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VSEA Members Testify Against State’s Proposed Cuts
The Legislature’s House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing at the State House on March 12 to take comment on the State’s proposed cuts to meet a newly identified $18 million budget hole. The list includes draconian ideas like privatizing the Veterans’ Home, closing the Windsor correctional facility, shutting down VOSHA, closing state parks, eliminating DII and a host of other bad ideas.
VSEA was well represented at the hearing by leaders and members, including VSEA President Shelley Martin, who testified about VSEA’s revenue plan and how it could prevent a lot of the proposed cuts. VSEA First VP Michelle Salvador made a strong case to fund and protect the Vermont Veterans’ Home. DPS member John Mangione testified about the adverse impact and high cost of privatization, and DCF member Michael Gordon addressed employee parking issues. VSEA members Aimee Towne and Matt Jakubowski and retiree Joanie Maclay also attended the hearing. |
State Gives Commissioners & Secretaries Four Days To Identify Cuts
Secretary of the Administration Justin Johnson sent a memo mid-week to all Commissioners and Secretaries, informing them they had until Monday, March 16, to submit a list of position cuts to him. The heads are being instructed to find a total of 325 position cuts to meet an arbitrary dollar amount of $10.8 million in personnel savings the State says it needs to fill Vermont’s budget hole. Johnson tells State heads to focus first on vacancy savings, but when asked to comment on that specific request, VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard reminded WCAX that “vacancy savings” is an approach that puts Vermonters in jeopardy and negatively impacts services, pointing to the well-documented issues confronting DCF Family Services workers and their clients. In other media outlets, Howard continued to advocate for VSEA’s revenue-generating plan and highlight a recent study that placed Vermont number two in the nation in terms of where the middle class is hurting most. "The state’s middle class is dying here," Howard told the Free Press. "The state employees represent that middle class."
“The State is unfortunately doing what it feels it must, but VSEA knows there is a better way, and we continue to remain hopeful that Vermont lawmakers will reject the State’s cuts-heavy strategy and incorporate some of the cost-savings proposals VSEA has developed and shared,” VSEA President Shelley Martin tells WIA. “It’s so important for every VSEA member to contact their local legislators right now to remind them that state employees are tax payers too and there are alternatives to cuts.”
Earlier this week, President Martin sent an email update and call-to-action to all state employees and retirees, concerning VSEA’s campaign to fight back against the State’s proposed cuts to services and jobs. If you missed it, you can read it by clicking here.
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Positive Legislative Movement Today On Two Key VSEA Concerns
As WIA was going to press, VSEA’s Legislative team reports that the House General Committee voted today to recommend funding the Vermont Veterans’ Home, and the House Ways and Means Committee expressed support today for the Community High School of Vermont, saying they believed the money did exist in the Education Fund to continue funding the CHSVT.
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Lawmakers Schedule 3/17 Public Hearing On State’s Proposed Cut To Dispatch Centers
VSEA is urging members who are able to attend a legislative hearing on Tuesday, March 17, at the State House in Montpelier to take public comment on the State’s proposed consolidation of Vermont’s four Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) into just two. The hearing begins at 5:30 p.m. in Room 11 and VSEA frontline Dispatchers will be joined at the hearing by first responders from across Vermont who are opposed to the State’s plan, primarily due to public safety concerns.
If you have questions or want to RSVP to this event, please email Jennifer Larsen at jlarsen@vsea.org or call at (802)223-5247
Note: Last Friday, Dispatchers received a huge boost when the Professional Firefighters of Vermont issued a public statement of support for their Dispatcher colleagues. Read the PFFV’s full letter by clicking here.
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NMU Bargaining Team Sends Message To Unit Members
The NMU Bargaining Team and Supervisory Unit’s Chair and Co-Chair were at HQ today, discussing a host of topics, including Vermont’s budget deficit and anticipated bargaining with the State, which begins again this fall.
The NMU Bargaining Team asked WIA to share the following message:
“Unfortunately, there has been some misinformation disseminated, regarding the status of our contract. In an attempt to be very transparent, we feel it is necessary to communicate directly with you – our constituents. Let us be crystal clear, the NMU bargaining team has not agreed to re-open your contract. We have not agreed to any pay cut, RIFs, or any proposals from the State. In fact, as of this letter, your bargaining team has not been invited to sit down with the State. This State has made it clear that it expects VSEA members will assist them in resolving this large General Fund budget gap. In anticipation of this, there are many informal discussions occurring within the Bargaining Team in an effort to be prepared for any scenario.
We appreciate the feedback we have received to date from you about your contract. Please know that the NMU Bargaining Team will continue to do the job you have trusted and elected us to do.
We have established a Team email account. If you would like to communicate with any one or all of us then please use the following email: Nbargaining@vsea.org
In Solidarity,
Your NMU bargaining team
PS: If you haven’t participated in the NMU survey, please do so by no later than 4/15/15. Click here to take the survey.
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How Will AOT Employee Ed Olsen Fare In 2015, Even With The Scheduled Pay Increase?
Remember AOT employee Ed Olsen He recently wrote a terrific letter to the Governor about how hard it is to make ends meet on his current salary, and how unfair it is for the State to ask frontline employees to open up their contracts and give back again. WIA asked VSEA Policy Analyst Adam Norton to research how much Ed stands to gain if the State honors the wage increase it bargained with VSEA members in good faith. Here’s Adam’s analysis:
- Ed currently earns $1421.60 (pre-tax) bi-weekly or $36,961.60 (pre-tax) annually.
- Like all state employees, Ed just got hit with an unexpected 18% health care premium increase. This means—already in the first six months of 2015—the amount of Ed’s salary going bi-weekly towards his health care premium jumped from 8.65% to 10.2%.
- Ed’s now looking forward to little relief in July 2015 from the 2.5% pay raise the State just negotiated with employees in 2014, but not so fast Ed. Even if you receive the negotiated raise, 63% of your pay increase is going immediately to cover the unforeseen 18% health care premium hike.
This means that after Ed’s premium is covered, his 2.5% pay increase will amount to just a .9% increase, and his net increase in take-home pay every two weeks will be $13.08.
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CHSVT Educator Pens Commentary Defending Program’s Important Role In Helping The DOC Fulfill Its Overall Mission
Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT) educator Troy McAllister had an excellent commentary published this week on VTDigger. He wrote it in an effort to provide lawmakers and the public with more information about the critical role the CHSVT plays in helping the Vermont DOC fulfill its overall mission, which is to provide Vermont offenders, while incarcerated, with the skills and knowledge needed to make them productive and contributing members of society.
As WIA readers hopefully know, the State is proposing to cut roughly half of the funds currently allocated to the CHSVT program, which will do considerable damage to this essential service.
To read Troy’s full commentary, or to share it with others, please click here.
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New Report Recommends DOC Hire 58 New Positions
A new study commissioned by lawmakers to examine current staffing levels within the Department of Corrections has determined that a need exists to hire as many as 58 new positions in order for Vermont’s seven correctional facilities to be adequately staffed.
The study, conducted by the Association of State Correctional Administrators and reported on by VTDigger, recommends that the DOC hire 29 Corrections Officers under current staffing practice and consider adding an extra 29 positions for safety and security reasons.
“Public safety, as well as officer and inmate safety, are the primary considerations in making these recommendations,” the report states.
VSEA DOC Unit Chair Dave Bellini is quoted in the story, saying, “VSEA’s corrections members have been telling the state and lawmakers for years that they needed to hire more full-time COs, but you see where that got us. At least we have proof now that our concerns are legitimate, and we hope this report will now lead to all of Vermont’s prisons being fully and adequately staffed.” Bellini expanded on his comment to WIA, adding, "VSEA was happy to see that the national experts agree with us that Vermont’s prisons are currently understaffed and that we need to add more positions. Not having enough frontline employees in our prisons creates a situation where there are safety concerns, not only for the employee but also for the inmates and maybe even for the public.”
In the story, DOC Deputy Commissioner Lisa Menard defends the DOC’s current staffing levels, telling Digger, “We run safe institutions,” but at the same time admitting, “However, there is overtime involved in that, and that’s not the best practice fiscally.”
Menard would not comment on whether or not the DOC would act on the recommendations, pending lawmakers review of the study after they receive it today.
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Vermont Public Assets Institute Posts Statement Opposing State’s Cuts Strategy
 The well-respected Vermont Public Assets Institute posted a statement to its website last week, refuting the State’s cuts-only strategy as the way to address Vermont’s ongoing budget deficits.
The post opens with:
“Montpelier is struggling to plug a state budget gap again this year—$113 million. As in the past, the preferred option is cutting Vermont’s already slashed-to-slivers state services. While austerity proponents love it, this strategy will make Vermonters more miserable, especially those who’ve seen their real incomes decline for a decade. Cuts also dampen the state’s economy. Why put Vermont through this again?”
It also includes:
“Taxes are targeted at taxpayers with less money. Vermont’s taxes overall take a smaller bite of income from those at the top than from those in the middle and at the bottom. With more of Vermont’s income going to the top, the state gets less revenue than it could despite reasonable economic growth. Removing income tax breaks, especially those enjoyed by upper-income Vermonters, would increase revenues while improving the fairness of the tax system.”
The entire post is worth reading and sharing, which you can do by clicking here.
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VSEA Holding S. 14 Meeting On March 17
On Tuesday, March 17, VSEA is holding a special meeting to discuss the requirements of the S.14 legislation passed in 2013. The meeting begins at 4:00 p.m. at VSEA headquarters in Montpelier.
S. 14 reads:
“Annually, the employees of the bargaining unit shall meet and discuss whether employees who have chosen not to join the employee organization shall be allowed to vote on the ratification of any collective bargaining agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter. After discussion, employees that are members of the employee organization shall vote on whether to allow employees who have chosen not to join the employee organization to vote on the ratification of any collective bargaining agreement.”
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VSEA Schedules Fight Back Campaign Phase II Update Meetings
Updated!
Beginning this week, VSEA leaders and organizers began hosting a series of meetings in worksites across Vermont to begin educating members about phase II of the VSEA’s “Fight Back” campaign and how members can engage and join your union’s campaign to stop the cuts to services and jobs.
Here are the Fight Back meetings scheduled for next week:
March 14
Special Bylaws Meeting: Judiciary Unit
11:00 a.m./Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update
March 16
DCF Family Services Labor/Management Meeting
Includes Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update
VSEA HQ
Montpelier
March 17
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
ESD Burlington District Office
Pearl St.
Burlington
8:00 a.m.
March 17
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
Brattleboro State Office Building
Brattleboro
Noon
March 17
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
McFarland State Office Building
Barre
Noon
March 17
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
Marble Valley Labor/Management Committee Meeting
Rutland
1:00 p.m.
March 18
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
AOT Mendon Garage
Mendon
10:00 a.m.
March 18
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
Rutland District Court House
9 Merchants Row, GAL Room
Rutland
Noon
March 18
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
Gilman Office Complex, Bldg. 1
ESD Conference Room, First Floor
White River Junction
Noon
March 18
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
108 Cherry St.,
Conference Room 2A
Burlington
Noon
March 19
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
Springfield State Office Building
First Floor Conference Room
100 Mineral St.
Springfield
Two meetings will be held. The first is at Noon and the second is at 4:30 p.m.
March 20
Fight Back Campaign: Phase II Update Meeting
DVHA
312 Hurricane Lane, Conference Room
Williston
Noon
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Lamoille Valley Chapter Meeting Is Monday,
March 16!
The Lamoille Valley Chapter will meet on Monday, March 16, at 5:00 p.m. in the AHS Conference Room in the State Office Building at 63 Professional Dr. in Morrisville. The Chapter has invited representatives of VSEA Bargaining Teams and the Board of Trustees to attend the meeting to talk about Vermont’s budget deficit, what’s being asked of state employees and what ideas VSEA has brought to the table to date to counter the State’s heavy reliance on service and job cuts. A portion of this meeting will also be devoted to a discussion of the next phase of the VSEA Fight Back campaign.
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Central Vermont Chapter Members. Mark The Date!
VSEA’s Central Vermont Chapter has scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, March 24, at VSEA headquarters in Montpelier, beginning at 5:00 p.m. This is an important meeting because the Chapter will be conducting officer elections. Pizza is being provided!
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VSEA Reminds Chapters To Collect Rebates
VSEA Fiscal Coordinator Amy Haskins asked WIA to remind the following VSEA Chapter officers to request their annual Chapter rebates:
- Addison
- Barre
- Brattleboro
- Central VT
- Chittenden
- Franklin/GI
- Lamoille
- Newport/IP
- Springfield
- Waterbury
The deadline to submit your rebate request is May 1, 2015. If you have any questions please contact Amy by email at Ahaskins@vsea.org
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VSEA Sends Condolences To VPR On Death Of Reporter Susan Keese
Susan Keese interviews then Executive Director Mark Mitchell at a rally to save the Vermont Veterans’ Home in 2013
After learning this week about the untimely death of VPR reporter Susan Keese, VSEA sent its condolences to the entire VPR family.
“Before even turning on her recorder, Susan would take time with nervous or shy rank-and-file workers, trying to calm their nerves a little and getting to know them a little as well,” said VSEA Communications Director Doug Gibson. “Susan’s reporting was extremely helpful when VSEA was fighting to get workers removed from the Bennington State Office Building, and her reporting on the struggles at the Vermont Veterans’ Home was very important because there aren’t a lot of media outlets in southern Vermont, so her stories kept Vermonters statewide up to date on the goings-on at the Vets’ Home. She’ll be missed.”
Click here to read more about VPR Reporter Susan Keese’s life.
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VSEA Insurance Representative In Montpelier Next Week
VSEA Insurance Representative Joanne Woodcock will be in Montpelier next week at the following locations to talk with interested VSEA members about member-only insurance benefits.
133 State Street
March 17 and 18
Downstairs Conference Room #21
12:00 to 4:00
109 State Street
Pavilion Building
March 20
4th Floor Conference Room
12:00 to 4:00
Dept. of Labor
5 Green Mountain Drive
March 24
2nd Floor Conference Room
12:00 to 4:00
National Life
Justin Morrill Conference Room
6th Floor
March 26 and 27
12:00 to 4:00
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.
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VT Workers Center Holding “Community Dialogue” On March 15
The Vermont Workers’ Center is hosting a meeting on Sunday, March 15, titled, “Community Dialogue: Toward Human Rights and a People’s Economy.” It begins at 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 152 Pearl Street in Burlington. In addition to debating the topics of human and environmental justice, the event will feature food and singing.
CLICK HERE FOR BROCHURE
Questions? Contact Matt at the Workers’ Center by phone at 373-0133 or by email at matt@workerscenter.org.
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