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VSEA VSC Members Record Messages Of Support To UVM United Staff Members
Several VSEA Vermont State Colleges’ members were at headquarters this week for a meeting, and they were kind enough to take some time to record messages of support to United Staff members at the University of Vermont (UVM) in advance of their upcoming representation vote. Today, VSEA posted the first of the recorded messages online, and it’s a very powerful one from Theresa Bruno, a maintenance worker at Castleton State College.
VSEA members looking for some inspiration are urged to view Bruno’s message here.
Thank you Theresa for your courage, strength and for sharing your inspiring message!
New Facebook Page Created To Support Upcoming Representation Election By UVM Workers
VSEA continues to urge members who use Facebook to “like” the United Staff workers’ page, as a show of solidarity for the workers’ effort to win the VSEA representation they desire and deserve.
 Click here to view the United Staff workers’ Facebook page.
Thanks in advance for your solidarity!
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VSEA Solidarity Opportunities: Two Groups Of Vermont Workers Walking The Picket Line
VSEA members are urged to show your solidarity for teachers in South Burlington and Fairpoint Communications’ workers in Vermont. The South Burlington teachers are represented by the NEA and have been walking the line for almost a week. The Fairpoint workers just went on strike yesterday, and strike activity is expected to ramp-up quickly.
To learn more about how VSEA members can help with either strike campaign, please go to:
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Two VSEA Units Conduct Elections
Members of VSEA’s Elections, Rules and Nominating Committee were at headquarters recently to count the votes from two VSEA Unit elections.
Vermont State Colleges’ Unit election:
Chairperson – Janis Henderson – Lyndon State College
Vice-Chairperson – Sandra Noyes – Johnson State College
Supervisory Unit Bargaining Team election (6 top vote getters out of 10 nominees):
Sue Albert – DOL
Glenn Boyde – DOC
Roy Catella Jr. – DOC
Michael Manley Jr. – DPS
Matthew Nally – DPS
Joe Silvestri – DOC
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Seeking DCF Members For DCF Labor/Management Committee
In worksites across Vermont, VSEA Union Representatives report good results coming out of several already established joint labor/management committees, including in places like AOT, DOC and ESD.
In response to DCF workers’ concerns about being scapegoated for ongoing system-wide problems, VSEA is hoping to identify DCF members statewide who would be interested in being a part of a labor/management committee, if one can be created. Labor/management committees usually meet once a month.
If you’re a VSEA DCF member who wants to sit on a labor/management committee that will hopefully soon be established to provide DCF workers with a stronger collective voice with management, please contact either VSEA Union Representative John Brabant (jbrabant@vsea.org) or Kelly Burns (kburns@vsea.org) to let them know.
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VSEA Wants Your Input On Grants
With a budget deficit looming and departments and agencies being instructed to level fund and worse for FY2016, VSEA wants to try and determine:
- How much damage was done to grants targeted to your department/agency during the State’s 2008/2009 budget-cutting exercises;
- How much of that damage has been repaired to date;
- How much money do you know or estimate was lost as a result of grants not being applied for due to lack of staff;
- Has there been a cut in your shop to the staff responsible for applying for grants in a timely manner;
- Can you cite an example of Vermont services or Vermonters themselves being harmed due to the loss of a grant; and
- How much of the service you provide depends on grant money?
VSEA understands that every member will not be knowledgeable about grants or how they relate to your department/agency, but if you do have firsthand knowledge about grants where you work, please take a few minutes to share what you know with your union. All information gathered will be considered confidential, unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the member and VSEA.
If you have grant information please send it to VSEA Communications Director Doug Gibson at dgibson@vsea.org
Thanks in advance for your help!
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VSEA AHS Members Urged To Participate In Upcoming Budget Forum
Will the State’s proposed FY2016 budget adversely impact the AHS service you provide? Here’s your chance to publicly weigh in with the Administration.
The non-profit group Public Assets is sponsoring a special upcoming forum to discuss what budget cuts would mean to AHS services and the workers who provide them on a daily basis. The meeting is being conducted via Vermont Interactive Television, so VSEA members working across the state in DCF, ESD, HAEU, Corrections, Parole and Probation and other AHS services are urged to participate in a studio near you and make your voice heard.
Public Assets’ Forum – AHS & The Budget
Tuesday, October 28
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
VIT Studios
Click here to read a Public Assets’ post about the meeting.
Click here to read the State’s information about meeting.
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Auditor’s Report On Vermont Designated Agencies Raises Eyebrows
The Auditor’s office released a new report on October 15, detailing the practices of three of the State’s 11 Designated Agencies. These 11 entities received $246 million from AHS in FY2013, and the Auditor’s findings about how these dollars are being monitored by three Designated Agencies is raising some eyebrows.
According to a VTDigger story about the report, AHS “often fails to ensure that social-service contractors are providing the services they’re being paid for,” and “while the State monitors ‘many facets of the agencies’ performance, they don’t generally compare the services budgeted to those actually performed’ as part of inclusive rate contracts.”
“Without making these comparisons, the State cannot ensure that Vermont clients are receiving the budgeted services they need and that the public is paying for,” the Auditor told Digger in a statement, “The State has a responsibility to confirm that these payments fairly represent the services actually provided.” The performance audit also found that in some instances the state makes duplicate payments to designated agencies.
The Auditor’s report makes recommendations on reforms to implement, and AHS Secretary Harry Chen tells Digger that some are already in progress. Chen says AHS has begun “to require self-audits across programs at the end of the current fiscal year, and added compliance reviews to the DMH and DAIL quality-assurance programs. AHS will also clarify contractual expectations before granting funds.”
Because there were only three Designated Agencies included in this Auditor’s report, the findings could be just the tip of the iceberg. Vermont taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being spent, is it being spent wisely and are Vermonters receiving the promised and paid-for services from the State’s Designated Agencies?
Hopefully, to be continued.
Click here to read this story via VTDigger
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VSEA Members Invited To Alliance For Retired Americans 10th Annual Conference
The Vermont Chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) is holding its annual conference on Saturday, October 25, and VSEA retirees and members are invited to attend.
Titled “Addressing Senior Issues During A Time Of Political Turmoil,” the ARA conference will feature several informative speakers throughout the day, including ARA’s National Political/Legislative Director Eva Dominguez, who will talk about how seniors are fighting back on several fronts in Washington State, and Champlain Valley Agency on Aging Director John Michael Hall, who will talk more broadly about the senior issues impacting seniors at both the national level and right here in Vermont.
The meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. It’s being held at the Aldrich Public Library at 6 Washington Street in Barre. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m., and there is a $15 registration fee for non-ARA members.
For more information, please contact ARA President Jane Osgatharp by phone at (802) 229-0850 or by email at annajaneo@aol.com.
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Commentary Supports Frontline DCF Workers
An October 9 commentary in the Times Argus by Kate Piper and Mark Redmond is titled “Making Vermont Children Safe” and it begins by acknowledging that frontline DCF workers are not to blame for recent and tragic deaths of two Vermont children.
It reads: "…it is important to recognize and understand that individual caseworkers are not the problem. The issues of concern are systemic. Vermont’s DCF workers are a very dedicated, hardworking group of public servants.
DCF workers and VSEA appreciate the authors’ support and help to promote this important and timely message.
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Brattleboro Chapter Raises $200 For Shelter
Congratulations to VSEA Brattleboro Chapter members for raising more than $200 for the Morningside Shelter by hiking together for the homeless on October 5. Brattleboro Chapter and other VSEA members who still want to donate can do so by dropping a check off to Chapter President Robin Rieske at the Department of Health or you can mail your donation directly to Morningside Shelter, identifying yourself as a VSEA member.
Rieske is thanking everyone who hiked and contributed to this successful Chapter-building effort.
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NMU Looking To Fill Vacancies
VSEA Non-Management Unit Chairperson Bob Stone is actively looking to fill several open positions, including:
- NMU Executive Committee seat;
- NMU Bargaining Team Clerk; and
- NMU Bargaining Team At-Large Alternate
VSEA NMU members interested in any of the above positions are asked to send a letter of interest by close of business Thursday, October 23, to:
Bob Stone
NMU Chairperson
c/o VSEA
155 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05602
You can also send an email of interest to rstone@vsea.org |
Capital Commuters Program: Sign-Up By November 30 And Win!!
The following was submitted to WIA by CC:
Nearly 400 State employees are already benefiting from the Capital Commuters pilot program. More than half are enjoying 50% discounts on bus passes, and many are feeling great walking and biking to work. Most are loving the discounts at popular lunch locations.
Two things to note: Thanks to our generous sponsors, your Capital Commuters Benefit Card is still valid. Remember to use it at several popular central Vermont locations including Positive Pie, Uncommon Grounds, Three Penny Tap Room and more; and 2) invite a co-worker to join Capital Commuters by November 30 and you’ll both receive a $10 gift card from Onion River Sports. All state employees registered for the program by November 30 will be entered to win great prizes including:
- $150 Cash
- 100 & $50 Gift Cards to Shaw’s and Hunger Mountain Coop
- $50 Gift Certificates to your Favorite Restaurant
- A Free LINK Transit Pass
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Calling All Troublemakers! Vermont Troublemakers’ School 2014
The Vermont Labor Solidarity Committee and Labor Notes are pleased to announce that the 2014 Vermont Troublemakers School is being held Sunday, November 9, from 10:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. in UVM’s Rowen Hall at 106 Carrigan Drive, Burlington.
New strategies centered on social justice unionism have animated recent struggles—from the 2012 Chicago Teachers strike to the recent Teamster Chittenden County Transit Authority walkout in Vermont.
Join fellow troublemakers for a day of discussion, training, networking, and inspiration! We’ll discuss rank-and-file strategies for advancing our unions and demanding our rights.
Topics include:
- How to have an organizing conversation
- How to broaden member participation
- Reviving social justice unionism
- Developing rank-and-file leaders
- Winning contract campaigns
- Strikes and other worksite actions to win
- And much more
Here’s a list of organizations whose members are contributing to shaping and building our Troublemakers School:
- VSEA
- CCTA Teamster Bus Drivers
- Vermont Workers Center
- United Academics at UVM
- Vermont Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (VNHP)
- VT-NEA teachers
- International Socialist Organization
- UE Locals in Chittenden and Washington Counties
- Vermont Migrant Justice
- Home Health Care Workers
- Howard Center AFSCME Local 1674
- Green Mountain Labor Council
- And more to come.
- To register, choose a registration level at bottom of page, add to your cart and check out through our online store. (Look for "Shopping Cart" in the upper right corner of the page when you are ready to pay.) For more information or to get involved, contact Traven Leyshon at Traven.L@gmail.com or 802-522-3484.
Click here to register, then choose a registration level at bottom of page, add to your cart and check out through our online store. (Look for "Shopping Cart" in the upper right corner of the page when you are ready to pay.)
For more information or to get involved, contact Traven Leyshon at Traven.L@gmail.com or 802-522-3484.
Childcare will be available. Details to come.
Brattleboro Chapter Offering To Pay For Members To Attend Troublemakers’ School!
The Brattleboro Chapter is offering to finance Chapter members who want to attend this year’s Troublemaker’s School in Burlington. The Chapter will pay your enrollment fee, as well as travel reimbursement for a carpool. If you’re interested, please contact Brattleboro Chapter President Robin Rieske at rrieske@sover.net by
Friday, October 31, 2014.
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