VSEA Members To Conduct “Worker Safety” Action On December 15

With just a few short weeks until the beginning of the 2016 legislative session, VSEA members are conducting an action on December 15 to highlight many state employees’ desire for enhanced workplace safety protections. Frontline employees speaking at the action will be representing workers at the Department for Children and Families, Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Facility, Department of Corrections and the Judiciary, to name a few. Following remarks from the frontline workers, a delegation of rank-and-file VSEA leaders will be hand-delivering VSEA’s top three legislative priorities (number one being worker and public safety enhancements) to the State and, at the same time, Judiciary leaders will be delivering a list of their priorities to the Court Administrator’s office.

VSEA members working in central Vermont are urged to attend this important action to voice your support for enhanced worker safety.

VSEA Worker Safety Action!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Noon
Between Pavilion Building & Supreme Court
Montpelier

DCF Workers Meet With Lawmakers In Burlington

Photo courtesy of Senator David Zuckerman

VSEA DCF Family Services Division members continue to work collectively across the state to educate lawmakers about the safety challenges they confront, setting up a meeting this week in Burlington with that region’s legislative delegation. Nearly 40 frontline workers attended the education session, and, to the workers’ credit, there was a healthy contingent of legislators there to listen, most pledging support for the workers and their safety campaign and many thanking the employees for the often difficult work they do for Vermont’s children on a daily basis. VSEA members in other DCF offices will also be inviting their legislators to meet with them in the coming weeks to talk about safety.

“This is an excellent outreach effort by these workers, and it’s a strategy that other groups of VSEA members might want to consider,” VSEA President Dave Bellini tells WIA. “It’s proactive to get out, especially ahead of the session, to make sure lawmakers get the information they might not be able to get or process during the actual session.”

DCF Safety Is Focus On VPR’s Vermont Edition And Free Press’ “Table Talk”

The issue of improved safety for Department for Children and Families was featured this week on a VPR Vermont Edition broadcast and on an episode of the Burlington Free Press’ “Table Talk,” which is the paper’s online video forum. VSEA member and DCF Social Worker Shannon Morton is a panelist on Table Talk.

Listen To VPR’s Vermont Edition

View BFP’s “Table Talk” Video Forum

With Tough Session Fast Approaching, VSEA Will Be Asking Community Supporters To Put Up A Yard Sign

Just as for sure as death and taxes is the fact that Vermont is entering the 2016 legislative session, facing yet another budget deficit, and, to date, there has been no word offered on how the State and lawmakers intend to fill a projected $40+ million hole. Knowing that the pattern has been to fill budget holes primarily with cuts to services and state employees, VSEA members tell their union they are prepared to do whatever is necessary this year to prevent more “position reduction exercises” or financial hits to services and programs, including asking for help from their friends and neighbors.

“VSEA members requested that we produce some yard signs to demonstrate support for services and employees in the communities where our members live and work, and we were happy to oblige,” says Communications Director Doug Gibson.

The first batch of yard signs is being distributed to VSEA Council members when they meet on December 15 in Montpelier. Signs will also be available for pick up at VSEA headquarters in Montpelier.

If you are hosting a meeting or event in the coming months, and someone from HQ is attending, you can also try to arrange a delivery that way.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s help distributing the signs. A little support can go a long way!

Judiciary Unit Employees Sit Down To Bargain – Finally

After months of lobbying Judiciary management to begin bargaining yesterday with its frontline employees, the two sides finally sat down at the table on December 7 to begin formal negotiations on a successor agreement. The timing is still not optimum, as employees had wanted to meet far in advance of management having to submit its formal budget request to lawmakers, which normally happens soon. Still, the December 7 negotiating session is a win and is favorable over employees having to wait until management’s usual preferred starting date, which has been somewhere in February.

The Judiciary Bargaining Team reported to Unit members shortly after the session that management had agreed to open communication and to allow three Unit members to attend upcoming negotiating sessions, in addition to the elected Team.

WIA will keep you posted on any updates that develop around Judiciary bargaining.

Fears About Obamacare’s “Cadillac Tax” Budget Impact Allayed—For Now

VSEA members can breath a collective sigh of relief for now, as the State announced on December 10 that the impact of an excise tax contained in Obamacare (billed the “Cadillac tax”) would not have the financial impact to Vermont that lawmakers, State officials, VSEA and plenty of other Vermonters initially feared. The tax was to be on what were determined to be “high-end” health care plans—like state employees’ and teachers’ plans—and the numbers being thrown around earlier in the year at the Golden Dome caused some lawmakers to be thrown into budget panic. Representatives of the State’s Joint Fiscal Office told lawmakers this week that new guidelines about the tax were recently issued by the Internal Revenue Service and the estimated cost and impact to Vermont have lessened.

This is good news for VSEA members, as three Bargaining Units prepare to go to fact finding with the State in January, as the Cadillac tax had been a serious concern of both sides.

Read Times Argus article here!

Central Vermont Chapter Hosting Meeting On December 14

Central Vermont Chapter President Cassandra Edson asked WIA to remind members about the Chapter’s meeting on December 14 at VSEA headquarters in Montpelier.

Chittenden Chapter Hosting “Holly, Jolly” Meeting On December 17

Chittenden Chapter President Kara Haynes asked WIA to remind members about the Chapter’s “Holly, Jolly” meeting on December 17 at Halvorson’s, located at16 Church Street in Burlington.

Vermont “Paid Sick Days Coalition” Hosting Events To Garner Support
for H. 187

One of the largest contingencies of Vermonters who stand to benefit from the passage of the “Healthy Workplaces Bill” (H. 187) is working Vermonters. The legislation, if passed in 2016, would guarantee workers could earn up to three paid sick days in their first two years of employment and five days after the initial implementation period. The bill cleared the House in April 2015, and the Senate is expected to consider it early in the new session, which begins in January.

In advance of the session, the Vermont Paid Sick Days Coalition is hosting two events to foster more public discussion about the bill’s importance—and to provide a venue for the public to let their local legislators know that they support the bill.

Washington County
When: December 16, 2015 – 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Red Hen Bakery 961 US-2 Middlesex
Who: (Hosts) Randy George and Eliza Cain and Washington County Legislators

VSEA members are strongly urged to attend to add your voices to the growing chorus of Vermonters who support passage of the Healthy Workplaces Bill.

Both events are open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.

VSEA Sends Condolences To SEIU On Loss Of 10 Members In San Bernardino Horror

VSEA is sending its deepest condolences to the entire Service Employees’ International Union (SEIU) family on the loss of ten members in last week’s horrific tragedy in San Bernardino, California.

"The SEIU family suffered a profound and terrible loss…in San Bernardino," SEIU President Mary Kay Henry said in a statement. "Our hearts are broken from this tragedy. The victims taken from us too soon leave behind a legacy of lives dedicated to service and a deep commitment to upholding public health." She added, "We will unite to demand that our nation does everything possible to ensure that no more families have to feel this pain, sadness and loss ever again."

The SEIU members all worked at the Inland Regional Center as Environmental Health Specialists.

VSEA Insurance Representative In Montpelier Next Week

VSEA Insurance Representative Joanne Woodcock will be in Montpelier next week to talk with interested VSEA members about member-only insurance benefits.

December 15 & 16
National Life
Room 514
Montpelier
Noon to 3:00 p.m.

December 17 & 18
DOL
Second Floor Conference Room
Montpelier
Noon to 3:00 p.m.

If you work in another area and cannot make it to one of these Montpelier enrollment sites, please call 802-485-4820 for an appointment on the above dates.

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.