VLRB Hearing Complete. Decision Next Week!

VSEA’s Non-Management, Corrections and Supervisory Unit Bargaining Teams were at the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) in Montpelier on Tuesday to argue to three Board members that the state employees’ contract last-best-offer (LBO) reflects compromise, is fair and should be the LBO they select.

The State also attempted to defend its LBO, and VLRB members are right now choosing between the State’s and the VSEA Teams. A formal decision is expected sometime next week, and it will be final and binding.

VSEA wants to thank all the members who took time to attend and show the Board that this hearing was not being held in a vacuum.

The VSEA Teams’ were represented at the Board by Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley, General Counsel Tim Belcher, Strategic Analyst Adam Norton, Field Director Gretchen Naylor and Dr. Gerald Friedman (economic consultant).

VSEA members who might be just now beginning to focus on the status of contract negotiations are invited to visit the VSEA Bargaining Member-Resource Page. In order to view the resources page, VSEA members in good standing will need to first log into their VSEA.org account. Need a VSEA.org account? Sign up for a free account here.

Keep an eye out next week for contract updates, via VSEA email or VSEA’s website or VSEA’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Solidarity!

Lots Of New Names Added To List Of Lawmakers Who Support VSEA’s Campaign To Keep CoreCivic Out Of Vermont—But Fight Continues

In mid-February, VSEA posted a meme to its Facebook page that listed and thanked the Vermont House and Senate members who had signed on to a VSEA letter to oppose allowing the private, for-profit, out-of-state firm CoreCivic to set up shop right here in our state. WIA is pleased to report that since that meme posted, the list of signers and supporters has grown by a large number.

Today, an updated list was posted to the VSEA Facebook page that contains a link to a web page with the names of all the House and Senate members who, to date, have indicated their support VSEA’s efforts to keep CoreCivic out of Vermont.

While growing lawmaker support on the letter is a great thing, oddly, the debate around CoreCivic being permitted to build a mega-prison in Vermont is still alive at the State House. Given this unfortunate reality, VSEA’s legislative team is continuing to lobby lawmakers to just stop the proposal in its tracks now.

If your lawmaker(s) signed VSEA’s CoreCivic letter, please do thank them but also ask them to lobby their colleagues who for some reason have yet to lend their name to stopping this private, for-profit, out-of-state firm (with a notorious reputation) to come to Vermont. Find your Lawmaker’s contact information here.

Thanks!

WIC Employees Being Asked To Complete Survey

VSEA members sitting on the labor side of the Department of Health’s Labor / Management Committee sent an update this morning that included a special appeal to WIC employees to complete a short survey to determine how WIC workers are viewing changes made within the Division in the past year. Your answers will educate your labor team members about how you are feeling and allow them to conduct an informed discussion with VDH management about WIC employee workload and morale issues.

If you are a WIC employee who doesn’t remember seeing today’s email and need the survey link, please contact a member of the VDH labor team, who are:

• Cheryl Brinkman
• John Davy
• Will Fritch
• Bonnie Lee

State Orders Flag At SSCF To Half-Staff To Honor VT Corrections Officer

VSEA sent condolences this week to its members working at the Southern State Correctional Facility (SSCF) in Springfield after learning that a CO there, David Harty, had passed away unexpectedly on March 19. In response to the sad news, the State immediately ordered the flag outside the SSCF to be flown at half-staff.

Cause of death is still being determined, but it is not considered work related.

Again, VSEA expresses its deepest condolences to David’s family, friends and co-workers at the SSCF. Harty became a CO in 2014.

Bill Would Stop Drones Flying Over Vermont Prisons

DOC officials are responding to increased cases of drones flying directly over Vermont prisons, especially—according to a March 22 Seven Days’ story—the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield.

“This has been an issue as of recently, particularly at Springfield at the Southern State Correctional facility,” Deputy Corrections Commissioner Mike Touchette testified this week to the Senate Judiciary Committee. “We’ve had about a dozen drones fly over that facility in the last year.” He explains that officials are concerned “the drones could be used to drop contraband into the prison, though there isn’t evidence of that happening in Vermont.”

Lawmakers aren’t wasting time reacting to the DOC request, already passing H.615 in the House. “The proposed bill would create a $500 fine for anyone caught flying a drone over a prison. The prohibition wouldn’t apply to commercial drone flights, FAA-approved flights, or drone operators doing work for the Department of Corrections, such as inspecting solar panels.

“Touchette reassured senators that the bill would not outlaw drone flights near prisons, so hobbyists could fly drones on adjacent properties — just not directly above state prisons.”

Treasurer’s Office Holding One More Public Meeting To Discuss The Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan

Earlier this year, the Treasurer’s Office held a series of public meetings to solicit input from employers and employees on the implementation of the Green Mountain Secure Retirement Plan. This week, the Treasurer’s Office announced that it had scheduled an additional meeting for:

April 2
1:30 p.m.
BCA Center
Church Street
Burlington

 
Please RSVP to: 
Treasurers.Office@vermont.gov  

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

Franklin/
Grand Isle Chapter Survey: St. Alban’s Vermont Maple Parade

Members of the Franklin/ Grand Isle Chapter were sent an email containing a survey gauging members interest in participating in the St. Alban’s annual "Vermont Maple Parade". 

VSEA Franklin/ Grand Isle members can view the email here.

VSEA Schedules Series Of Employee Meetings For March 26 At Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital

VSEA is hosting three meetings on Monday, March 26, to update frontline workers about happenings at the State House and what the outcomes could mean for the group.

VSEA will bring coffee and donuts, and you bring your co-workers!

For your convenience there will be three meetings throughout the day on March 26. Feel free to attend when you can.

Meetings will be held in the VPCH’s Court Room:

1. 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
2. 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
3. 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

VSEA representatives are very interested to hear what’s on VPCH members’ minds.

Help Spread The Word!
Print and post this flyer in your worksite. Thank you!

For more information please feel free to contact Carmen Scholes, VSEA Organizer, CScoles@vsea.org

Waterbury Chapter Meets On March 28

VSEA’s Waterbury Chapter is meeting Wednesday, March 28, at 12:00 p.m. in the Oak Conference Room, located inside the Waterbury State Office Complex in Waterbury. Pizza and beverages being provided!

Please direct any questions or comments to VSEA Waterbury Chapter President John Mangione via email at mangioneart@comcast.net

Organizer’s Worksite Meeting On March 29 In WRJ!

Union Rep At Bennington State Office Building On March 30

VSEA Union Representative Rachael Fields will be available to meet with Bennington state employees on March 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the ESD Conference Room (second floor, suite 6), located in the State Office Building at 200 Veterans’ Drive in Bennington.

If you work in the State Office Building, please mark the date and time down to stop by and talk with Rachael.

It’s Time! Please Donate Today To Your Unit Sick Leave Bank

Donations Being Accepted
April 1 To June 30

VSEA member Dawn Carrillo staffs the Non-Management Unit Sick Leave Bank, and she is once again asking WIA to help her solicit time donations to the bank from VSEA members. Carillo is also announcing that the donation period is April 1 to June 30, 2018, and she reminds that donations to the Corrections and Supervisory Unit Banks are also needed.

“Just donating an hour of your time can mean the world to a fellow employee,” reads a DHR flyer. It also informs state employees that they can donate any amount of annual- or personal-leave time to their respective Unit sick leave bank. “Know that you are performing a wonderful service by helping your friends and fellow employees, who, along with their families, are struggling due to serious health issues,” the flyer concludes.

VSEA members interested in donating some much-needed time to the NMU, Corrections and Supervisory Sick Leave Banks can find a donation form here.

“I want to thank every member for considering a donation to your Unit sick leave bank,” says VSEA President Dave Bellini. “Even if you only donate one hour to the bank, these one-hour donations add up. It’s so worthwhile because your donation is going to help a fellow state employee who is battling a serious illness.”

Bolton Valley Offering “Industry Rate” To VSEA Members On 2018-19
All-Access Season Passes

Must Purchase By
April 2, 2018

Longtime VSEA Advantage Discount Program participant Bolton Valley let VSEA know this week that, for a limited time, the popular ski resort is offering VSEA members the “industry rate” on 2018-19 all-access season passes.

All VSEA members in good standing are eligible to purchase a pass or passes through April 2, 2018. You can purchase yours today by first contacting VSEA Administrative Assistant Susan DeVoid at 802-223-5247, or by email at sdevoid@vsea.org. Sue will verify your membership status and provide you with VSEA’s code, which you will need to complete your online purchase.
 

Once you have the required code:

• Click here;
   
• Click “Buy Online”;
   
• In the “Cart View,” click on “Add / Change Guest” to set the pass-holder’s name and information to each pass, then;
   
• Click “Proceed to Checkout”;
   
• Enter VSEA’s promotional code and click “Apply Code.” The cart should refresh and reflect your discount.

All-Access Season Pass Includes:

• Unlimited alpine skiing and riding
  on 71 trails;
   
• Over 1200 acres of Nordic and backcountry skiing;
   
• A 20% discount on daily rentals, retail shop purchases, daily group ski and ride lessons, and lodging; and
   
• Sports Center Membership including access to an indoor heated pool, hot tub and sauna.

National Nurses United Boasts 43 Co-Sponsors On Bill To Mandate Safe RN-To-Patient Ratios

In early February, WIA informed readers about a campaign by the National Nurses United (NNU) to convince the U.S. Congress to pass federal legislation to mandate national, safe RN (registered nurse)-to-patient staffing levels.

This week, the NNU’s Facebook page posted an update on the legislation, listing the 43 House members who have already co-sponsored the important legislation.

From the NNU Facebook post:

"We currently have 43 co-sponsors on H.R. 2392, the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act of 2017. This legislation would create mandated minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. 

Has your representative co-sponsored this legislation? Find out here."

Note: VSEA members, especially health care workers, are urged to contact Rep. Welch’s office to ask for his support for H.R. 2392. As of this morning, he is not listed as a co-sponsor.

Missouri Seeks To Change State’s “Employee Culture” By Targeting Poor Management

In the summer of 2017, the state of Missouri issued a survey to basically try to determine how state employees were feeling about their current work situation. What leaders discovered is that a large majority of workers felt their managers were simply doing a poor job of managing. This revelation prompted Missouri Governor Eric Greitens to announce this week that a new survey is soon being issued to zoom in on specific management challenges waiting to be addressed.

“What the survey showed … is that we inherited a situation of years of systematic neglect from the management standpoint. … In some cases, it’s been over decades,” Greitens tells the Jefferson City News Tribune in a March 23 story.

The state’s Chief Operating Officer adds that last summer’s survey showed 75 or 80 percent of state employees are willing to put more effort into their jobs, and they have a strong sense of personal accomplishment. However, he reminds, they want a better sense of direction, with better leadership.

Oregon Fines Unity Mental Health $1,650 After Workers Suffer Hundreds Of Assaults

The Daily Oregonian published a story on March 19 about the State’s "go-to," showpiece mental health care facility and issues there with patient on worker assaults.

From the story:

"OSHA documented an uneasy culture at Unity. During interviews, some employees told OSHA investigators they wouldn’t report minor assaults such as a punch in the face because they didn’t want to appear to be complainers or feared that they might be viewed negatively by administration. Others said they hadn’t noticed safety changes after previous reports of assaults were made, so they didn’t bother reporting new assaults, according to the OSHA report.

Employees also asked for more staff to be on duty — and noted sometimes two employees need to be assigned to one patient at a time, according to the report."

Note: VSEA looks forward to seeing how the new management team at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital works with staff to address assaults on workers there. A Safety Council has been formed, which is a step in the right direction. 

The Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently mandated that, to avoid being fined, VPCH management must meet several worker and patient safety improvement benchmarks in the coming months.