Indiana Governor Authorizes The Hiring Of Hundreds Of New Workers To Address Rise In Reports Of Child Abuse And Neglect

The Tribune News Service reports on August 17 that Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence authorized his state’s Department of Child Services (DCS) to immediately hire 113 new “family case managers” to help manage an influx of reports of child abuse and neglect. These new positions are on top of the 117 added just this year, bringing the total number of new hires to 230.

"The men and women at DCS have an incredibly difficult job," Pence said. "We want to make sure that we’re not only meeting our statutory obligations, but also that we’re doing right by our kids. To that end, we will also continue to support prevention efforts on the part of DCS in order to combat the unacceptable yet ever-rising increase in instances of child abuse and neglect in our communities."

Lest anyone think Pence’s motivation is purely to do what is right, the American Civil Liberties Union did recently file a lawsuit on behalf of family case managers against the Indiana DCS, alleging the Department is failing to comply with current law governing caseloads. Indiana law requires family case managers to handle no more than 12 initial assessments or 17 ongoing cases. According to the story, as of June 30, 2015, just one DCS’ 19 offices met the standard. The workers’ lawsuit claims DCS’ failure to comply with Indiana law is making it "extremely difficult" for them to do their jobs and is putting children at risk.

"It appears that the state is attempting to address the fact that DCS is currently failing to comply with the mandatory caseload standards that the legislature established to protect Hoosier children," Ken Falk, legal director for the ACLU of Indiana, said in a statement to the paper. "We will have to evaluate the effect of these additional positions to determine if the agency is finally able to meet its statutory mandate."

"It’s important they have the right number of people to do the important work," [DCS Director Mary Beth] Bonaventura tells the paper. "We didn’t create the need. What people do in society creates the need. We respond to it."

More Noteworthy Press This Week Concerning The Vermont DCF Tragedy

VTDigger: On Front Lines Of Child Protection System, Social Workers Bear Brunt Of Frustration

WPTZ: VSEA Demands Better Security At
State Buildings

Times Argus: DCF Focuses On Emotional State Of Workers

Times Argus Editorial: Standing With DCF

Times Argus: Couple: DCF Deserves
People’s Support

VTDigger: Tom Zenaty: Misunderstandings about DCF
 

As Workers Predicted, State Forced To Close Derby And Rutland 911 Emergency Dispatch Centers Early Due To Loss Of Frontline Dispatchers

The Burlington Free Press reports on August 21 that the State is being forced to close the Derby and Rutland 911 Emergency Call Centers two weeks ahead of schedule because there are simply not enough dispatchers remaining in those centers to warrant keeping them open. As many frontline dispatchers predicted months ago, more than a few dispatchers in Derby and Rutland saw the writing on the wall about the prospect of having to commute as much as four additional hours to call centers in Rockingham and Williston and decided instead to seek employment elsewhere in the area where they live.

“Our members were very clear, staring in January, with lawmakers and with the administration that this was a likely outcome of their policy,” VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard tells the reporter. “It was not a well-thought-out policy, and they were going to have a hard time transitioning and staffing these facilities.” He adds that VSEA is working now to ensure that any dispatchers who are unable to transfer to Williston or Rockingham will get full rights under their contract, despite the early closures.

Howard’s and VSEA’s efforts on behalf of the dispatchers did pay off late yesterday, when the union received word that the State had agreed that in addition to the negotiated rights already afforded the dispatchers, the State would also agree to:Limit mandatory overtime for the impacted employees to four hours per shift, exclusive of travel time; and 
Any employee who has received a RIF notice, but elects not to go to another PSAP, will immediately be placed on the RIF re-employment list when their PSAP closes.

New VDH Lab Opens In Colchester

Image source: WCAX

Vermont’s old Health Department Lab in Burlington used to have the distinction of being the nation’s oldest public health lab, but no more. That’s because, on Tuesday, VDH employees reported for the first official day of work at a newly built, $30 million lab in Colchester.

Lab Director and VSEA member Mary Celotti told WCAX on August 18 that the new lab has additional space to facilitate the introduction of new technologies and she said it “[allows] the Health Department to react or respond via laboratory response to any public health threat currently or in the future such as infectious disease new flu strain, chemical threat, bio threat. This just gives us the space, the technology; it has the safety features for us to respond to any public health threat in the future.

According to the story, the lab is now open to the public for drop-offs and testing kits.

New VSEA Video Uses Recent Retiree Voices To Talk With Young State Employees Just Joining The Workforce

VSEA’s Communications Department has produced an 11-minute video that features recent VSEA retirees talking about their experience in the union, why they got involved, the good the union does, the importance of being a steward and other things. VSEA will begin including a flyer in all new-member packets, steering the new member to the video link and asking them to take a few minutes and view.

“This is an additional tool for VSEA to use to recruit new members to get active in their union and help ensure it’s still around when he or she is getting ready to retire and pass the baton to a whole new generation of Vermont state employees,” says VSEA Communications Director Doug Gibson.

VSEA members can view the video by
clicking here.

Lamoille Valley Chapter Conducts Successful School Supply Drive

 

Americans’ View Of Unions Improving

A new Gallup poll released on August 17 finds that 58% of Americans now have a favorable view of labor unions, which is a marked increase from the days of the great recession in 2009, when the labor movement’s favorable ratings hit a low of 48%. The new number represents the highest favorable rating for labor since 2008, when 59% of Americans approved of unions.

“Gallup first asked Americans about organized labor in 1936, a year after Congress legalized private-sector unions and collective bargaining. At that time, 72% of Americans approved of unions. Support remained high into the 1960s, but then dipped through the 1970s until it reached 55% in 1979. It has since varied, reaching as high as 66% in 1999 and as low as the 48% in 2009.” 

VSEA Seeks Legislative Specialist

Your union is currently recruiting qualified individuals to fill the position of:

Legislative Specialist

Scope of work:
This position works under the supervision of the VSEA Legislative Director. This position is responsible for all aspects of legislative activities under the direction of the Director. This position oversees monitoring of assigned legislative issues. The Legislative Specialist works to ensure the completion of all legislative drafting, reports, and other documents necessary to VSEA’s lobbying and political activities.

Job Duties will include:

• Assisting the VSEA Legislative Committee in the development of the union’s legislative priorities;
   
• Coordinating the lobbying and/or testifying activates of VSEA staff and members;
   
• Assisting the VSEA Legislative Committee and members in executing the unions legislative priorities thorough lobbying efforts;
   
• Testifying before legislative committees and at public hearings on VSEA’s issues;
   
• Developing excellent working relationships with member leaders as well as rank-and-file members in order to assist members in their union’s legislative advocacy;
   
• Researching legislative issues and preparing legislative reports as necessary;
   
• Working with VSEA’s communications team to assist with political and legislative messaging;
   
• Coordinating necessary action on proposed legislation;
   
• Collaborating with other unions and coalitions on legislation impacting VSEA members; and
   
• Coordinating VSEA’s political action and campaign support.

Experience:
Experience working with government, legislature, political campaigns or labor unions. Demonstrated experience building consensus and working relationships with a wide variety of persons and organizations. Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication. Knowledge and understanding of the State of Vermont’s political landscape. Campaign experience is a requirement.

If interested, please submit your resume and cover letter to VSEA, c/o Operations Director Ray Stout, 155 State Street, Montpelier 05602. You can also send electronically to rstout@vsea.org.

Have You Signed The VSEA 2015 Contract: Respect & Dignity Petition?

As official contract bargaining on successor agreements begins, VSEA is reminding members to sign your union’s “2015 Contract: Respect & Dignity” petition, which calls for good-faith bargaining, an end to cuts, cuts and more cuts and for lawmakers to stay out of the collective bargaining process (language prompted by a letter from the Chairs of two powerful House committees with their suggestions for what and how to bargain with state employees). To date, VSEA has collected more than 500 signatures on the petition, but we need more!

You can sign the online petition by clicking here.

VSEA Teams Continue Bargaining Overview Meetings

VSEA Judiciary and NMU Bargaining Team members and staff are continuing a series of meetings across the state to give frontline workers an overview of upcoming bargaining with the State, talk with you about where to go for information and let you know how you can assist your Team throughout negotiations.

Here are the remaining scheduled meetings—by date and Bargaining Unit: 
 

Judiciary Unit– Contact: CC Reuge, creuge@vsea.org

Rutland
August 26
9 Merchants Row, Lunchroom
Noon

Non-Management Unit – Contact: Tim Boyle, tboyle@vsea.org or 802 595-9106

Bennington
August 27
State Office Building
11:30 a.m.

Burlington
August 24
ESD Office, Conference Room
Noon

Brattleboro
August 26
State Office Building
11:30 a.m.

Newport
August 28
State Office Building, 100 Main Street, Room 250
11:30 a.m.

Rutland
August 13
Rutland Bowlerama
5:00 p.m.

Waterbury
August 25
DDS Office, 93 Pilgrim Park
Noon

VSEA Insurance Representative In Chittenden Next Two Weeks

VSEA Insurance Representative Joanne Woodcock will be at the following locations to talk with interested VSEA members about member-only insurance benefits.
 

August 25 and 26

Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility
Training Room
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
Receive information on disability coverage, family life insurance, family accident and cancer coverage. You must be a member paying full dues to be eligible for this VSEA benefit. If you are an agency-fee payer, Joanne can provide you information about signing up for full membership.