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State Says Statute Allows It To Cut Budget Deficit By 1%, Without Legislative Approval
VTDigger reported this week that the State is moving forward with a plan to reduce Vermont’s budget deficit by 1 percent, without legislative approval. The State is claiming it has the right to make the cut by statute, but retiring House Appropriations Committee Chair Martha Heath tells Digger that she is not accepting the State’s assertion “at face value” and that she will request an opinion from Legislative Counsel. VSEA’s legal team shares Ms. Heath’s skepticism, and the union will be watching this debate and the outcome closely, as there could be implications for the state workforce, especially knowing that the State is prepared to rely solely on cuts as opposed to looking at ways to generate new revenue.
Times Argus Editorial Supports New Revenue
A November 14 editorial in the Times Argus
ends this way:
"Yet [the State] hobbles [itself] by tying one hand behind [its] back. [It] has pledged not to raise new taxes, meaning the entire gap between spending and revenue must be closed by cutting spending. [The State] prefers to put the Legislature in the position of forcing [it] to raise taxes. Given the challenges we face, and the obligations it makes sense to accept, there are ways the Legislature can think about taxes.
For one, the stagnant growth of the post-recession years has not been stagnant for everyone. The stock market is booming and the wealthy are scooping up new income. The IRS reports that 95 percent of the income growth since the recession has gone to the top 1 percent. Changes in the tax system that obtained revenue from investment income would tap into the wealth that exists rather than seeking to tap sources that have been stagnant — that is, middle class income.
The wealthy in Vermont cannot meet all of our revenue needs, but to meet our obligations we need to obtain revenue from where the wealth is. Not to do so is to bow to the trend toward inequality that is making the nation poorer."
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Benefits Advisory Committee Chair Promotes Pre-Tax Health Care Premium Payments & Flex Spending Accounts!
VSEA Benefits Advisory Chair Dave Bellini asked WIA to remind members that roughly 1,000 state employees are currently paying their health insurance premiums with after-tax dollars. He says that these members could save money by switching to a “premium reduction plan,” or a pre-tax plan.
“We all just found out we’ll be paying an additional 18 percent on our premiums, and there are a couple of ways for VSEA members to bring the payment down a little,” explains Bellini. “First, if you’re paying your premium with after-tax dollars right now, you can reduce the impact of the rate hike a little by switching to a pre-tax plan.”
To pay your insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis, state employees can click here to fill out and submit this form.
Bellini is also suggesting that more members join the 20% of state employees who are currently taking advantage of Flex-Spending Accounts. These accounts allow an employee to pay healthcare, vision and dental deductibles and copays with pre-tax income. Bellini recommends that state employees who anticipate regular copays or other medical expenses should utilize flex spending accounts to pay these out-of-pocket costs on a pre-tax basis. Click here to start a Flex Spending Account using this form.
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VSEA President Begins Touring Worksites
VSEA President Shelley Martin was in St. Johnsbury on November 12 to meet and talk with a dozen VSEA members working for the Agency of Natural Resources. It’s the first of what Martin says will be many worksite visits by her in the coming weeks and months.
“I want to get out and meet face-to-face with as many VSEA members as possible, especially to hear what’s on members’ minds as we approach a new legislative session,” says Martin. “I’ve already heard about retirement insecurity, caseload and manpower issues, increased health care premiums and concerns about Vermont’s budget deficit. I’ll be interested to learn if these are the same things concerning VSEA members in other Vermont worksites.”
Martin’s schedule for next week:
November 19 – Lamoille – State Office Building
63 Professional Dr., Morrisville
November 20 – St. Albans – State Office Building
20 Houghton St., St. Albans
November 21 – White River Junction – P&P Office
224 Holiday Dr., White River Junction
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Support United Staff Workers At December 3 Rally!
VSEA members and retirees who are able are urged to attend a December 3 rally to support United Staff workers at UVM as they prepare to vote on VSEA representation. VSEA, United Academics, AFT, UE and other union members will join with frontline workers and supporters in a show of solidarity in advance of the United Staff members’ vote on December 16 and 17.
Vote Yes For VSEA: Rally In Support of UVM Staff
Royall Tyler Theatre
UVM
116 University Place
12:30 p.m.
Click here to join the Facebook event page!
Hope to see you there! |
VLRB Hands VSEA An Ambiguous Decision On Deputy State’s Attorneys
VSEA Will Appeal!
Just after WIA was sent last Friday, VSEA received a long-awaited decision from the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) on whether or not Vermont’s Deputy States Attorneys can be organized under the Municipal Employees’ Labor Relations Act. Unfortunately, the VLRB’s ruling does little to clear up the issue.
WIA readers will remember that VSEA decided in April to try and organize the workers under the Municipal Labor Relations Act (MERA), as opposed to the State Employee Labor Relations Act. VSEA chose the approach because the State had adamantly fought VSEA’s contention that the workers are state employees, saying instead that they are county workers.
A VTDigger story about the VLRB’s decision, included the following:
“Technically, the deputy state’s attorneys, victim advocates, administrative secretaries and secretaries VSEA sought to represent are neither state nor municipal employees,” said board chairman Richard Park and members James C. Kiehle and Gary F. Karnedy. ‘Any statutory collective bargaining rights which would be granted employees of the state’s attorney offices would have to come through legislative action,’ the three-member panel ruled on Nov. 3.”
VSEA Communications Director Doug Gibson commented to Digger on the Board’s decision, calling it “unfortunate” and adding, “In fact, it makes the [Deputy States Attorneys’] status even more murky because, according to the board’s decision, this group of employees doesn’t fall under the jurisdiction of any state labor statute. They aren’t ‘state’ employees, nor are they ‘municipal’ employees. They are essentially in some kind of weird worker limbo.”
In the story, Gibson says VSEA’s legal team is reviewing the decision and deciding next steps, but it didn’t take long. This week, the union’s Legal Assistance Committee met and decided that VSEA will be appealing the Board’s decision to the Vermont Supreme Court.
In a memorandum to the union’s Board of Trustees, explaining the Committee’s decision to recommend an appeal, members of VSEA’s Legal Assistance Committee wrote: “The Board’s decision is based on several fundamental errors of law that could have wide-ranging impacts not only for these employees but for employees of other political subdivisions whom the VSEA or other unions may seek to organize in the future. For these reasons, as briefly described below, the Legal Assistance Committee unanimously voted to appeal this matter to the Vermont Supreme Court.”
WIA will keep readers updated on any and all developments.
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VSEA Members Urged To Attend 11/20 Rally For FairPoint Workers
VSEA is urging members who are able to attend a noon rally at the State House on Thursday, November 20, to support striking FairPoint workers. The workers’ strike is entering its third week and Vermont labor is hoping for a good turnout and strong show of solidarity.
VSEA Donates $5000 To Striking Workers
VSEA’s Board of Trustees met this week and voted to donate $5000 to striking FairPoint workers.
VSEA members who would like to donate individually to the workers can send your check, made payable to the:
IBEW-CWA Solidarity Fund
21 Gabriel Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
To make a credit card donation, please click here.
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VSEA Honored At Workers’ Center Event
VSEA members and staff take center stage to receive a 2014 Vermont Workers’ Center "Solidarity Award"
The Vermont Workers’ Center held its Annual Membership Assembly on Saturday, November 13, at the Old Labor Hall in Barre. Part of the day’s events included a banquet, where individuals and organizations were presented with special labor “solidarity awards.” VSEA was honored to receive an award for voting to change the union’s emphasis to organizing and for the union’s defense of whistleblowers like John Howe and its support of health care for all. VSEA and other unions present on the UVM campus were also acknowledged for the ways all are working together in solidarity to achieve social and economic justice for every UVM worker.
Two VSEA staff members were also elected this weekend to Workers’ Center leadership posts. VSEA Organizer Tim Boyle was elected to be the organization’s Membership Coordinator and VSEA Organizer CC Reuge was elected Secretary.
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VSEA Union Representatives Assume New Territories On November 17!
VSEA Director of Field Services Gretchen Naylor recently announced a reshuffling of territories and agency/department assignments for VSEA Union Representatives. The new assignments officially begin on Monday, November 17, so please consult the list below to learn who your Union Representative is.
Please consult the list below to learn who your Union Representative is.
John Brabant: St. Albans, Grand Isle, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction, Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (VPCH), Middlesex Residential Facility, Lyndon State College, Vermont Technical College
Kelly Burns: Chittenden, Lamoille, Johnson State College
Dave Van Deusen: Statewide Agency of Transportation (AOT), Addison, Rutland, Castleton State College
Bob South: Brattleboro, Springfield, Newport, Island Pond
Brian Morse: Bennington, all supervisors, all of Judiciary
Josh Massey: Barre, Waterbury, Central Vermont (except AOT)
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Reminder: Retirees’ Chapter Holding Special Meeting On Dec. 11 To Select Trustee For Windham & Windsor Counties
The VSEA Retirees’ Committee is actively searching for a trustee to represent Windham and Windsor Counties. If you’re a current dues-paying retiree who resides in Windham or Windsor Counties, and you’re interested in running for this trustee seat, please send a letter of interest by 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 10, to VSEA RC President Maclay at jmaclay@vsea.org. Chapter officials will then hold a special meeting on December 11 to name a new Windham and Windsor trustee. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.
As always, if you are a lifetime member of VSEA and are interested in joining the VSEA Retirees’ Chapter, please send your $10 dues check to VSEA HQ or bring this payment to the special Chapter meeting on December 11.
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Capital Commuters: A Program For Montpelier-Based State Employees
The following was submitted to WIA by CC:
Join the nearly 400 State employees who have already become a Capital Commuter.
Click here to read/ download the Capital Commuters November Newsletter
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