VSEA Annual Meeting 2018 Concludes!

More than 100 VSEA members and retirees took time last Saturday to attend VSEA’s 74th Annual Meeting in Montpelier at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.

In addition to hearing introductory remarks and updates from VSEA President Dave Bellini and VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard, members and retirees also reviewed and adopted an operating budget for FY2019, approved several proposed bylaw changes and established dues for the coming year (no change). Attendees also cast votes in an election for seats on the VSEA Retirement Board, electing Tom Hango (VSP) to the seat and J.P. Isabelle (Sec’y of State).

Meeting attendees were also treated to a fiery speech from keynote speaker Marybe McMillan, the president of the North Carolina AFL-CIO. McMillan used her time to talk about tactics she has used to overcome the challenges to organizing in a right-to-work state and also about the victories unions in her state are achieving despite the forces actively working against labor in her state. “If we can do it in North Carolina, you can certainly do it here in Vermont,” she said. McMillan’s speech was met with a rousing, standing ovation from the crowd.

McMillan was followed by the VSEA Awards & Scholarships Committee’s annual presentation of merit awards to members and staff, as well as one deserving Chapter. Ruthie Leithead (Retired) and Ed Thomas (Military) announced the winners, and they were:

Council Hosts BBQ

VSEA Members Urged To Vote In Upcoming Online Unit Elections

VSEA’s Elections, Rules and Nominating Committee will soon be emailing an online voting link to eligible members belonging to the Non-Management, Supervisory and State Colleges Units. As in recent elections, the firm SimplyVoting will be emailing the link to you.

Here is the Committee’s ballot email schedule:

Judiciary Unit – Ballot emails on September 21 to vote in Executive Committee and Bargaining Team elections. Due back October 5.

Non-Management Unit – Ballot to be emailed no later than October 5 to vote in Executive Committee and Bargaining Team elections. Due back 14 days after it emails.

State Colleges Unit – Ballot emails on September 21 to vote in Unit Vice Chair election. Due back October 5.

If you requested a paper ballot, it is being mailed to you.

Very Important! Your electronic ballot is being sent to the primary email address that VSEA currently has on file for you. If you do not receive an email from vote@simplyvoting.com on the date indicated (except NMU, which is still TBD), please look in your “Other” or “Spam” folders before contacting headquarters to request that your ballot
be reissued.

VSEA Membership Recruitment Committee Announces Bus Trip To NJ To See Patriots Battle The Jets

New England Patriots vs.
New York Jets

Sunday, November 25
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Section 225 (View Seats)

Ticket + Bus Cost: $172 per person

Bus pickup times are 5:30 a.m. at the Waterbury State Office Complex and 6:30 a.m. at the Park & Ride off Interstate 91N, Exit 12 (Hartford)

Bus returns following the game.

To Register Or If You Have Questions:
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!

Vermont Treasurer Educates VSEA Council About Why Employees’ Defined Benefit Plan Must Be Defended

One of the things VSEA’s Legislative Committee and State House team are most concerned about becoming an issue in the upcoming 2019 legislative session is an anticipated attempt by some to make radical changes to state employees’ current defined benefit pension plan. To begin to plan a defense in advance of the session, the VSEA Council invited State Treasurer Beth Pearce to its September 7 meeting, where she used a PowerPoint presentation to explain why moving from a defined benefit to a defined contribution pension plan is a bad move and also shared excerpts from studies and reports that strongly support her belief.

Every VSEA member and retiree is urged to spend a few minutes viewing the Treasurer’s presentation to Council and then sharing what your learned with your co-workers, friends and family. VSEA’s Legislative team is also developing issue talking points to distribute soon to members and retirees statewide.

Note: It’s important to remember that we learned in 2015 that among those Vermonters do have retirement plans through their employer, our state ranks dead last in the nation in terms of how much people have saved. Switching from a defined benefit to a defined contribution plan will move Vermont even lower.

VSEA VSP Member Becomes Just The Third Woman To Command A State Barracks

VSEA congratulated 20-year member Barbara Kessler this week on being picked to command the Royalton Barracks, making her just the third woman to ever hold the post.

“She is an incredibly valuable member of the command staff and she has proven herself over the years,” Vermont State Police Director Col. Matthew Birmingham tells the Valley News in a September 10 story. “She is incredibly professional and we have a lot of confidence in her. It only made sense that she would be a great fit to run the Royalton station.”

Barbara was an active VSEA member and served several years as a member of the VSEA Supervisory Unit Bargaining Team.

Final 2018
VSEA Steward Training Is
Next Week!

The final VSEA Steward training
in 2018 is:

Tuesday, September 18
8:30 a.m.
VSEA HQ
Montpelier

To register, please email Gretchen Naylor: gnaylor@vsea.org

Not Seeing
VSEA In Your Facebook News Feed?

Set VSEA’s Page To "See First"

At the September 7 Council meeting, several members asked VSEA’s Communications Department why aren’t seeing their union’s posts in their Facebook newsfeed. Here’s why.

Facebook has limited space to show you posts, so if you like a lot of Facebook pages, VSEA’s posts may not be appearing in your feed. But fear not, Facebook provides a way to prioritize your favorite pages, so you can ensure you don’t miss VSEA’s posts. It’s an easy process:
 

1. Navigate to VSEA’s Facebook page;
    
2. Towards the left of the page, below the big cover photo, click the “Following” button. A drop-down menu should appear; and
    
3. In the drop down menu, select,
   “See First”.

That’s it! Now Facebook will prioritize VSEA’s posts in your news feed so you won’t miss a thing!

Vermont NEA To Rally Tomorrow For Racial Equity in Vermont Schools 

The Vermont National Education Association (NEA) announced today that educators and others from across the state will be rallying for racial equity tomorrow at noon in Montpelier. Noted anti-racist author and activist Tim Wise will be joined at the rally by Rep. Kiah Morris, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman and Attorney General TJ Donovan, where they will call for an end to systemic bias and institutional racism in our schools.

WHO: State officials, students, and experts committed to racial equity in Vermont’s schools

WHAT: A rally for racial equity

WHEN and WHERE: Saturday, September 15, at the Pavilion Auditorium (adjacent to the State House). A pre-rally presentation is slated for 10:45 am; the rally begins at noon.

Reserve Your Seat(s) Today For VSEA November
Bus Trip To Foxwoods Casino!

There are still seats left on the bus for the VSEA Membership Recruitment Committee’s November trip to the Foxwoods Casino for a two-night stay.

Dates:
November 30 to December 2, 2018

Bus Cost:
$68 per person
Bus will depart from Waterbury at 12:00 p.m. and a location to be determined 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; and
• $20 slot play.

To Register Or If You Have Questions:
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!

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

Longtime VSEA Advantage Discount Program participant Bolton is again 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. You can purchase yours today by first contacting VSEA by email at vsea@vsea.org. VSEA 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.

Pricing:

Adult (18+): $379 / $429

Youth w/Adult (7-17): $159 / $179

Youth (7-17): $199 / $239

Senior (65-74): $229 / $239

Child (6 and under): $29 / $29

Ski Bum (18-25): $179 / $279

Upcoming
Member Appreciation Day Event

• Montpelier
  Thursday, September 20
  11:00 a.m.
  State House Lawn
  115 State Street
  Montpelier​

  Questions: Contact VSEA Organizer Danielle Warner at dwarner@vsea.org​

Upcoming Chapter Meetings

• Waterbury Chapter
  Wednesday, September 26
  12:00 p.m.
  State Office Complex
  Cherry C Conference Room
  Waterbury​

  Questions: Contact VSEA Waterbury Chapter President, John Mangione here: Mangioneart@comcast.net​

Upcoming Organizer Worksite Meetings

• St. Albans
  Tuesday, September 18
  11:30 a.m.
  State Office Building
  First Floor Large Conference Room
  27 Federal Street
  St. Albans​

  Questions: Contact VSEA Organizer, Carmen Scoles at cscoles@vsea.org​

• Barre – Agency of Education
  12:00 p.m.
  AOE
  Third Floor Conference Room
  219 Main Street
  Barre​

  Questions: Contact VSEA Organizer, Carmen Scoles at cscoles@vsea.org​

While Windsor Sits Empty, Vermont DOC Decides To Ship Inmates To CoreCivic Facility In Mississippi

VSEA President Dave Bellini was one of the first this week to blast a decision last Friday by DOC officials to transfer Vermont inmates from a Pennsylvania prison with acknowledged problems to a Mississippi prison, operated by CoreCivic. This as Mississippi media is reporting that the state’s correctional system experienced 16 inmate fatalities in just the month of August 2018, and that the FBI will be asked to investigate. Vermont DOC’s decision to move inmates to Mississippi also drew the public ire of the Vermont ACLU and the Manchester Journal, which penned an editorial this week, titled “Mississippi Is The Wrong Choice.” Like VSEA, both also took strong issue with the Vermont DOC contracting with CoreCivic, which was formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America, or CCA.

From the Manchester Journal’s Editorial:

“Their latest stay, at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institute at Camp Hill, has gone so poorly that the state terminated its contract early, due to concerns from prisoners about overly restrictive conditions and poor treatment. Three Vermont inmates died at Camp Hill last year, including a man whose lung cancer went untreated, and a fourth died earlier this month, in circumstances that remain under investigation.

Then, there’s the moral bankruptcy of doing business with a for-profit prison company such as CoreCivic, which owns and operates Tallahatchie.”

Note: VSEA continues to advocate bringing all Vermont inmates back in state, especially with possible housing space sitting empty in Windsor. Why continue to send Vermont dollars out of state to Mississippi, Kentucky, Oklahoma, etc.? Why not create jobs for Vermonters? Why not put more of our tax dollars into our local Vermont economies?

DOC Replaces Southern States’ Superintendent…Again

No Explanation Offered Publicly

VTDigger reports on September 12 that Southern States Correctional Facility’s Superintendent Ed Adams is being replaced for the time being by Lesa Trowt, who was working as the Community Corrections Program Supervisor in the DOC’s Brattleboro office. The DOC offered no explanation for Adams’ untimely departure, which comes less than two years after the DOC let Superintendent Mark Potanas go from Southern States.

VTDigger writes that it filed a public records request to learn more about why Adams was dismissed, and the reporter was told the cost to provide the records in question would be between $7,920 and $13,680. VTDigger is considering appealing the costs.

Note: VSEA is talking with its members at the Springfield facility, and they are sharing all the rumors and theories they are hearing about the dismissal with headquarters’ staff.

UVMMC Nurses Balk At Management’s “Final” Final Offer

VTDigger reports today that University of Vermont Medical Center management informed its nurses on Thursday at the bargaining table that their “offer of a 15 percent base salary raise over three years is the hospital’s ‘last, best and final offer.’” According to the story, at the table yesterday, the nurses’ union lowered their wage-increase proposal from 22 percent to 20 percent.

From the story:

“Deb Snell, the president of AFT Vermont and a UVM Medical Center nurse, said Thursday the nurses felt disrespected by the hospital’s latest proposal.

We’re frustrated and disheartened that the hospital doesn’t seem to be taking our moves seriously,’” she said.

Snell and Wallner say the nurses will consider another strike but need to discuss the issue with their membership before making any decisions.

Public Employee Issues Move To Forefront In Gubernatorial Races Nationwide

Note: This story is a reminder that VSEA members and retirees to not be afraid to ask the candidates where they stand on issues like privatization of public services, right-to-work laws, defined benefit pension plans versus 401Ks, or even something about the public service your deliver that candidates need to know.

An article posted to Governing this week highlights the rise of public employees’ issues in 2018 gubernatorial campaigns nationwide. Here’s the lead:

"Candidates for governor don’t typically talk about their plans for the public-sector workforce. Instead, they focus on hot-button issues like taxes, crime and the opioid crisis.

In a year when teacher strikes, sexual harassment scandals, pension crisesand prison staff shortages have jumped into the headlines, HR issues are making their way onto the gubernatorial campaign trail across the nation."

Massachusetts Voters To Decide This Fall Whether Or Not To Implement Nation’s Second Mandated Nurse-Patient Ratio

Massachusetts could soon become just the second state in the country to limit the number of patients that hospital nurses can help at one time. MA voters will cast their ballot in November on a formal proposal to implement a nurse-patient ratio. California was the first state to make a set ratio the law, and according to Sept. 12 story in Governing, "In California’s experience, those fears [being expressed by some MA organizations opposed to a ratio] are likely overblown."

From the story:

"A 2011 study in the journal Health Affairs found that nurse-patient ratios in California resulted in decreased mortality rates after surgery and an additional half-hour of care for patients overall.

Seven states have laws that require hospitals to have committees that address staffing issues, but California is the only state with a cap on the number of patients a nurse can see during one shift. Advocates have struggled to gain support for ratio laws elsewhere, in part because the hospital industry doesn’t believe there’s enough evidence to support them."

Vermont Has Nation’s Third Oldest Population

NBC 10 In Boston is reporting that the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 “American Community Survey” found Maine to be the nation’s oldest state, in terms of the average age of its citizens, which is 44.6. Right behind are New Hampshire (43.1) and Vermont (42.9). The U.S. national median age is 38.

Note: Another reason VSEA members and retirees must fight to protect your defined benefit pension plan, which will guarantee you a decent benefit level in retirement, as opposed to a 401K, which depends on your investment prowess and market stability for any meaningful return.