VSEA Mourns Passing Of Longtime Leader & Activist Ruth Leithead

This has been a sad week for the entire VSEA family, as we learned that longtime VSEA leader and activist Ruth Leithead passed away on Tuesday night. Ruthie’s service to her union was second to none and she will be greatly missed. VSEA’s deepest condolences to Ruthie’s family, friends and co-workers. Ruthie was an employee for decades at the Vermont State Hospital, now VPCH.

At VSEA’s Annual Meeting in September, NMU Chair Bob Stone introduced a resolution to name the large board room at VSEA HQ to honor Ruthie’s service to her union, and it was passed unanimously. While introducing his motion, Stone read a passage from a 2007 statement Ruth submitted as part of her candidacy for Clerk. It’s worth posting here for all to read…

Ask not what your union can do for you, but what you can do for your union. That slogan is more relevant today than it was back then. We are no longer a member service organization, but a member driven organization. We need to focus much effort on member recruitment as there is power and strength in numbers. We need to make our voices heard for the good of VSEA and all employees. This is extremely important because now, more than ever, we not only need to get the respect we deserve from our employer, but we need to protect our rights that our employer seeks to take away. Many times this past year, the current Administration has shown us they have little respect for us, as workers and absolutely no respect for our rights. Along those lines, we need to become much more politically active and involved. We need to educate our members on this as much as possible. Decisions made in Legislature affect our jobs and our livelihoods.

We also need to continue to work towards keeping the communication lines open. We cannot make enough improvements in that area. I believe it the right and expectation of all members to get as much information as possible on all issues and as soon as possible. We need to improve communications with the public so they will recognize that we work hard for all Vermonters each and every day. WE ARE VSEA and we make VSEA what it is today and what it will be tomorrow. We all need to work side by side in unity to make our voices heard for the good of VSEA. We need to put our personal differences aside and we need to stand together as one in solidarity – MANY MEMBERS – ONE VOICE! I want to see our union move forward. The officers you elect need to be able to move forward with the same goals in mind. And to do that we need more communication with you, the members.

I am very committed to VSEA and its members. This position, like the other elected positions, takes a real commitment. Anyone running for an elected office needs to seriously think of the time involved to do the job well and the dedication needed to serve VSEA. They have to be personally motivated and committed to VSEA. I have made that commitment. I have that motivation and dedication. I have served VSEA and its members faithfully; my attendance record speaks for itself.

Thank you for your support in allowing me to serve as VSEA Clerk and I look forward to continue serving you as Clerk.

View Some Photos Of Ruth From The VSEA Archives

Labor Relations Director’s Latest Bargaining Update Includes Request For Calls Prior To Next Wednesday’s Mediation!!!

After logging in to VSEA.org, registered members can navigate to the "Members Only" drop-down menu, located in the homepage’s left-hand column. You can expand a drop-down from there and select "Negotiation Notes From VSEA Director of Labor Relations Gary Hoadley" or you can click "Member-Only Documents" and then on the following page, click the same heading.

Gary Hoadley’s "Negotiation Notes"
Log-in Required

Scheduled Mediation Dates:

• Wednesday, October 16; and
• Tuesday, October 22

• View contact information for your VSEA Bargaining Unit here.

Rep. Bob Hooper’s Legislation Leads To This Morning’s First Burial For Unclaimed Vermont Veteran

In the 2019 legislative session, Rep. Bob Hooper–who is a past VSEA president and is now current Retirees’ Chapter president–championed H. 394; an act relating to the disposition of the remains of veterans, which was overwhelmingly passed. H. 394 permits a funeral director, crematory operator, or the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to have the unclaimed cremated remains of a deceased veteran interred at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery if at least 180 days have passed since the remains were cremated, there is no claimant for the remains, and the deceased veteran is eligible to be interred at the Cemetery.

This morning, at 11:00 a.m., WWII Navy sailor Fredrick E. Armstrong was the first Vermont veteran covered under Hooper’s bill to be interred at the Vermont Veterans’ Cemetery in Randolph.

The Vermont Patriot Guard Riders provided a motorcycle escort from Rutland to Randolph, assisted by the Vermont State Police.

Tom Giffin; a longtime VSEA leader and activist, now Assistant Superintendent at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland, brought the idea to Hooper in his role as president of the Vermont Old Cemetery Association.

"It was great that Bob listened and spearheaded this legislation with our group and other groups to get it passed," says Giffin. "I was really looking forward to today, becasue my wife, Barbara and I had been helping to put together the special ceremony that was held today in Randolph."

Note: Great piece of legislation Rep. Hooper!

UMass Labor Center’s "Visions Of Labor" Conference Coming In November

According to a conference website page, "Together, as workers and social justice activists, we will watch and discuss new and classic labor films, along with worker-created videos, as we explore the power of worker stories and how these stories can be used to inspire reflection and spur creative action. You’ll also have the opportunity to get a sneak preview of a major labor film in-progress, and hear from the film’s award-winning director. The films and videos shown will reflect the diversity of the labor movement and working people, and our discussions together will highlight the many ways in which worker voices can be effectively heard."

Conference Information & Registration Page

Note: Sorry. No financial assistance is being offered to members who attend the conference.

VSEA Circulating Petition To Increase Funding For State Colleges

Here’s what the petition says:
 

VSEA HQ Hires Two New Union Representatives

• Tom Hango – Department of Public Safety; and
• David Martinson – Parole & Probation

"I’m very pleased to announce that long-standing union activists and state employees with a combined total of nearly 60 years of state service have agreed to join our team as Senior Union Representatives," Howard tells WIA.

Martinson begins on November 12 and Hango starts December 4.

Attention VSEA Stewards!

The additional training date is: 

• November 18 – South Burlington, Holiday Inn, 1068 Williston Road

This training begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Attendees need to provide their own lunch.

It is important to register early, as this training is also limited to 25 attendees.

If interested—and to ensure you get a place—please visit this page to fill out and submit your registration form. The deadline for Stewards to let VSEA know is Friday, October 11. 

Info Emailed This Week About Open Enrollment In VSEA’s Popular Delta Dental Supplemental Plan 

This enrollment period is also when members already in the program can amend their number of dependents also using the program, if this number has changed in the past year. You also received an email this week with details about how to update your information.

Very important! This email was sent to the primary email address that VSEA currently has on file for you. If you did not receive the Delta Dental email–or don’t recall receiving it (sent on October 10)–please look in your “Other” or “Spam” folders before contacting headquarters to request the information.
 
Learn More About VSEA’s Insurance Benefits

Strike Over. VT Machinists Local 2704 Members Ratify New Agreement

Following a week walking a picket line, members of Machinists Local 2704 in Williston ended their strike against the Velan Corporation late last week, and, on October 4, voted to ratify a new two-year contract.

According to a post to the Vermont AFL-CIO’s Facebook page:

"After a week of striking, the Machinists were able to leverage their labor into having the company agree to a 4% raise over two years, and a no premium healthcare plan (deductibles will be covered through significantly more affordable weekly worker contributions to a dedicated account). The Company also withdrew their proposal allowing them to hire more temps."

Note: Congratulations to the Local 2704 members. Proud of you for standing strong.

General Electric Freezes 20,000 Employee Pensions

From the post:

GE announced on Monday it was freezing pensions for 20,000 employees with salaried benefits in an attempt to reduce its $8 billion pension deficit, and that it would also freeze supplementary pension benefits for about 700 workers. Current retirees already receiving their pension payments will not be affected and no new hires have been enrolled in the pension plan since 2012.

“Every time we see someone lose a defined-benefit plan, we see that they’ve lost all of the sacrifices they’ve made,” Teresa Ghilarducci, a labor economist and director of The New School’s Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. “Almost all workers in defined-benefit plans have given up a lot of raises in the past so not only do they lose a secure income for the rest of their lives — they also lost all of those past wages they’ll never get back.”
 

For First Time EVER, Billionaires Now Enjoy Lower Tax Rate Than Working Class

From the story:

A new book-length study on the tax burden of the ultrarich begins with a startling finding: In 2018, for the first time in history, America’s richest billionaires paid a lower effective tax rate than the working class.

“The Triumph of Injustice,” by economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman of the University of California at Berkeley, presents a first-of-its kind analysis of Americans’ effective tax rates since the 1960s. It finds that in 2018, the average effective tax rate paid by the richest 400 families in the country was 23 percent, a full percentage point lower than the 24.2 percent rate paid by the bottom half of American households.

In 1980, by contrast, the 400 richest had an effective tax rate of 47 percent. In 1960, that rate was as high as 56 percent. The effective tax rate paid by the bottom 50 percent, by contrast, has changed little over time.