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Three VSEA Bargaining Units Heading To Vermont Labor Relations Board
Details of the contract last-best-offers of the State and three VSEA Bargaining Units (Non-Management, Corrections, Supervisory) became public record on March 21, after the 20-day period for an agreement between the parties to come out of the fact-finder’s report expired, forcing both sides to submit their last-best-offers to the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB).
The move to the VLRB prompted VSEA to issue a press statement on March 22, and in it VSEA President Dave Bellini says:
“No one on VSEA’s side of the table wanted to be in front of the VLRB at this late stage of the negotiating process, and, honestly, we don’t need to be here, which is what’s so infuriating to a lot of VSEA members,” explained Bellini. “There was a fair deal to be made here, but the State chose to fight, rather than negotiate.”
Bellini also cautions that the longer that State drags out the process, the less time lawmakers have to budget the money needed to fund any agreements negotiated that include a wage increase. And he corrects the State’s assertion that VSEA members’ step increases in the first year of a contract would equal 1.7%. The fact finder said step increases in year one of the contract would equal more like 1%.
The VLRB has scheduled a hearing for Thursday, April 7.
In the meantime, if you have a question, please contact a member of your Unit Bargaining Team. Click here for a list.
Just The Facts
VSEA’s Facebook page featured two memes this week, each with an excerpt from the fact-finder’s report that challenges the Secretary of the Administration’s comment this week that “average Vermonters” (read: private-sector workers) “are not receiving the type of pay increase sought by the VSEA.” Johnson delivered the quote as a defense of the State’s decision to fight state employees, rather than negotiate with you.
Click The Links Below To View The Memes & The Important Facts They Highlight:
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VSEA Files Motion With Vermont Labor Relations Board To Dismiss State’s “Last-Best-Offer”
VSEA issued the following press release this morning:
The Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) has filed a formal motion with the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) to dismiss the [State]’s contract “last-best-offer” to thousands of VSEA’s Non-Management, Corrections and Supervisory Unit members.
VSEA’s motion “is based on the fact that the State’s submission includes a new proposal to carve the State Police Lieutenants out of the 1% and 1.25% across-the-board increases to be paid to every other employee in all of the three VSEA units, and to pay the Lieutenants only a .5% increase per year. This new proposal introduces a substantial new dispute that would have been highly controversial even standing on its own, but that also has the potential, if it were accepted, of fundamentally changing how wage negotiations are conducted in all three units.
“It’s almost as if the State did not study its own bargaining history with VSEA, because, if they had, they would have learned that VSEA successfully challenged a similar last-minute contract proposal alteration by the State in 1996 and won,” explains VSEA President Dave Bellini. “We’re very concerned that this newly introduced proposal to pay VSEA’s State Police Lieutenants a different, lesser, wage could open the door to multi-tiered wage and benefit packages. Not to mention, these are State Police Lieutenants, and the [State]’s proposal to give them a smaller raise is just wrong. It’s a slap in the face.”
From the motion:
“The [State’s] proposal thus amounts to an effort to reduce the pay of Lieutenants relative to other employees by slowing the rate of increase in their compensation relative to other unit members. If this is the State’s objective, it should have brought that proposal to the table and supported it with facts in fact-finding. Such a proposal would have been firmly rejected by VSEA members in all Units as an unacceptable attack on a small group of members, and as a dangerous precedent that threatens every unit member. The State should not be allowed to circumvent the bargaining process and slip this poison pill into its Last Best Offer.”
“This is an important fight because if this kind of last-minute tinkering goes unchallenged, it could lead to some very dangerous precedent,” adds Bellini.
“We hope the Labor Board will agree.” |
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House Shelves Amendment To Allocate Money To State Employee Security. Hope For Senate Action
Disappointing news yesterday, after the House approved a budget bill that does not include nearly $2 million in State-proposed money to augment security throughout AHS and in the Judiciary. Lawmakers pulled the money from the bill because they said the State had failed to draft a concrete plan for how to spend the money.
To combat the move, VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard sent an action alert to VSEA members yesterday afternoon that included this quote:
“While VSEA shares lawmakers’ frustration that the [State] could not produce a clear plan for how to put this money to best use, we feel strongly that there are still too many security needs throughout state government to waste this funding opportunity. VSEA members working in AHS and the Judiciary have shared their ideas for how to use the money with their respective managers, the State and lawmakers, and we hope that this money will be restored and that some security improvement ideas from frontline workers will be adopted, in lieu of a formal plan from the State. Every little bit helps, and it’s possible this money could be what is needed prevent another horrible tragedy like the senseless killing of Social Worker Lara Sobel. It needs to be back in the budget.”
Rep. Paul Poirier (P-Barre) did hear state workers’ call and introduced an amendment to put the money back in, but he, unfortunately, ended up pulling his amendment.
VSEA’s legislative team is telling WIA that all hope for this money being in a final budget is not lost yet because the Senate could decide to take some action, now that the bill has now moved to their body for debate and a vote.
VSEA members are urged to contact your Senators to tell them to put the $2 million for security back in the budget. |
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Upcoming Trainings:
Steward Training: Investigations & Working With Human Resources
Wednesday, March 30
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
Steward Training: Corrections Unit
Wednesday, April 6
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
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Sen. Pollina Goes To Bat For Workers In State’s Risk Management Division
Last week’s WIA post about BGS unsealing the bids of eight private, for-profit companies who want to take over workers’ comp, liability, etc. services from the State’s Risk Management Division caught the attention of Sen. Anthony Pollina (D-Washington), who issued a press release this week criticizing the State’s desire to privatize the service.
Here’s an excerpt:
“The [State]’s plan to eliminate the…Risk Management Division is just bad policy, and will result in the loss of jobs and a weaker economy with no real benefit to the State.
We need to bring jobs into Vermont – not send jobs out of Vermont. There are real costs to sending jobs out of State. The proposal to outsource Risk Management makes no sense.
I plan to introduce legislation to stop the outsourcing of these jobs until there is a detailed analysis of the real costs and any benefits, including impacts on Vermont’s economy and budget.”
Risk Management Division employees thank you for your advocacy Senator Pollina.
Click here to read Pollina’s entire release.
VSEA reminds members to call or message your lawmakers to ask them to keep the State’s Risk Management Division local and State-run. Thanks! |
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VSEA Legislative Team Updates Now Online
VSEA’s Legislative Team has been sending bi-weekly updates on State House happenings to about 500 members, but now the updates are available for VSEA members to read online. To read one of the four updates the Team has issued to date, please click here.
Please note that in order to view the updates on www.vsea.org, you must first be a registered user of the site, which will grant you “member-only” status. If you are not a registered user of VSEA’s website, you can click here to sign up today. If you are not a registered user, you will receive an “Access Denied” message when trying to view the updates. |
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Bolton Valley Already Offering VSEA Members Deeply Discounted 2016-2017 Season Pass Rates
Bolton Valley Ski Resort has been a participating member of the VSEA Advantage Discount Program for years, offering full-fledged VSEA members and their families discounted day and season passes.
Even though the 2015-2016 ski season isn’t over quite yet, Bolton is already offering VSEA members an early-bird special deal on a 2016-2017 season pass. This is special pricing that Bolton Valley is offering on a trial basis to gauge Vermonters’ interest in purchasing a pass way ahead of time if the price is deeply discounted.
Bolton is offering an adult “All-Access” season pass for $269 to VSEA members. This is a $230 savings per pass from last year. This price is good until October 31, 2016. Youth passes ($159) include an added discount that Bolton will stop offering on April 4, 2016, so, if interested, book these sooner, not later.
Full-fledged members will need a promo code at the time of checkout, which will apply discounts to the full price passes. VSEA’s promo code can be found by logging into your free VSEA.org account and navigating to Bolton Valley page of the VSEA Advantage Program.
How To Get Your Discount:
- Log In To Your VSEA.org Account Here
- Access the Bolton Valley Advantage Program Page Here
- Click here to order your pass(es) today! On the page, you’ll find a list of prices and instructions to order.
Need A VSEA.org Account?
Sign Up For A Free Account Here!
Questions?
Please contact Doug Gibson by emailing dgibson@vsea.org |
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NLRB Passes New Rule To Make It Harder For Employers To Hide Union Busting
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced its final version of a new rule on Wednesday that will require employers to acknowledge any indirect “persuading” to thwart a union organizing campaign, done for the employer by a lawyer or consultant, which the rule refers to as “contentious persuaders.”
Huffington Politics reports on March 23:
“Employers are already required to report to the federal government any direct work these consultants do on their behalf — that is, any talks or presentations the consultants personally deliver to workers. However, consultants can also advise company supervisors on what to say to workers and how to say it, thus bypassing the reporting requirements with behind-the-scenes work that doesn’t have to be disclosed.
Under the new rule, employers and their contractors will have to acknowledge any indirect “persuading” that was done and the fee structure for it. For example, if a lawyer helps a company craft a video presentation that paints unionizing as a bad idea, or drafts a speech for a manager, then both parties will have to inform the agency that they had a relationship and report how much money changed hands.”
U.S Labor Secretary Tom Perez hails the NLRB’s decision in the story, explaining that employees have a right to know who is helping shape their employer’s message during an organizing drive, and that the rule will provide them with transparency.
“Informed decisions are the best decisions,” Perez says. “This rule will pull back the curtain on the consultants who craft the employer’s message.”
Examples of activities that the rule will require reporting include training supervisors to conduct meetings about union organizing efforts; coordinating the anti-union activities of supervisors; and drafting or providing speeches to oppose union organizing. “Identifying employees for disciplinary action, reward or other targeting” will also require disclosure, a Labor Department fact sheet said. |
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New This Week To The VSEA Advantage Discount Program
VSEA’s Advantage Discount Program is pleased to welcome:
Springfield SNAP Fitness
363 River St.
Springfield
Phone: 802-886-2407
Email: springfieldvt@snapfitness.com
Website
5% Discount On Membership Dues. Half-Price “Standard” Enrollment Fee.
Help Grow The Advantage Program!
VSEA members are encouraged to recruit local businesses in their area. Vendor sign-up forms available from VSEA Headquarters. You can also download and print a form here. Review the guidelines of the Advantage Program here.
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Winter/Spring 2016 Training Schedule
VSEA Labor Educator Tim Lenoch asked WIA to announce a new round of trainings he has scheduled for winter/spring 2016. 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.
Trainings in blue are for all members.
Steward Training: Investigations & Working With Human Resources
Wednesday, March 30
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
Steward Training: Corrections Unit
Wednesday, April 6
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
Steward Training: The Grievance
Wednesday, April 13
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
Steward Training: The Labor/Management Committee
Friday, April 15
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
Diversity & Solidarity For Public Sector Union Members
Friday, April 22
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
*Just Added!*
Steward 1: Introduction and the Basics
Wednesday, April 27
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
*Just Added!*
Steward 2: Protecting the Contract and Building the Union
Wednesday, May 11
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
*Just Added!*
Steward 3: The Contract and Challenges in the Workplace
Wednesday, May 25
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin
>> Register for the above trainings here!
*Just Added!*
All VSEA Steward Summit Training
Friday, May 20
8:30am to 4pm
Best Western Waterbury
(45 Blush Hill Road, Waterbury)
Register for the May 20 All VSEA Steward Summit Training here! |
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