State Content To Ignore Warnings, Ordering Management To Level Fund In FY2017

In Wake Of Well-Documented Department And Agency Safety/Staffing Concerns, State Seems Content To Ignore Worker’s Warnings.

This week, the State circulated a memo to Department and Agency heads, ordering them to level-fund their FY2017 budget requests. An August 27 Times Argus story on the memo quotes Secretary of the Administration Justin Johnson writing, “Although Vermont’s revenues are projected to increase moderately for the fiscal year, we continue to experience fiscal pressures that will make it challenging to craft a responsible budget within available revenue.” In an additional directive, Johnson reminds about the impending retirement of 300 state workers to address an FY2016 budget hole, warning management that only 25% of those jobs are being backfilled and that “This may require your agency or department to scale down or eliminate programs that cannot operate without the necessary personnel. The final decision on which positions will be refilled rests with the secretary of administration.”

Needless to say, the State is apparently digging in and not budging from its tired old approach to addressing Vermont’s annual budget shortfalls, seemingly committed, once again, to rely on cuts to public services and state employees to balance the budget. With safety and staffing concerns very fresh on the minds of thousands of state employees across Vermont, the State’s announcement was quickly blasted by VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard.

“In some places, and increasingly across state government, we’re reaching our breaking point,” Howard tells the Argus. “There is a massive need for investment in building security, in additional staffing to make sure that patients and children and veterans are safe, and the state employees that take care of them are safe.”
Howard adds that VSEA will “bring forth the experts who run state government on the front lines” to testify about the needs within state government when lawmakers return to Montpelier in January.
“I want them to look social workers in the face and say, ‘Yes we know you need 40 to 60 additional case managers to keep children safe but we’re going to walk away from that.”
Howard also advocates for the State to explore new ideas to generate revenue for Vermont. 
[With its announcement this week, the State is telling Vermonters,] “We’re going to protect the wealthiest people in the state from paying one cent more.” The [State] needs “a little dose of reality.”

August 28 VPR Budget Story
 

Here We Go Again. No Time Like The Present To Begin Lobbying Your Lawmakers Against State’s Directive

With the State’s announcement this week, every VSEA member is urged to begin contacting your local lawmakers now to lobby to protect our public services and the men and women who provide by ensuring proper staffing levels and doing everything possible to keep all employees safe while at work. You can also remind them—once again—that there other ways to address budget deficits. With all that’s happened recently, VSEA members; voices are important and do matter.

VSEA members are also urged to educate every announced candidate for elected office about the situation where you work and how the State’s cuts, cuts and more cuts approach is impacting you and you co-workers.

VLRB Schedules September 3 Hearing On Judiciary
Unit’s ULP

VSEA Judiciary Unit Chair Margaret Crowley and General Counsel Tim Belcher received word on August 24 that the Vermont Labor Relations Board has scheduled a hearing for September 3, concerning the VSEA Judiciary Unit’s unfair labor practice charge for failing to bargain.

“We’re pleased the VLRB has decided that the Judiciary Unit’s ULP warrants a hearing, and we hope the end result will be a timely return to the bargaining table, as opposed to waiting until after a new legislative session has convened—which has been the case,” VSEA President Shelley Martin tells WIA.
 
For background on the Judiciary Unit’s ULP,
click here.

VSEA Staff Heading To DCF FSD Office Statewide On Monday 8/31

A majority of VSEA headquarters’ staff will be visiting DCF Family Services Division offices on Monday, August 31, to meet with frontline workers about the recent tragic event in Barre, how things are going in the aftermath, what employee needs are at present, what employee safety concerns are and how they can be effectively addressed and whatever else is on DCF FSD workers’ minds.

“These meetings are a continuation of VSEA’s efforts to gather as much information as possible from our frontline DCF FSD workers about the inherent, job-related dangers they face every day and how best to address them,” explains VSEA President Shelley Martin. “We want to use what we learn to help workers come up with steps that elected officials and the legislature can take now to effectively address the worker’s areas of concern.”

For a list of meeting locations and a meeting agenda, please click here.

New Council Members and Chapter Officers: Register Today For Upcoming Trainings

VSEA Labor Educator Tim Lenoch asked WIA to announce the Council member and Chapter Officer trainings he has scheduled throughout the fall 2015. If you are interested in registering to attend one or more trainings, you can do so by clicking here. Please direct your training questions to Tim at tlenoch@vsea.org.

VSEA Council Members and Chapter Officers
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
Wednesday, September 23
Register here!

VSEA Council Members and Chapter Officers
VTrans Training Center, 1716 US Rte. 302, Berlin
Wednesday, November 18
Register here!

Time Running Out To Self-Nominate For Retirement Board Seat Or Alternate

 
The deadline is September 4 to submit your letter of intent to run for a seat (or alternate seat) on the State Employees Retirement Board. To have your name on the ballot, please submit a letter of intent to the Chair of the Election, Rules and Nominating Committee (ERNC). This year there will be an election at Annual Meeting on September 12 for one (1) VSEA seat and one (1) VSEA alternate seat on the Board.

The Retirement Board is an eight-member Board that is responsible for the proper operation of the retirement system. VSEA has three members and an alternate who serve to represent the interests of state employees and their beneficiaries. The board invests the funds of the system to ensure an adequate return and funding of the system. The Board also appoints an actuary, hires money managers and makes yearly recommendations to the Governor on the amount of money the State should appropriate in the next fiscal year to achieve and preserve the financial integrity of the funds.
 
Questions? Contact ERN Chair Mary Poulos by phone at 479-7544, or by email at mpoulos@vsea.org.

VTPAC Members Meeting September 12 At Jay Peak

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 some newly scheduled meetings—by Bargaining Unit: 
  
Non-Management Unit –
Contact: CC Reuge, CReuge@vsea.org or
802 223-5247

Montpelier
September 3
Department of Labor, First Floor Conference Room
12:30 p.m.

Montpelier
September 8
DMV, First Floor Break Room
11:00 a.m.

Montpelier
September 18
Tax Dept., 133 State, Room 410
Noon

Barre
September 16
McFarland State Office Building, ESD Conference Room
Noon

New To The VSEA Advantage Discount Program: Green Mountain Games

 
The VSEA Advantage Discount Program is pleased this week to welcome Green Mountain Games in Colchester.
 

Green Mountain Games

Paintball & Laser Tag

The VSEA Advantage Discount Program is member driven, if you know of a business you would like added to the program, have them fill out this form and return it to VSEA HQ.

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.