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URGENT! Members Of Two House Committees Send Disturbing Letter To State, Concerning Upcoming Bargaining With Union.
VSEA Member Action Needed!
Just when state employees thought the attack on them couldn’t get worse, on Wednesday, members of the House Committees on Appropriations and Government Operations sent a joint letter to the State that attacks seven key and hard-won provisions of VSEA members’ contracts. It’s alarming because the lawmakers’ suggested attacks could translate into a significant reduction in employees’ pay and benefits. VTDigger published a story last night about the letter, and you can read it here.
“These committee members are urging the State to significantly weaken VSEA members’ contracts when your bargaining teams sit down in August to negotiate new contracts with the State,” explains VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard. “This is not acceptable, and these committee members need to hear from members today!”
Take a stand and fight back! Call members of the House Committees on Appropriations and Government Operations today! Tell them you oppose their efforts to weaken your union contract and extract hard-earned pay and benefits away from you and your coworkers!
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Hundreds Rally Against State’s Proposed Cuts!
In a strong demonstration of the very real opposition many working Vermonters have to the State’s desire to once again balance Vermont’s budget on the backs of state employees, an estimated 500+ VSEA members and other workers and supporters conducted a spirited rally at the State House on April 11. The rally was followed by an energetic march through downtown Montpelier, which was greeted with honks from cars and shouts of support from passersby. Joining rally participants on the State House steps was a giant, inflatable rat, which unions across the country use at rallies to symbolize everything from corporate greed to bad bosses to State officials who won’t acknowledge their state has a revenue problem.
VSEA First Vice President Michelle Salvador served as a co-master of rally ceremonies, hosting alongside the Vermont NEA’s Steve Owens. In her opening remarks to the crowd, Salvador reminded that “state employees are hard-working, middle-class Vermonters too, and we’re here to send a message to [the State] and legislative leaders that we ARE tax payers too and we ARE NOT going to take it anymore…stop the cuts and raise revenue!” The line drew thunderous applause. She also led the crowd in several chants, including, “We’re state employees under attack, what do we do? Rise up! Fight back!”
Salvador and Owens were followed by a lineup that featured a frontline VSEA worker, members from supporting labor unions and representatives of organizations working with Vermonters who will suffer as a result of more service cuts. The list of speakers included VSEA AOT member Ed Olsen, NEA member Alison Sylvester, Rising Tide Vermont’s Will Bennington, AFSCME Homecare United President Amanda Sheppard, VCIL Executive Director Sarah Launderville, Green Mountain Advocates’ Nicole LeBlanc, Rev. Earl Kooperkamp and UVM student Alison Hewes. You can see and listen to all the speeches (except Rev. Kooperkamp’s, which we’re working to procure) by clicking here.
VSEA’s Ed Olsen, who recently wrote a well-publicized letter to the State, did an amazing job speaking for thousands of state employees, reminding that workers are taxpayers too and that 10 percent of workers’ pay is currently going to Montpelier, while the wealthiest Vermonters are only sending 8 percent of theirs. “That ain’t right,” said Olsen. “It pisses me off.” Olsen ended by invoking the Green Mountain Boys and calling for a “revolution” if need be.
VSEA posted lots of rally photos and a short highlight video, and members are invited to check them out.
Here’s some of the press generated by the rally:
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Calls To Senators Very Helpful Right Now!
With the Vermont Senate shooting to release its budget by April 24, it’s very important right now for our Senators to be hearing directly from their state employee constituents. Call today and ask your Senators to reject a budget that hurts the state workforce and weakens state services. Your calls are an incredibly effective tool to helping your VSEA colleagues fight back against proposed cuts.
Call your Senators with the following simple message:
I am a state employee;
I am your constituent;
I want you to say no to cuts;
I want you to raise revenue; and
I would like you to call me back.
There are a couple of ways to contact your Senator(s):
- Call the Sergeant at Arms at the State House (802-828-2228) and leave a message for each of your respective Senators. Ask them to call you back; or
- Call their home number and leave the same message.
With only days left, it is critical your Senators hear from you, your co-workers and your fellow VSEA members. Call today, and then share this information with other VSEA members you know.
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New Round Of VSEA Fight Back Campaign Meetings Kicks Off
VSEA leaders and organizers will return to worksites next week to begin a new round of meetings to update members about the VSEA’s “Fight Back” campaign and what needs to happen now to stop the State from once again cutting services and jobs.
Here is where Fight Back meetings are scheduled for next week:
Monday, April 20
Fight Back Campaign: Update Meeting
State Office Building
First Floor Conference Room
100 Mineral St.
Springfield
Noon
Monday, April 20
Fight Back Campaign: Update Meeting
Southeast State (Windsor) Correctional Facility
546 State Farm Rd.
Windsor
2:00 p.m.
Monday, April 20
Fight Back Campaign: Update Meeting
State Office Building
First Floor Conference Room
100 Mineral St.
Springfield
4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21
Fight Back Campaign: Update Meeting
Gilman State Office Complex
Building 1, First Floor Conference Room
224 Holiday Dr.
White River Junction
Noon
Tuesday, April 21
Fight Back Campaign: Update Meeting
AOT Garage
221 Beswick Rd.
White River Junction
3:30 p.m.
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VSEA Members Invited To Attend Monday Budget Forum, Featuring Peers
The Truth About VT Budget Cuts!
Monday, April 20, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Burlington City Hall
Contois Auditorium
Panel discussion focused on Governor Shumlin’s budget cuts and how they will devastate Vermont workers, our services, and our environment. Portion of evening also dedicated to union and community activists discussing a public organizing strategy that puts people and the environment first.
The panel discussion comes on the heels of an incredibly successful anti-austerity-proposal protest by nearly 500 Vermonters this past Saturday in Montpelier.
Featured Panel Speakers:
- John Howe, VSEA, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- William Wells, VSEA, Benefits Program Specialist
- Jeanne Smith, VSEA, Community High School of Vermont Teacher
- Shannon Morton, VSEA, Department for Children and Families’ Social Worker
- Evan Hill, VSEA, Judiciary Unit, Grand Isle
- Disability Rights Activists TBA
- Environmental Activist TBA
Solidarity Greetings:
- Mike O’Day, CWA Local 1400 at FairPoint
- Jim Fouts, Teamster Local 597 at CCTA
Sponsored by the Vermont Labor Solidarity Committee
Endorsed by the Vermont State Employees Association & the Peace and Justice Center
Click here to visit event’s Facebook page:
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Special April 22 Brattleboro Chapter Meeting
VSEA Brattleboro Chapter members are invited to attend a special meeting on Wednesday, April 22, to discuss proposed budget cuts and receive Fight Back campaign updates. To accommodate the schedules of as many Chapter members as possible, the meeting is being held twice during the day:
Noon
232 Main Street, Room 148
and/or
4:30 p.m.
232 Main Street, Room 148
Chapter is being joined by Tim Lenoch, VSEA Staff
PIZZA WILL BE PROVIDED AT
BOTH MEETINGS!
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Chapter President Robin Rieske at rrieske@sover.net or call her cell at (802) 275-7232 (this way Robin will be sure to have enough pizza!).
For more information on proposed cuts and updates, please click here.
Robin is also advising Brattleboro Chapter members to put in for leave time now to attend the May 1 rally at the State House. Carpools are being arranged. If interested, please let Robin know.
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VSEA Corrections Unit Chair Defends State Employees On WDEV’s Mark Johnson Show
Last Friday, VSEA Corrections Unit Chair Dave Bellini felt compelled to call WDEV’s Mark Johnson Show to challenge the State’s top official on statements he was making about VSEA bargaining history that Bellini knew to be false. Bellini also reminded about state employees’ repeated warnings that some health-care-premium-holiday money should be banked (which it wasn’t) and that employees were told if they switched to Blue Cross, the State would realize an annual $10 million savings.
You can listen to the entire exchange here.
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Send An Online “Fight Back” Postcard To Your Legislators
VSEA organizers and activists recently wrapped up Fight Back campaign phase two meetings in worksites across Vermont, updating members on efforts to change the debate in Montpelier from cutting services and jobs to generating new revenue. Part of each meeting was devoted to members filling out personal message postcards to be hand delivered to their lawmakers in Montpelier. Recently, VSEA posted an online version of the postcard, and members are urged to take a few minutes to fill out one or more and hit send. VSEA Legislative staff will then ensure your online postcard(s) reaches its intended lawmaker(s). Thanks in advance for the help.
The next phase of your union’s Fight Back campaign will commence immediately following the conclusion of Saturday’s rally. Keep an eye on WIA for a schedule of upcoming worksite meetings.
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Mark The Date! May Day State House Rally
Many of the same groups who came out on April 11 to support VSEA members at the union’s “Fight Back” rally will be returning to the State House again on May 1 to continue demonstrating against ill-advised state budget cut proposals, the need for new revenue, affordable and accessible health care for all Vermonters and a host of other issues. VSEA has actively participated in this annual event for years.
“I really hope VSEA members who are able will schedule a few hours of leave, or use your lunch break, to attend this important May Day rally,” VSEA President Shelley Martin tells WIA. “Another opportunity to tell lawmakers and officials that working, middle-class Vermonters are not going to take this anymore.”
The Vermont Workers’ Center is again sponsoring the May Day Rally, and here is some of how they are billing it:
“We’re at a crossroads. But rather than choosing the path towards human rights and dignity, [the State] and many legislators are pushing an austerity agenda based on cutting public services for people with disabilities and attacking state workers and teachers. Instead of raising revenue equitably to meet the needs in our communities, those in power have abandoned the path towards publicly-financed healthcare…”
Click here to learn more about the May Day Rally.
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VSEA Non-Management Unit Members’ Contract Proposal Ideas Sought!
VSEA Non-Management Unit Chair Bob Stone asked WIA to remind NMU members that your
NMU Bargaining Team is actively soliciting your contract proposals for consideration. If you have a proposal, please email it to the Team at nbargaining@vsea.org. You can also contact any NMU Bargaining Team member (see list here).
The deadline to submit your proposal(s) is April 23, 2015.
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AOT Members…
Bargaining Survey Deadline Is April 22!
VSEA’s AOT delegate to the NMU Bargaining Team, Art Aulis, is reminding all AOT workers to complete and submit your bargaining survey, which can be found online by clicking here. The deadline to complete the survey is April 22, 2015.
“Your survey responses will help me prioritize the issues most important to AOT rank-and-file workers,” explains Aulis. “I’m hoping to hear back from as many of you as possible.”
If you have questions, or input, please contact Art, who works out of the Derby garage, at (802) 673-8014 or by email at aaulis@comcast.net.
You can also send communiqués directly to the full NMU Bargaining Team by emailing NBargaining@vsea.org.
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NMU Bargaining Team To Review Personnel Implications Of Proposed PSAP Consolidation
From the Team:
“The NMU Bargaining Team recently received an initial draft proposal, outlining the personnel implications of the potential consolidation of the PSAPs. The NMU Bargaining Team will be reviewing this draft proposal at its next regularly scheduled meeting on April 24 to ensure that, if the consolidation does occur, our members are well protected. Should members have individual questions or input for the NMU Bargaining Team, please email nbargaining@vsea.org.”
In Solidarity,
Bob Stone, NMU Chair
Tracey Harrington, NMU Vice-Chair
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Next Barre Chapter Meeting Is May 7
VSEA’s Barre Chapter has scheduled its next Chapter meeting for Thursday, May 7, at the Quarry Restaurant in Barre. The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m.
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Corrections Bargaining Team Thanks Retiring Brother For Service
At its meeting this week, the VSEA Corrections’ Unit Bargaining Team presented Southeast State Corrections Officer Bob Ziccardi with a certificate of thanks for Bob’s years of voluntary service to his colleagues and his union. This was Ziccardi’s last meeting before heading into retirement from state service after 28 years.
Congratulations on retirement Brother Ziccardi! Thank you for your service.
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