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Vote On Tuesday, November 4!
VSEA is reminding all its members to please vote on Tuesday, November 4. If you have already voted early, thanks!
To see a list of your union’s 2014 candidate endorsements in Senate, House and State’s Attorney’s races across Vermont, please click here.
VSEA Applauds Early Success Of Pilot Program
VSEA is applauding an announcement by AOT this week that it is adding 24 new positions (23 full-time and 1 limited service) based on the new staffing flexibility granted to it this year by lawmakers. Equally important, the reason AOT says it can add the new positions supports VSEA members’ ongoing argument that using state employees saves Vermont taxpayers money.
AOT’s statement reads: “The primary benefit of adding these new positions is to achieve cost savings by reducing our consultant costs. In FY 14, over $20,000,000 was spent on consultants. Knowing that consultants cost 25% more than state employees for the same service, we know we can achieve savings in this area. By employing these individuals, VTrans will manage its current workload more effectively and efficiently at a lower cost.”
VSEA President Shelley Martin told WIA that this is the kind of result VSEA had in mind when our union began lobbying to lawmakers to support a pilot project.
“The State agreed with VSEA and together we were able to convince legislators to allow state managers the flexibility they needed to add positions and not bust their budgets,” said Martin. “And it’s not just AOT that is already seeing positive results with the pilot program.” She pointed to DCF’s Family Services Division, where nearly 20 full-time and limited service positions are being added, the state’s Health Access Eligibility Unit, where more than 100 full-time and limited service are being added, and the Department of Environmental Conservation, where 17 new positions will be added. “I don’t think these positions would have been possible without the pilot program. These are the kind of solid ideas VSEA members come to the table with to help save the State money and benefit Vermonters who receive our services.”
Background
Lawmakers decided in April to allow the pilot program to be implemented. For the first time ever, managers in certain departments and agencies were given permission to bypass legislative approval to add new positions. The only caveat was that the positions had to be created within existing budgets. As Martin points out, VSEA members lobbied lawmakers hard in favor of the pilot program. Included in the program were the Department of Public Service, the Agency of Transportation, the Department for Children and Families, the Department for Environmental Conservation and Buildings and General Services. In testimony earlier this year to the Senate Government Operations Committee, Secretary of the Administration Jeb Spaulding explained to lawmakers that “The goal of this pilot program is to provide smarter and better performing government at less cost.”
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Be Prepared! Another Year, Another Budget Shortfall.
When Vermont lawmakers return to Montpelier in January, they again face a budget deficit, and this year’s estimate is $90 million to $120 million.
To date, the State’s main recourse to manage ongoing Vermont’s budget deficits has been spending cuts. Little new revenue is being generated, outside of some increased fees and new cigarette taxes, both of which have minor impact and lack the income potential to adequately to sustain state services. State officials and lawmakers had hoped Vermont’s economy would eventually rebound, so, throughout Vermont’s recession, they decided to avoid further cuts to services to Vermont’s most vulnerable by using $40 million to $50 million in one-time funds. This money now gone, officials and lawmakers are once again facing a nightmare budget scenario, and VSEA is joining the growing number of Vermonters hoping to convince the decision makers to look at increasing revenue as a counter to simply hacking away state services and jobs.
As proof of the adverse impact of Vermont’s failure to increase revenue, especially from those most able to pay, VSEA Research Analyst Adam Norton provided this graph, which he says illustrates how unprecedented income inequality is preventing state tax revenue from sustaining the services that Vermonter’s rely on daily.
Click here to view a larger graph
While it’s true the State’s General Fund revenues have finally rebounded to above pre-recession levels, the fact still remains there are 200 fewer positions across state government than existed prior to the recession hitting in 2007. This anemic state workforce is currently struggling to cope with rising caseloads that seem immune to Vermont’s alleged economic recovery. In addition to increased workloads and less people to do the job, state employees have also been hit recently with increased health care premiums. And agencies and departments have been instructed to “eat the Pay Act,” meaning it will be up to the different entities to find this year’s negotiated 2.5 percent pay increase for employees from within existing budgets. During the 2014 legislative session, the DHR Commissioner testified that forcing agencies and departments to absorb the Pay Act could result in reductions in force (RIFs). As you can see, unless new revenue can be found, Vermont state employees and the services you provide may once again be on the chopping block.
In the coming weeks and months, VSEA is asking all its members to please talk with your lawmakers, co-workers, friends and family about the damage your agency or department would suffer if subjected to another cutting “exercise.” Further, VSEA will be working diligently to build a broad coalition of groups that support generating new revenue, as opposed to hacking away at state government. We want lawmakers to close income tax loopholes for Vermont’s wealthiest citizens and relieve the tax burden on working families.
With Election Day nearing, VSEA reminds members to support candidates who support you, your union, your contract and the service you provide.
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Barre Chapter Holds Successful Candidate Forum
Last night, more than 20 VSEA members belonging to the Barre Chapter attended a special Chapter-sponsored candidate forum at the Quarry Restaurant in Barre. Members were able to meet the candidates and also ask questions to each about how they would address the issues that impact state employees daily, like unmanageable caseloads and mandated overtime.
Five candidates running in various local and state elections showed up to meet members and answer their questions.
As part of the event, Barre Chapter members moved a petition to support frontline DCF Family Services Division workers and their call not to be scapegoated for system-wide problems.
VSEA Senior Field Representative David Van Deusen praised the Chapter’s initiative and the way members took the lead on setting the event up and then ensuring it was successful.
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Central Vermont Stewards Award Certificates To Activists
Some VSEA Central Vermont Stewards got together on October 24 to present special certificates of merit to VSEA members for "outstanding union activism throughout 2014."
Receiving certificates were: Jack Gouin (Agency of Transportation), James Hale (Buildings & General Services), Jane Paronto (accepting for Jodi Parker, Vermont State Housing Authority) and all VSEA VSHA Members (Vermont State Housing Authority). Congratulations to all those honored.
Pictured here are (L to R): Jane Paronto, Jerry Comstock, Deb Franks, Jack Gouin, James Hale, Suzanne Arrand and Bonnie Kynoch.
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NMU Bargaining Team Welcomes New Alternate
The NMU Bargaining Team welcomed DCF Benefits Program Specialist Aimee Towne to the Team this week as an alternate. NMU Chairperson Bob Stone says Towne, a Lamoille Valley Chapter member, has demonstrated to the team and her co-workers that she is committed to improving our NMU contract.
Stone explained that, as an alternate, Towne will be expected to attend all meetings and will be afforded the same rights as any elected NMU Team member, except when it comes time to vote.
“In the event an elected member is unable to attend a Bargaining Team meeting, Aimee will then fill in for the absent member and be afforded the right to vote,” says Stone. “In either role, Aimee will be interacting with her fellow NMU Bargaining Team members and therefore always be knowledgeable about any of a number of key decisions that need to be made.”
Welcome Aimee!
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Attorney Announces Upcoming Hearing On OT Class-Action Lawsuit
Attorney Thomas Somers asked WIA to publish this update he recently sent to all the VSEA members who are part of the class:
As you know our overtime case is on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The case is fully briefed and oral argument is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Wednesday November 5, 2014. Everyone is welcome to attend although you should know that the Court has allocated only ten minutes to each side for argument. If you are interested in attending, argument will be held in Courtroom 1703, Thurgood Marshall United States Court House, 40 Foley Square, New York, NY. If you do attend, I recommend you get to the Court no later than 9:30 a.m. to give time for security checks. If you do plan to attend, please let me know by sending me an email to tsomers@bpflegal.com.
So you are not unnecessarily confused if you do attend, the case is referred to by the Court as Coniff et al v. State of Vermont, Case No. 13-4198-cv and, at times, Beaulieu et al v. State of Vermont, Case No. 13-4198-cv.
I will keep everyone posted on how the argument goes.
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VSEA Associate Member Assists In Vermont’s Efforts To Prevent Ebola Outbreak
Photo via VTDigger.org
VTDigger featured a nice story today about Public Health Nurse and VSEA Associate Member Joanne Calvi, who was one of two Vermont public officials recently “sent to intercept Peter Italia as he returned from West Africa, a region of the world stricken by the deadly Ebola virus.”
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VSEA Supports Striking Fairpoint Workers
Great outpouring of VSEA support yesterday across Vermont for striking FairPoint workers. Pictured here are VSEA members and staff showing solidarity with FairPoint picket lines in Montpelier, Brattleboro and Bennington. VSEA thanks everyone who participated!
VSEA is also thanking activist Suzanne Arrand for her honest reply in an October 30 Times Argus story about an interruption to FairPoint’s IT service in Worcester, Vt. Arrand is asked about the IT outage and instead directs her comments at FairPoint, telling the paper: “I wish they would settle the strike. I think the company and what they are trying to do to their workers is just horrible, and I am going to join the [workers’] picket line tomorrow.” Way to go Suzanne!
For strike updates and to find out about future picketing, please click here.
And this just in:
Please help striking FairPoint workers address financial hardships by donating to a workers’ relief fund!
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VSEA Board Votes To Send 40 Members To The Vermont Troublemakers’ School
The VSEA Board of Trustees voted recently to pay the registration fee for 40 VSEA members who want to attend the 2014 Vermont Troublemakers School on Sunday, November 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in UVM’s Rowen Hall at 106 Carrigan Drive, Burlington.VSEA members who want to attend should contact VSEA Board of Trustees Clerk Katelyn Chase as soon as possible. She can be reached at kchase@vsea.org.
Join fellow troublemakers for a day of discussion, training, networking, and inspiration!
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.
Childcare will be available.
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VSEA Advantage Program’s Divine Align Yoga Announces New Venue
Divine Align asked WIA to share this update with members:
DIVINE ALIGN YOGA
Montpelier, Fusion Studio
56 E State St, Montpelier, VT 05602
Studio offering discounted membership fee through December 2014. VSEA members pay just $40 for both November and December, as opposed to the normal $60. In addition, VSEA members and staff participating in a class offered by instructor Melissa Massey will receive $1 off the normal $6 class fee. Members and staff who opt to “drop-in” on one of Melissa’s classes will receive $1 off the normal $16 “drop-in” class fee.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Massey
divinealignyoga@gmail.com
You can also learn more about Fusion Studio here
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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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