Legislative Team Lists Highlights Of Budget Agreed To On May 5 By House & Senate​

The following summary was provided to WIA by VSEA’s Legislative team:

Close to midnight last night, the Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee came to agreement on the FY2017 budget (which begins July 1, 2016). The budget now heads to the House and Senate for final approval. Here are some of the most important highlights for VSEA members:

• Fully funds year one of the Pay Act (the statute that facilitates funding for state employee contracts. In this case, VSEA’s last best contract offer of 2% in year one, which was recently approved by the Labor Board). The total cost of the year-one wage increase and steps combined is $9.7 million. The Pay Act also requires the State to reduce overtime costs by $200,000;
• Includes $500,000 in security funding from the General Fund for state government. One million dollars was included in the Capital Bill for building upgrades;
• Adds 45 new permanent, classified positions;
• Reduces funding for exempt positions by $500,000;
• Requires the Department of Corrections to reach an agreement to continue the operations of the St. Johnsbury Work Camp, and funds the camp’s operations;
• Funds the Community High School of Vermont; a rejection of the State’s proposal to cut this vital program;
• Fully funds the Vermont Veterans’ Home and includes a requirement that the Home submit a report about its use of temporary workers, awarding of overtime and record of call outs;
• Includes funding for 35 new positions in the Department for Children of Families and Office of the Defender General, as part of a child-protection package to address increased caseloads;
• Privatizes the Office of Risk Management;
• Adds the Department of Corrections, the Agency of Natural Resources, and the Department of Labor to the “Position-Pilot” Program; a successful program that allows agencies and departments to hire more classified employees to reduce reliance on temporary workers and mandated overtime;
• Mandates that E911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) continue to be State-run, unless otherwise directed by the Legislature;
• Includes a $600,000 funding increase for the Vermont State Colleges;
• Adds funds for the replacement of cruisers for the Vermont State Police; and
• Approves increased funding for sheriff-provided security services for the Judiciary.

Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team Forced To Fact Finding

Members of the VSEA Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team and their staff representatives were forced to take their case for a fair contract to a fact finder on May 5; all because the Court Administrator and her team refused to budge from several unacceptable proposals and would not entertain a discussion about reclassifying docket clerks, all of whom are low paid and must work two jobs or require public assistance to make ends meet. One docket clerk submitted an affidavit to the fact finder, informing her that s/he was happy to be moving into a house built for the family by Habitat for Humanity.

Also submitting affidavits and statements of support for the docket clerks were judges and other high-level personnel within Vermont’s Judicial Branch, including Grand Isle State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito, who at one time was a VSEA Judiciary Bargaining Team members himself and also served as the president of VSEA’s Franklin/Grand Isle Chapter. DiSabito, who testified in person, was able to offer his first-hand perspective of the Judiciary bargaining process and the way it has historically worked—or not worked. He also advocated for docket clerks to receive more pay.

Also in the hearing room to support the VSEA Team was esteemed economist Dr. Gerald Friedman from UMass Amherst. He provided a comprehensive overview of the current and tough economic reality confronting VSEA Judiciary workers, and especially docket clerks. His testimony was an excellent counter to the State’s own economist, who many in the room say offered very little in the way of a defense.

Yesterday’s hearing took longer than anticipated, so the parties agreed to meet again with the fact finder in June. WIA will keep you updated.

Monday Is The Deadline To Apply For A 2016 VSEA Scholarship!

Time is quickly running out to apply for a 2016 VSEA scholarship award. The deadline is 4:30 p.m., Monday, May 9. To date, just a handful of applications have been submitted, and more members are urged to consider applying for a scholarship for you, your spouse, dependents or domestic partners.

The application process is easy. All it requires is for the applicant to write a couple of short essays, as well as provide a grade history, employment history, personal references and a few other things. All applications received before the May 9, 2016, deadline will be reviewed and ranked by VSEA Scholarship and Awards Committee members to determine who this year’s winners will be. Winners will be announced at VSEA’s June Council meeting.

> View and download a 2016 VSEA Scholarship application here!

State Holds Ceremony To Honor “Outstanding” State Employees & State Employee Teams During Public Service Recognition Week

Last week’s WIA contained a statement from VSEA President Dave Bellini and the entire VSEA Board of Trustees, wishing every state and public employee a happy Public Service Recognition Week 2016. While there was no official public statement from the State this week, the Department of Human Resources did host a special event on May 2, where individual state employees and teams of state employees were honored for their service.

Receiving individual honors this year were (in alphabetical order):

John Adams – Department of Housing & Community Development;

Renea Bordeau – VTrans/Finance & Administration;

Gina Campoli – Vtrans/Policy, Planning & Intermodal Development;

Mary Deaett – Office of the Defender General;

Christine Dewyea – Agency of Commerce & Community Development (Administration);

Wendy Dickinson – Office of the Treasurer;

Sheila Duranleau – Department for Children & Families;

Douglas Farnham – Department of Taxes;

Jennifer Hart – Department of Libraries;

Warden Dana Joyal – Department of Fish & Widllife;

Sara Lane R.N. – Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living;

Brent Lantas – Department of Information & Innovation;

Steve Mattera – Office of the Secretary of State;

Greg McGowan – Vermont Veterans’ Home;

Joel Perrigo – Vtrans/Highway Division/Municipal Assistance Bureau;

Brian Smith – Department of Mental Health;

Kevin Stapleton – Department of Labor; and

Linda Vincent – Department of Liquor Control

Receiving team honors this year were (in alphabetical order):

AG Water Quality Leadership Team (Agency of Agriculture): Laura Dipietro, Jim Leland;

CAPS Trainer/Consultant Team (Department of Human Resources): Chris Cadorette, Amanda Gilman-Bogie, Kathryn Jarvis, Matt Krauss, Marianne Mullen, Marlene Poirier and Amy Rogers;

DMV Frontline Counter Team (Department of Motor Vehicles): Katie Bylow, Lisa Fletcher, Dan Pine, Pam Scully, Donna Thomson and Neil Trout;

DOC Peer Support Team (Department of Corrections): Kyle Beckwith, Matt Engels, Tyler Prue, Norah Quinn, Stephen Russell, Jodi Stafford, Samuel Santos, Monique Sullivan, Jon Turek, Ben Webster and Wendy Yoder;

Educator Quality Division Team (Agency of Education): Catherine Franks, Rebecca Gile, Patrick Halliday, Courtney Ireland, Helen Lamberton, Lisa Pierson, Debora Price, Wendy Scott, Carrie Stevens and Susan Yesalonia;

Hospital Budget Review Team (Vermont Green Mountain Care Board): Janeen Morrison and Lori Perry;

ICD 10 Conversion Project Team (Department of Vermont Health Access): Suellen Bottiggi, Daljit Clark, Bekah Kutt, Leanne Miles, Sam Prince, Catherine West and Nik Znamenskis;

IT Business Analysis Team (Department of Health): Tim Berry, Riley Carlson, Karen Clark, Julie Maslack, Kyle Mitofsky and Matt Sontum;

IT Project Team (Agency of Natural Resources/Central Office): Mark Garrand, Kris Kirby, Siobhan Perricone and Matt Roy;

Lake Champlain TMDL Technical Team (Department of Environmental Conservation): Kari Dolan, Neil Kamman, Ernie Kelley, Mike Kline, Laura LaPierre, Padraic Monks, Marli Rupe and Perry Thomas;

Stewardship Foresters Team (Department of Forest, Parks & Recreation): Louis Bushey, Diana Frederick, Tim Morton, Jason Nerenberg and Lisa Thornton;

Three Mangeeers Team (Department of Buildings & General Services): Mike Blanchet, Deborah Ferrell and Al Simard;

Vermont Forensic Laboratory Team (Department of Public Safety): Amanda Bolduc, Trisha Conti, Denise Gregory, Harry Jeppe, Joy Mapp and Tara Tighe; and

Waterbury Move Team (Agency of Human Services): Karen Crowley, Chris McConnell, Dean Mudgett, Valerie Nikel, Guy Norwood, Dawn O’Toole and Katie Whitney.

Cross-Agency Team Selection:

Nurse Classification Project Team: Gloria Abbiati, Kristin Allard, Jenny Audet, Paula Brown, Kathy Bushey, Christine Cullinane, Pam Dalley, Trudee Ettlinger, Kate Minall, Doug Pine, Sue Shepard and Margaret Wilson.

VSEA congratulates all of his year’s winners, and we thank you for your service!

Upcoming Trainings:

Steward 2: Protecting the Contract and Building the Union
Wednesday, May 11
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin

Steward 3: The Contract and Challenges in the Workplace
Wednesday, May 25
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin

> Register for trainings here!

VSEA Members Urged To Volunteer On Green-Up Day

Charlotte Brace, Grade 11, Montpelier High School

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 7, Vermonters across the state will be out in force, volunteering to pick up trash on Green-Up Day—an annual event to improve Vermont’s environment and beauty.

Find a list of Green-Up Day volunteer opportunities here

> Here’s a list of 2016 Green-Up Day events

VSEA Member Calls Help Defeat Potentially Damaging Amendment

VSEA Legislative Committee members and staff are thanking every member who responded to a May 1 email alert to contact your respective House members to urge their vote against a potentially harmful amendment that sought to arbitrarily reduce the size of state government over a five-year period.

Thanks to your calls, lawmakers quickly learned how opposed state employees were to the amendment, and it didn’t take long for them to revisit the language and tweak it to remove classified workers from the discussion about how to shrink government. Instead, lawmakers decided to form a committee to research if the possibility exists to save money by eliminating a to-be-determined number of upper management and temporary state worker positions.

“It’s great that the target came off of Vermont’s classified workers, but our state’s budget deficit is not the fault of state employees, regardless of their status,” said VSEA President Dave Bellini. “Vermont’s deficit is being caused by Medicaid, and that’s been widely acknowledged, yet it’s unclear what was done this session to address the issue and the negative impact it’s having on the budget.”

VSEA Member Calls… Again To The Rescue!

Be sure to follow VSEA’s Facebook page and when you see this image, it means your union needs you to take action.

VSEA’s team at the State House was forced to send out another alert on May 4, asking members to contact their respective House members to urge them to urge three members of a conferee committee to support putting “criminal threatening” language back in S. 154; a bill introduced by Sen. Dick Sears (D-Bennington) to enhance safety for frontline DCF workers. Thanks again to members’ calls, a few hours after the alert was sent, the language was reinserted in conference committee.

VSEA appreciates everyone’s help!

Franklin State’s Attorney’s Workers Unanimously Say “VSEA Yes!”

VSEA is celebrating today’s 8-0 vote by workers in the Franklin State’s Attorneys (SA) Office to join VSEA, making it the second SA office across Vermont to unionize since the Vermont Supreme Court ruled in January 2016 that the workers could be organized. Last week, workers in the Chittenden SA Office were the first to join VSEA, following the Court’s ruling.

“We’re very happy to welcome the Franklin workers aboard,” VSEA Organizer Tim Boyle tells WIA. “State’s Attorneys workers across Vermont wanted representation, and they got thrown a curve, but credit to them for waiting out the Court process. The workers’ patience paid off, and they are now being rewarded with the right to conduct a vote like we did today. We’re hoping this trend continues in our upcoming elections in Rutland and Windsor.”

Here are the upcoming election dates that Boyle references:

Rutland – May 12
Windsor – May 13

Background

In January 2016, the Vermont Supreme Court overturned a 2014 ruling by the Vermont Labor Relation Board that DSAs, Victims Advocates and Secretaries in the State’s Attorneys Offices cannot be organized under either the under the Municipal Labor Relations Act (MERA) or the State Employee Labor Relations Act (SELRA). The Court ruled they could under MERA. At the time, VSEA President Dave Bellini said, “This is an important victory for VSEA and working Vermonters, as it addresses a number of significant labor law questions and allows VSEA to now organize most of the employees in State’s Attorneys Offices. Under the Court’s ruling, we’ll have to do it on a county-by-county basis in in offices with five or more workers, but it’s a start.”

NEK/St. Johnsbury Chapter Meeting

VSEA’s NEK/St. Johnsbury Chapter President Ellen Hinman asked WIA to let Chapter members know that the Chapter’s next meeting is Wednesday, May 11, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the ANR Office, located at 1229 Portland Street in St. Johnsbury.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chapter Secretary Monique Prive at 626-6364 or by email at Monique.Prive@lyndonstate.edu

Central Vermont Chapter Monday Meeting CANCELLED!

VSEA’s Central Vermont Chapter President Cassandra Edson asked WIA to let Chapter members know that the Chapter’s Monday, May 9, meeting is being cancelled. ​

Gilfeather Turnip Named Vermont State Vegetable

Photo: VPR

The Mountain Times reports that, with little fanfare, on April 29, the General Assembly voted to designate the Gilfeather Turnip as Vermont’s “State Vegetable.” Championing the turnip was a group of students from the Wardsboro Elementary School. The turnip was created in the early 1900’s by farmer John Gilfeather, a resident of Wardsboro, Vt. Vermont is now the 14^th state in the nation to have a state vegetable.

Striking Verizon Workers Conduct “Day Of Action” On May 5

More than 35,000 Verizon workers have been on strike since mid-April, and on May 5, the workers’ union, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) called for a national day of action. One of the actions was a May 5 march by more than 250 workers and supporters on Verizon’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Albuquerque, NM. According to the CWA, the Verizon workers own “about $1.3 billion in stock holdings,” which gives them a voice with shareholders and management.

Following the march on the meeting, which included about 15 workers blocking traffic outside of it, one striking Verizon worker injected one of the labor movement’s prevailing mindsets into his press quote, which is “a wrong to one is a wrong to all”, saying "CWA is the one of the biggest unions out there and if we lose this fight, all other unions…they are going to lose. There’s a lot at stake here.” Yes there is.

Go here to learn more about the Verizon workers strike.

NLRB Knocks Down Another Workplace Rule

Less than a week after invalidating a T-Mobile employee handbook rule that required employees “to maintain a positive work environment by communicating in a manner that is conducive to effective working relationships,” the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued another employee handbook rule on May 5.

The NLRB invalidated a rule that required employees to refrain from conduct that is offensive to fellow employees. In its ruling, the NLRB reversed an administrative law judge who said the rule against offensive conduct could stand. The NLRB said that the prohibition against offensive conduct “is not accompanied by any other descriptive language that would help employees interpret what types of ‘offensive’ conduct the rule is targeting.”

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 2: Protecting the Contract and Building the Union
Wednesday, May 11
VTrans Training Center
1716 U.S. Route 302
Berlin

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!

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!