VSEA Represents At May 30 Rally Against Scott Walker!
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Vermont’s labor community was out in force last Thursday night to protest ex-Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s visit to our state to speak at a fundraiser hosted by the Vermont Republican Party at the Hilton in Burlington. There were a lot of unions represented at the protest, and VSEA did not disappoint, evidenced by all of the protesters in the crowd of hundreds who were wearing VSEA’s logo and name on their shirts and hats or had one or both on their sign.
VSEA’s Facebook page added several posts about the rally, including:
The rally / protest’s size and scope also drew a lot of press, and here are some of the stories, etc., generated:
VSEA’s Board of Trustees is thanking all the members and retirees who took time to attend this important demonstration and lend your voice to the hundreds rallying strongly and loudly in opposition to Walker’s visit to Vermont and to his union-busting, anti-worker mindset and record. |
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VSEA Leadership Meets With Governor To Discuss Arbitration Bill
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VSEA President Dave Bellini and First Vice President Aimee Towne led a delegation of VSEA leaders, Bargaining Team chairs and staff in a meeting this afternoon with the Governor to urge his signature on VSEA’s arbitration bill when it hits his desk, which could be any day now. VSEA’s arbitration bill is intended to restore fairness to the collective bargaining process by using an arbitrator mutually selected by VSEA and the State to resolve future contract-negotiation disputes.
Seated here at the table, making VSEA’s case are: (left bottom to right bottom) NMU Chair Bob Stone, Corrections Unit Chair Dan Broe, VSEA Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley, VSEA Legislative Specialist Tom Abdelnour, VSEA Board member Brian Smith, VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard, Gov. Scott, VSEA President Dave Bellini, VSEA First VP Aimee Towne, VSEA Board member and House member Bob Hooper.
In the coming days, keep a close your eye on VSEA’s webpage, Facebook and Twitter pages, etc. for any update or announcement about VSEA’s arbitration bill. |
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Keep Those Calls To The Governor Coming!
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Please take 30 seconds—on your break, and on your own phone—to call the Governor’s Office at
(802) 828-3333 and leave this message:
“Please sign H 16. I support arbitration for first responders and state employees.”
This bill will help ensure that the final outcome of bargaining for many VSEA members is determined by somebody your union helps choose, rather than somebody appointed solely by the Administration.
YOUR CALLS helped get this bill passed through the legislature and now we need your help one more time to get this bill signed.
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Senior Warden Timothy Carey Is Vermont’s State Game Warden Of The Year
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Senior Vermont Game Warden Timothy was honored by the Governor at a special ceremony on June 4 to celebrate his being named the state’s Game Warden of the Year. He is pictured above holding a special plaque he received to commemorate the event. Carey is a six-year VSEA member.
“Senior Warden Carey is a consummate professional who effectively enforces hunting, fishing and trapping laws,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter, in a release. “And in 2018 he responded to more than 217 incidents and made 21 arrests. He displays a keen sense of judgment, treating all people fairly and with dignity, regardless of the situation.”
Times Argus Story: https://bit.ly/2ZkixdF
VSEA congratulates Senior Warden Carey and thanks him for his service to Vermonters.
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VSEA Member Appreciation Day Events Kick Off June 19 In St. J!
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| Appreciation Day events have been part of the VSEA culture for decades now. |
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VSEA’s popular "Member Appreciation Day" events, which feature free ice cream and giveaway items for state employees, are back this year, beginning with:
St. Johnsbury Appreciation Day Event
Wednesday, June 19
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
District DCF and P&P Offices
(Outside on the back lawn.)
1016 U.S. Route 5
St. Johnsbury
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Next VSEA Steward Training Is
July 20!
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VSEA Field Services Director Gretchen Naylor asked WIA to include an announcement about this upcoming Steward training:
Montpelier
Saturday, July 20
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
VSEA HQ
155 State Street, Montpelier
View PDF Agenda Here
Please RSVP to VSEA Administrative Assistant Sue DeVoid at: sdevoid@vsea.org or call 802-223-5247.
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Three New Members Appointed To NMU Bargaining Team
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| Non-Management Unit Chair Bob Stone and the Unit Executive Committee announced this week that, after careful consideration, they have appointed the following Unit members to the NMU Bargaining Team:
Building / Maintenance Group:
Robert Ball – BGS, St. Johnsbury
Data Processing Group:
Eric Davis – DEC, Montpelier
Labor/ Education Group:
Joe Amaral – DOL, Montpelier
Congratulations to all, and welcome to the Team! |
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Retired Members’ Chapter Treasurer Clarifies Differences Between The VSEA Chapter & The VRSEA
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| VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter Treasurer Terry Lefebvre says she is asked often to explain what the difference is between the VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter and a group calling itself the Vermont Retired State Employees’ Association. This week, Lefebvre wrote down the primary difference(s) and is sharing her clarification with retirees and members on the VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter’s designated webpage.
VSEA retirees or members who are asked about the difference(s) between the two groups are urged to resource Terry’s clarification and share what you learn or share a hard copy of the clarification with whoever is inquiring. |
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VTDigger Reports On Lawmakers Decision Not To Cut DCF Reach-Up Caseworkers
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| VSEA DCF Reach Up case workers took center stage near the end of this legislative session, successfully fighting with their union to protect their positions, which were on the budget chopping block. Unfortunately, as VTDigger reports in a June 5 story, it came down to the House and Senate having to decide between keeping the DCF positions or making a cut to the Vermont Parent Child Centers. In the end, as VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard says in the article, it came down to experience, and DCF workers–as VSEA First Vice President and DCF employee Aimee Towne made clear when lobbying at the State House to protect the employees–are very experienced and have a proven record.
Read VTDigger Story |
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VSEA Mourns Passing Of Past-President Ruth "Bonnie" Watson
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The entire VSEA family is mourning the passing of past-VSEA President, Ruth "Bonnie" Watson, who served her union from 1981 to 1983. Watson was also instrumental in establishing VSEA’s official headquarters at 155 State Street.
"Most of all, I remember how Bonnie encouraged inclusion and participation," VSEA Retirees’ Chapter Treasurer Terry Lefebvre tells WIA. "She was very successful in getting members to join in and help out.
Ruth Bonnie Watson’s Obituary
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Vermont Ranked In Top 5 For Job Opportunities
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| Once again, a new report has been released, and its findings seem to contradict all the Vermont politicians who continue to publicly fret about our state’s alleged dearth of job opportunities.
An online post this week reported that WalletHub has released its annual report on the "Best & Worst States for Jobs, and Vermont was ranked number 4, in terms of the best job prospects.
From the post:
Massachusetts tops the list, followed by Washington, Colorado, Vermont and New Hampshire. Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and West Virginia are the worst states for jobs.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 33 key indicators of job-market strength, opportunity and economic vitality. The data set ranges from employment growth to median annual income to average commute time.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified 20 occupations as having the highest expected growth rate between 2016 and 2026: solar photovoltaic installers, wind turbine service technicians, home health aides, personal care aides, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, statisticians, physical therapist assistants, software developers (applications), mathematicians, physical therapist aides, bicycle repairers, medical assistants, genetic counselors, occupational therapy assistants, information security analysts, physical therapists, operations research analysts, forest fire inspectors and prevention specialists, and massage therapists.
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Time Is Running Out To Donate To The NMU Sick Leave Bank!
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It’s open enrollment time to donate some hours to the NMU Sick Leave Bank, which is on the brink of bankruptcy and needs your help.
June 30 is the deadline for you to contribute!
Please consider donating as much Annual and/or Personal leave as you are able to contribute.
Donating an hour of your time can mean the world to a fellow employee, who, along with their families, are struggling due to serious health issues.
Please print the Sick Leave Bank Donation Form, complete it, and forward it to your Human Resources Administrator between now and June 30, 2019.
Many thanks to those who previously donated time to the Sick Leave Bank. Your generosity is making a difference!
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Reserve Your Room Now For VSEA’s 2019 Annual Meeting At Okemo
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| VSEA’s Annual Meeting is September 14, 2019, which is approaching quickly. The Special Events Committee is letting VSEA members know that you can reserve a room now through a special link created by Okemo.
VSEA members will need to use a special rate code for the event, which is:
CM2VSEA
Reserve Room Now Here!
Room types available:
- Inn Room (occupancy 2-4)
1 to 2 nights = $159 per night
3 nights = $144.54
- Studio (occupancy 2-4)
1 to 2 nights = $173 per night
3 nights = $157.27
- One-Bedroom (occupancy 2-6)
1 to 2 nights = $195 per night
3 nights = $177.63
- Two-Bedroom (occupancy 4-6)
1 to 2 nights = $235 per night
3 nights = $213.63
The Committee is also sharing that there are two things members identified in the survey as important discussions to be conducted at Annual Meeting, including a review, discussion and vote on the union’s operating budget and a celebration of "surviving the Janus decision."
The Committee is reminding members to keep an eye out in future WIAs for more 2019 Annual Meeting updates. |
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AFLAC Enrollment – Sign up through VSEA!
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| WIA was asked by VSEA Benefits Administrator, Joanne Woodcock, to include the following in this week’s newsletter:
VSEA Insurance Benefits is now making the following Aflac insurance policies available to VSEA members!
View this full flyer ad! (PDF) |
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* Certain face amounts may not be available. Underwriting requirements apply. ** Subject to certain conditions and payment of claims is subject to all policy limitations and exclusions and pre-existing conditions.
This is a brief product overview for illustrative purposes only. Benefits and/or premiums may vary based on the state and benefit option selected. Riders may be available for an additional premium. Policies described herein have limitations and exclusions that may affect benefits payable. For costs and complete details of the coverage, contact your Aflac insurance agent/producer. Individual coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus.
WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999 | aflac.com |
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Quote Of
The Week!
"Most of us don’t have a grand lying around to get a photo-op with some loser who broke Wisconsin, but we’ve got each other, and starting today we’re going to stick together and fight for an inclusive, united union-strong Vermont."
VSEA Chittenden Chapter President John Davy, from remarks he delivered at a May 30 anti-Scott Walker rally in Burlington, as quoted in a May 30 VTDigger story.
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Employee Appreciation Day Event
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Vermont Sec’y Of State Delivers Keynote Address At Cybersecurity Conference
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Because of steps made in Vermont to protect voter security, Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos was asked to deliver the keynote address at a Thursday cybersecurity summit in Boston.
Here’s what Condos said in advance of his speech:
“Defending our elections and other government systems from cyber attackers takes constant diligence, and requires continual investment in the robust defense network that keeps the bad actors out. With respect to elections, voters deserve to know that when they cast their ballot, their vote is secure, and that when they give information to state and local governments, we’re doing everything in our power to ensure that information is protected.”
Full Text Of Condos’ Speech
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New Hampshire DOT Unveils New Memorial To Workers Who Were Killed On The Job
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The Concord Monitor reported Thursday on the unveiling of a new memorial outside the main office of the state’s Department of Transportation, honoring road and highway workers who have been killed while on the job.
From the story:
Brenda and Donnie Haynes haven’t seen their son Ryan for 14 years, after the 20-year-old highway worker was fatally struck by a passing car while on the job. But on Wednesday they heard his name.
Before hundreds of Department of Transportation workers, state politicians, and surviving family members, Ryan Haynes was one of 37 names read out at a ceremony outside the department – each having died in the course of work on state projects.
“The public works, the plow guys, they’re all put in the background,” Brenda Haynes said. “They don’t get the recognition that they should. This certainly brings it forward a little bit.”
Note: A reminder of why it’s so important to slow down in work zones and respect that Vermont AOT employees are at work and doing their jobs.
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Thousands Of CA Kaiser Permanente Mental Health Workers Could Strike Next Week
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| The LA Times is reports June 6 that approximately 4,000 mental health care employees working for private, health care industry giant Kaiser Permanente in facilities across California.
The workers, who belong to the National Union of Healthcare Workers, say Kaiser is being too slow to enable its patients to access mental health care. In an effort to speed up mental health care at Kaiser, the union is seeking increased staffing, smaller patient-to-therapist ratios and fewer patient referrals to therapists outside the Kaiser network, among other changes.
The NUHW members, who have also been working without a contract since September 2018, will strike on Tuesday, June 11, if an agreement is not reached by then with Kaiser. |
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OK Governor’s Proposal To Ban Future State Agency Lobbying Contracts Getting Mixed Reviews
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| A story post today to the website NONDOC reports: "State agencies in Oklahoma spent about $1.5 million each of the past two years on lobbying contracts with private firms, but Gov. Kevin Stitt’s administration intends to take that amount to $0."
The rest of the story presents the arguments coming from both sides, but the debate around the topic will be interesting and WIA will be monitoring to see how it all plays out in the end. |
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June 8
VSEA Day @ Fenway
June 13
Retirees’ Chapter Meeting
VSEA HQ
155 State Street
Montpelier
9:00 a.m.
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| Need To Contact A VSEA Staff Person Directly But Need The Number? |
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| VSEA HQ is reminding members and retirees of each staff person’s direct phone number, in the event you know who you need to talk with but you don’t know their direct phone number.
Here’s the staff direct line list |
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Reminder:
State Employees Who Are Threatened On The Job Should File "eAlert" Form |
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| We are reminding members that there is an online form to fill out if you are threatened while at work.
Find The State’s “eAlert” Homepage Here
Important: Once you land on the eAlert page, you will see an entry labeled “threat” in the menu provided. Click on it and you land on a page with written instructions and fields to complete.
In November 2017, the current Secretary of the Administration sent the State’s “Workplace Safety and Security” policy to state employees, and VSEA members are encouraged to read through the different policies, examples and responses, prior to an actual event occurring. |
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VSEA Membership Drive 2019
Now Underway! |
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| Strength In Numbers!
A reminder that your union’s 2019 membership-recruitment drive is underway. Rewards for recruiting new members between now and September 1!
- 2 new members – Dunkin Donuts gift card;
- 5 new members – VSEA insulated coffee mug; or
- 10 new members – $50 VISA gift card!
Bonus! Recruit a new member and receive an entry in a drawing to win one of four $300 prizes to be awarded at VSEA’s 2019 Annual Meeting! Each new recruit earns you an additional entry! Just be sure to have your recruits add your name in the "Recruited By" line of the VSEA Membership Application.
More Membership Drive Information Here! |
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| 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 |
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| Told You’re Being Investigated? Watch This Video! |
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It is important that every VSEA member knows his or her rights when it comes to union representation in investigatory meetings. Union representation at these meetings is a cornerstone of the labor movement. Your right to representation—as outlined in your contract and, in some cases, labor law—can be complicated.
Please take a few minutes on a break to watch the video, and know that the information being relayed could very well save your job someday. Remember, as a VSEA member, you are entitled to no-cost representation in investigatory meetings that may lead to discipline. Non-members, however, must now pay a rate of $250 to $350 per-hour for the same level of representation!
More: Know Your Union Rights
Not currently a VSEA member?
You can sign up online.
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| What You Should Know About The Anti-Worker Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court Ruling |
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If you haven’t already, begin educating yourself today about what the Janus decision means—or supplement what you know already. Please also inform your co-workers about this Janus page and talk with them about what you learned and remind them of the importance of a union in their everyday life. You could make a difference. Every study shows that nothing is more effective than member-to-member communication.
Learn More On VSEA.org
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| Getting Ready To Retire? Retired Already? Join The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter! |
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Long-time VSEA activist and leader Terry Lefebvre asked Council members getting ready to retire to join the VSEA Retirees’ Chapter to continue to be an active and engaged union member, even in retirement. Lefebvre also appealed to Council members to talk up the Chapter to co-workers they know who might be preparing to retire.
With a possible fight looming on retirement security, Lefebvre stressed the importance to build the Chapter to be able to mobilize large numbers of past state workers to protect and defend the benefits they bargained to win over decades.
If you already belong to the Retired Members’ Chapter, a big thanks to you.
Learn More Here About The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter |
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| What is the VSEA Advantage Program? |
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Did you know?
The average VSEA member can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking advantage of some of the Members Only benefits offered through their union!
GET EXCLUSIVE OFFERS, DISCOUNTS & MORE
It’s free, just for being a Vermont State Employees’ Association PerksConnect member!
Learn More!
Questions? Feel free to email vsea@ vsea.org |
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Need To Update Your Contact Information
With VSEA?
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