VSEA Members Win Right To Bargain For Binding Arbitration!

 
VSEA President Shelley Martin welcomed the State’s signing on Tuesday of S. 72: an act relating to binding arbitration for state employees and other Vermont workers covered under the State Employee Labor Relations Act. Currently, VSEA members, State Troopers and UVM employees are not permitted to bargain for grievance arbitration, which is another avenue to take member grievances to a neutral hearing officer.
 
“VSEA members and VSEA union representatives have been telling union leaders for years that they would like the right to bargain for a neutral arbitrator to decide grievances, which is why we lobbied so hard to get S. 72 passed and now signed into law,” explains Martin. “Right now, the Vermont Labor Relations Board decides grievances, but members tell us having a neutral arbitrator—and not having their case become part of a public record—will help make the grievance process less intimidating. Again, I would stress that this bill only allows VSEA the right to bargain for this binding arbitration, and we must now sit down with the State and make it happen. Having the State’s support will certainly help us make our case when we bargain again soon with the State.”
 
Martin adds VSEA’s thanks to Senators Kevin Mullin and Philip Baruth and Representatives Helen Head, Tom Stevens and Jean O’Sullivan for successfully guiding the arbitration bill through their committees of jurisdiction and helping to make today’s signing possible. She also thanked the Department of Human Resources for working cooperatively with VSEA throughout the session to advance the bill.

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WIA Is Celebrating Its 500^th Edition With A Contest To Win Great Escape Tickets!

Next week’s edition of WIA is the 500^th produced since Communications Director Doug Gibson started informally numbering the publication when it launched back in 2005. To celebrate the occasion, the VSEA Communications Department is sponsoring a contest from now until next week’s 500^th edition.
 
Tell us in 75 words or less why you are VSEA proud. That’s it. Pretty simple. A short essay about what your union means to you and your family or how your union helps you in your day-to-day work life. Whatever words convey best how you feel about your union.
 
We’ll choose three winners and publish the winning short essays in a future edition of WIA.
 
 

Deadline: You must submit your essay to the VSEA Communications Department by 4:30 p.m., Thursday, June 11.

Click Here To Submit Your Essay!

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VSEA Fight Back Campaign Debrief Meetings Begin

VSEA leaders and organizers are returning to worksites next week to begin a new round of meetings to debrief with members about the VSEA’s “Fight Back” campaign and discuss what worked what didn’t and where there is room for improvement.
 
Here is where Fight Back campaign debrief meetings are scheduled for next week:
 
Tuesday, June 2
Fight Back Campaign Debrief
DOL
Green Mountain Drive
Lobby Conference Room
Montpelier
Noon

Thursday, June 4
Fight Back Campaign Debrief
Agency of Agriculture
Room 210
Montpelier
Noon

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VSEA Legal Team Grieving Cases Of “Arbitrary Discipline”

 
Last week, VSEA Associate General Counsel Justin St. James had a grievance hearing at the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) for a member of the Corrections Bargaining Unit. He described the case to WIA as one of “arbitrary discipline,” explaining that “VSEA correctional officers have some of the toughest jobs in the state, and the last thing they need is to be randomly disciplined for doing their jobs." He adds, "When management violates collective bargaining agreements and ignores just cause, we will continue to vigorously pursue those cases at the VLRB."

Closing briefs were submitted in the case on May 27, and VSEA is optimistic that the VLRB will rule in favor of the correctional officer.

This is the second discipline grievance the VSEA legal team has taken to the VLRB in the last five weeks.

WIA is hoping to periodically keep readers updated on the outcome of this grievance and others VSEA’s legal team is filing.

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Workers’ Center Invites VSEA Members To “Stroll With The Heifers” On
June 6!

The Vermont Workers’ Center is inviting any and all interested VSEA members to join their “Strolling With The Heifer’s” parade contingent on Saturday, June 6, in Brattleboro. The popular event draws Vermonters from across the state, and if you would be interested in marching in the parade with other workers, please email Ellen Schwartz at eschwa1@myfairpoint.net, or call her at 802-257-4436.
 
Workers are gathering at 9:30 a.m. at the Church Street Plaza on Flat Street, and the Workers’ Center group is in Division 4 and will be carrying a large “Put People First” banner.   
 
VSEA members are encouraged to wear a union t-shirt and carry a banner if you have one. Brattleboro Chapter President Robin Rieske is offering to let VSEA members carry the Chapter’s banner if you would like. If interested, please give Robin a call at 802-275-7232.
 
There is also an opportunity for Chapters to drop literature on an informational table being set up on Friday, June 5, beginning at 5:00 p.m. and continuing through the event. 
 
For more information, please visit this event Facebook page, set up by the Workers’ Center.

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“Jimmy Higgins: A Life In The Labor Movement” At Old Labor Hall Tomorrow!

VSEA members are invited to take a stroll through early 20^th Century labor history by attending a Saturday, May 30, one-man performance of “Jimmy Higgins: A Life In The Labor Movement.”
 
Harlan Bakery plays Jimmy Higgins, a fictional reporter and labor activist who takes you through major moments for trade unionism and radicalism in the early 20^th century. You’ll hear tales of encounters with Eugene Debs and others opposed to U.S. involvement in World War 1, stories about covering 1930s organizing drives for tenant farmers and auto workers, and a recounting of meeting the Progressive Party’s 1924 Presidential candidate Robert LaFollette.  

A promotional piece for the show says, “Baker’s play deftly weds the personal and political, and history looks like what it is…the gathered threads of human lives.”
 
In addition to being an adjunct professor in the Theatre Department at the University of Southern Maine, Baker is also an actor, a former member of the Maine legislature, a union activist, and a democratic socialist. 
 
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 or $12 for students and seniors. They are available at the door or you can purchase in advance by clicking here.
 
For more information, please email info@oldlaborhall.org, call (802) 479–5600 or (802) 331-0013, or check out the Hall’s website by clicking here.

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VSEA Creates Webpage About State’s Retirement Incentive

VSEA has created a webpage about the State’s retirement incentive for members to learn more details about the incentive. VSEA members can find information on the incentive by clicking here.
 
If you have questions about anything on the page, please contact the State’s Retirement Division, which is located in the State Treasurer’s Office. The phone number is (802) 828-2305, or you can visit the Division’s homepage by clicking here.

Note: This incentive is available only to employees working in the Executive Branch. Employees working in the Legislative and Judiciary Branches are not eligible.

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Monday Is The Deadline To File Petition To Run For One Of Four VSEA Board Of Trustees’ Seats

Monday, June 1, 2015, is the final day for interested VSEA members to file a petition to run for any one of the following Board of Trustees’ seats up for election this year:

• Non-Management Unit Trustee;
• Judicial Unit Trustee;
• District #3 (Newport/Island Pond, Lamoille County, Northeast Kingdom and St. Johnsbury)
• District #6 (White River Junction/Springfield/Brattleboro) 

VSEA members interested in running for one of the Board seats above can find a filing petition here.

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Discounted 2015 Great Escape/Splashwater Kingdom Day Tickets Now Available Online!
 

Hard Tickets For Pickup
Coming Soon!

“Two parks of fun for the price of one!"

The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom located in Lake George, New York

Park Opens Is Now Open!

Splashwater Kingdom Opens May 23, 2015
 
Discount tickets are now available to purchase online by clicking here, but in order to access this page, which also includes the required VSEA username and password, you must be a registered “member-only” VSEA website user (you can sign up here!). Please note that there is a service charge for purchasing online.
 
VSEA will also soon be receiving a batch of hard tickets that members can pick up at headquarters, and there is no service charge attached.
 
2015 Regular Day Tickets = $33 each ($25 savings over price at gate)

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Quote Of The Week!

 
"It’s really time to start approaching [the state’s ongoing deficits] from the perspective of Vermont’s need for significant restructuring of the tax code, rather than just looking at it as a spending issue. This is a revenue problem, not a spending problem."
 
VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard, offering a different approach to solving Vermont’s ongoing budget deficits in a May 27 VPR story about the State having to make far fewer position and service cuts than initially anticipated.

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VSEA Insurance Representative In Berlin Next Week

VSEA Insurance Representative Joanne Woodcock will be in Berlin three days next week at the following location to talk with interested VSEA members about member-only insurance benefits.
 
June 2
Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Center
Berlin
12:00 to 3:00
 
June 3 
Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Center
Berlin
12:00 to 3:00
 
June 4
Green Mountain Psychiatric Care Center
Berlin
12:00 to 3:00
 
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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