitting a wall, both sides agreed weeks ago to go before a fact finder, who has already heard three days of testimony, but who scheduled a fourth day in early August, so he could hear directly from frontline workers. This week, however, in a highly unusual move, negotiators for the Judiciary Branch asked the fact finder to cancel the fourth day, telling him it “is not worthy of the additional expense and time.” VSEA’s Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team wasted no time voicing its strong objection to the request, telling Unit members in an email about the request that they will fight “their effort to silence your elected leaders."

VSEA Judiciary members tell WIA that they intend to send a clear message in the coming days that “we are worthy!”

Read the VSEA Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team’s response to the fact finder, concerning the bosses’ request to suspend fact finding, here.

Docket Clerk Voices

As part of VSEA’s campaign with Judiciary workers to increase pay for nearly 100 Vermont Docket Clerks, VSEA posted a meme to its Facebook page on June 29 that uses a current Docket Clerk’s own voice to illustrate how low their pay truly is. The meme includes a link to a page where VSEA members and the public can learn more about the Docket Clerks’ campaign for wage fairness.

VSEA will be posting more Docket Clerk voice memes throughout your union’s ongoing campaign to ensure this group of workers receives fair compensation, and that they have access to a fair classification review system.

Calling All VSEA Campaign 2016 Volunteers!

In the weeks and months leading up to the Vermont’s August 9 primary election—and then to the November 8 general election—VSEA Legislative Committee members and HQ staff will be asking members to volunteer some time to assist candidates who have received VSEA’s endorsement and who deserve our support. A reminder that, this year, there are five VSEA members running for office, and each could use your help.

There are many ways for you to participate in VSEA’s Campaign 2016 activities, including:

• Participate in a VSEA- or candidate-sponsored phone bank;
• Participate in a VSEA- or candidate-sponsored honk-and-wave;
• Participate in a VSEA- or candidate-sponsored door-to-door canvassing effort;
• Participate in a VSEA- or candidate-sponsored candidate(s) rally;
• Educate your family, friends and colleagues about the candidate and his/her positions on issues important to VSEA members;
• March with a candidate in a parade;
• Volunteer to help at a candidate’s headquarters (if applicable) with things like answering phones, filing, assembling educational packets/mailings, etc.;
• Put a yard sign in your yard, or help the candidate distribute signs in your area;
• Host a candidate house party;
• Drive voters to the polls on Election Day;
• Pen a letter to the editor in support of VSEA-endorsed candidate(s); and
• Make a monetary contribution to a candidate(s).

If you would be interested in volunteering some time to help your union’s campaign 2016 efforts, please contact VSEA Organizing Director Vinnie O’Connor by email voconnor@vsea.org, or by phone at 223-5247.

Important Note: It is imperative that VSEA have your current home email address, so you can receive political material. This is because some messages could be labeled partisan, and therefore they are not permissible to send to work emails. When contacting Vinnie with interest, please be sure to let him know your current home email. Thanks!

VSEA State Colleges’ Members Ratify New Contract!

After WIA published last week, VSEA’s Elections, Rules and Nominating Committee members completed counting of all the ballots cast recently for or against ratification of a new, four-year contract.

“I am pleased to inform you that the members of VSEA’s State Colleges’ Unit have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract,” ERN Committee Chair Rubin Jennings wrote to VSC members, shortly after completing the count.

This was another very difficult bargaining session for this group, especially since the Chancellor and others have been talking openly in recent months about the State College system’s lack of funding and its adverse impact on not only workers, but also on students and faculty. For years, VSEA and its State Colleges’ members have been lobbying for increased funding, but their calls, like the Chancellor’s, seemingly continue to be placed on the back burner. VSEA members remain committed to helping the Vermont State Colleges’ system succeed.

You’re Invited To VSEA’s 72nd Annual Meeting!

Killington Grand Resort Hotel
Saturday, September 10, 2016
9:00 a.m.

> Make your room and meal reservations online here!

To request a hard-copy reservation form or if you have any questions, please contact Amy Haskins at 223-5247 or ahaskins@vsea.org.

Deadline to reserve your room and meals is August 8, 2016!

Up-To-Date Schedule Of Chapter Annual Meetings

It’s that time of the year again. Time for all VSEA Chapters to be scheduling their Chapter Annual Meetings in advance of VSEA’s all-inclusive Annual Meeting on September 10 at Killington.

Here are the scheduled Chapter Annual Meetings to date:

Addison County – TBD

Barre – Wednesday, August 3

Recently Added!
Bennington – Tuesday, July 26

Brattleboro – Wednesday, August 17

Central Vermont – TBD

Chittenden – TBD

Franklin/Grand Isle – Friday, August 12

Recently Added!
Lamoille – Saturday, July 23

NEK/ St. Johnsbury – Wednesday, August 17

Newport/ Island Pond – TBD

Retirees – Thursday, August 18

Rutland – Thursday, August 4

Springfield – Thursday, August 11

Vermont State Hospital – TBD

Waterbury – Wednesday, August 10

White River Junction – Wednesday, August 10

WIA will update this each week with times and locations, as they are learned. If your Chapter has scheduled its meeting, please make a note of the date and try to attend, as your voice is important.

Retirees’ Chapter Members! Mark The Date! Your Annual Meeting Is
August 18

Retirees’ Chapter President Joanie Maclay asked WIA to remind all VSEA retirees in good standing (up to date on Chapter dues) about this important event:

VSEA Retirees’ Chapter 2016 Annual Meeting
Thursday, August 18
Steakhouse Restaurant
Barre-Montpelier Road
Berlin, Vt.
9:30 a.m.

“I invite VSEA retirees to join us to help plan the future of our Chapter,” says Maclay. “We need you to help energize the Chapter and assist your leaders in steering it ahead in a positive and productive way.”

Maclay adds that all of the Chapter’s officer seats are up for election this year, and that nominations will be made from the floor at the August 18 meeting, with voting by attendees to follow. There will also be a presentation on health care by Chapter member Kathy Callaghan,

More Chapter Annual Meeting information will be sent to retirees in early July. To ensure you receive this information, the Chapter must have your current home email address and your correct home mailing address. If you have changed either of these in the past year, please email VSEA (vsea@vsea.org) with your updated information. If emailing, please write “Retired Member Update” in the subject line.

VSEA Insurance Representative In Chittenden County Next Week

VSEA Insurance Representative Joanne Woodcock will be Chittenden County next week to talk with interested VSEA members about member-only insurance benefits.

Williston
July 5 and 6
12:00 to 4:00
312 Hurricane Lane
Back Conference Room

Woodside Juvenile Rehab Center
July 7 – Front Conf. Rm.
12:00 to 4:00

108 Cherry Street
July 11 – Conf. Rm. 1A
July 12 – Conf. Rm. 3A
12:00 to 4:00

1000 River Road
Essex Junction
July 20 – 21- 22
Health Access Eligibility Unit
Bromley Conf. Rm. #958
1st Floor – 12:00 to 4:00

Email Joanne Woodcock
Joanne@vseainsurance.com For an appointment.

Receive information on disability coverage, family life insurance, family accident and cancer coverage. You must be a member paying full dues to be eligible for this VSEA benefit. If you are an agency-fee payer, Joanne can provide you information about signing up for full membership.

> View/ Download Info Brochure Here

SCOTUS Officially Declines To Rehear Case Challenging Public-Sector Unions

On June 28, the United States Supreme Court issued a on-line order, officially declining to rehear a case (Friedrich’s vs. California Teachers’ Association) that could have resulted in serious harm to America’s unionized public-sector workers and to their workplace rights and representation and their hard-won wages and retirement benefits.

By seeking rehearing, the challenges were hoping the court would take up the issue again next term after a ninth justice was confirmed. But the Supreme Court almost never grants requests to hear a case again.

Discounted 2016 Great Escape / Splashwater Kingdom Day Tickets Available Online & At VSEA!

Park Open Now!

2016 Regular Day Tickets: $34.60 (42% savings!)

Discount tickets are now available to purchase online here, but in order to access the discount page, which also includes the required VSEA username and password, you must be a registered “member-only” VSEA website user (you can sign up here!).

Please note that there is a service charge for purchasing online.

VSEA also has tickets available for members to pick up at headquarters, and there is no service charge attached.

Questions? Feel free to contact Laurie Hassett by emailing lhassett@vsea.org or calling 802-223-5247

Make This Fourth of July A Union Made One!

Here’s the AFL-CIO Cookout Shopping List with union made brands. Support fellow unions members by purchasing these products!

> View Larger Image Here

VSEA Labor Educator Announces Summer Trainings – Four Open To All

VSEA Labor Educator Tim Lenoch asked WIA to announce a new round of trainings he has scheduled throughout the summer 2016. If you are interested in registering to attend one or more trainings, you can do so by clicking here. Please direct your training questions to Tim at tlenoch@vsea.org.

There are four trainings open to all members, please invite folks who may be interested:

Stewards and Labor Management Committees
Friday, July 15
Register For This Training Here

Protecting Bargaining Unit Work
Friday, August 5
Register For This Training Here

Health and Safety Issues in the Workplace
Friday, August 12
Register For This Training Here

The “Hostile Work Environment”
Friday, August 19
Register For This Training Here

> Go here to view the full schedule of summer trainings.

VSEA History

1972

Here’s the entry in the booklet from 1972:

“At a special membership meeting in June, annual dues are increased to $31.20. The Annual Meeting in September moves to Burlington and incorporates the first bargaining unit meetings. The Management and Non-Management Units. Members ratify VSEA’s first collective bargaining Agreement. The Agreement contains a speedier grievance procedure and no longer must time spent processing grievances be charged to annual leave. Newly negotiated “Personnel Policies & Procedures” form the basis of leave and RIF benefits. The budget approved at Annual Meeting fortells an increase in staff: the statistical analyst position has become “Assistant Executive Director.” Two Field Representatives and two secretarial positions are also indicated.”