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Weekly News From VSEA!
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Week In Action Newsletter
July 2, 2020
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Newest VSEA Bargaining Unit Ratifies First-Ever Contract!

VSEA Defender General Unit Also Ratifies New Deal

A little more than a year after voting for VSEA representation, employees working in State’s Attorney’s Offices (SAO) across Vermont​ learned yesterday that VSEA's Elections, Rules and Nominating Committee had certified that members of VSEA's new SAO Unit voted to ratify their first-ever, two-year agreement with the Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs.

"It has certainly been a long sustained effort to reach this point where the hard-working state employees of the State’s Attorney’s Offices first gained the right to engage in collective bargaining, and now have a contract securing important rights and benefits," says OSA Bargaining Team Chair Justin Jirin; a Deputy State's Attorney in the Chittenden office. "Thanks to a lot of patience and perseverance, and the unwavering support of VSEA, we have a contract we can be proud of and that gives us a solid base to build on in the future. For the first time we have a framework that spells out our rights and our responsibilities so that we can move forward together with the Department to improve our members’ working environments and the essential service we provide to fellow Vermonters. We are grateful as well to the Department for their commitment to the bargaining process and their effort to negotiate a fair outcome for both sides. This is of course just a first step and we look forward to the next two years as a time to analyze how this contract serves our members and identify the areas that need focus in future bargaining sessions. It’s a great moment for employees of the State’s Attorney’s Offices!"

In an email yesterday to SAO members, VSEA Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley shared the news with the workers and thanked the SAO Bargaining Team members for their "extensive work and dedication to secure an excellent contract."

The new contract covers more than 100 Deputy State’s Attorneys, Secretary IV’s, Victim’s Advocates, and Administrative Secretary’s, working in 14 OSA offices across Vermont.​​

DG Unit Also Ratifies!

VSEA is also cheering news that VSEA members in the union's Defender General Unit voted recently to ratify a new two-year agreement with the DG's Office.

Both the SAO and DG agreements implement July 1, 2020, and expire June 30, 2022.

Important BOT Election Ballot Deadline Approaching!

A friendly reminder that the following deadline is quickly approaching:

VSEA members' ballots due Monday, August 3 in election for the following VSEA Board of Trustees' seats:
  • Supervisory;
  • Corrections; 
  • VSHA/DG; and 
  • District 4 – Franklin / Grand Isle / Chittenden / Addison    

Important! If you have a question about this deadline, please contact VSEA Organizing Director Amy Kinsell at akinsell@vsea.org, or by phone at (802) 233-5834.  

July Steward Training Being Conducted,
Via Zoom

VSEA Director of Field Services Gretchen Naylor asked WIA to let VSEA Stewards know that, due to the COVID crisis, the July 17 training, scheduled to be held at the Rutland Holiday Inn will now be conducted by Zoom. 

July 17 Steward Training
8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m. 
Via Zoom


To register for the July training, or another upcoming training, please contact VSEA Administrative Professional Sue Devoid by email at sdevoid@vsea.org or by phone at (802) 223-5247. 

Note: As of July 1, 2020 all VSEA Stewards in the Executive Branch are eligible for VSEA leave time for Steward Training, provided they receive supervisory approval.

Log-in information will be emailed, prior to meeting.

Upcoming VSEA Council Meeting Also Being Conducted,
Via Zoom

VSEA First Vice President Aimee Towne recently let VSEA Council members know that their Friday, July 31, meeting is being conducted, via Zoom. 

VSEA Council Meeting
8:30 a.m.
Via Zoom 


Log-in information will be emailed, prior to meeting.

Delta Dental Supplemental Plan's July Premium Holiday Reminder

Several VSEA members recently contacted headquarters to ask why there was no deduction in their paycheck for the Delta Dental Supplemental Plan. Well, there's a reason.  

This week, VSEA sent an email to members, reminding that Delta Dental's Supplemental Plan Division recently announced that there would be a premium holiday in July for VSEA members who participate in the optional benefit plan.

This means VSEA members will not see a deduction in July for your Delta Dental Supplemental Plan payment. Delta Dental is resuming the deduction in August.

The Supplemental Plan is also announcing that, for the plan year beginning July 20, the maximum allowance is being increased from $1000 to $1250.

Quote Of
The Week!

 

"Thanks to a lot of patience and perseverance, and the unwavering support of VSEA, we have a contract we can be proud of and that gives us a solid base to build on in the future. It’s a great moment for employees of the State’s Attorney’s Offices!"


New VSEA member and Deputy State's Attorney (DSA) Justin Jirin, commenting on the ratification this week of a first-ever labor contract for OSA workers statewide. 
Talking Points:

Salt In The Wound. More Than 1,000 Vermont Immigration Employees Get Furlough Notices

Photo: St. Albans Messenger 

Vermont leaders were informed this week about a new economic hit coming soon, which is the furlough of more than 1,100 U.S. Citizenship and  Immigration Services employees. According to a story posted this week to VTDigger, these Vermont workers will be out of a job on Aug. 3 and without pay for at least 30 days.

From the story:

If the temporary cuts go into effect, 8% of the total reductions nationwide would land on a state with less than 1% of the country’s total population.

The agency alerted Congress May 15 of its $1.2 billion budgetary shortfall and announced that more than 13,000 employees nationwide — including in Vermont — would be furloughed if emergency funding was not provided to the agency. 


&

On the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy urged Congress to act and pass emergency funding for USCIS to prevent the furlough.

“In Vermont, 1,111 men and women received this notice.  This is over 65% of the USCIS workforce in Vermont,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “Men and women who do important work for the nation, and have continued to do that work even during the Covid-19 pandemic, have just been told that after Aug. 3, they can no longer do their job, and they will no longer receive a paycheck.”

Leahy said he and other Senate Democrats have been pushing Republicans to support more emergency relief, but time is running out for them to act. 

UVM Faculty Union Files Formal ULP After Being Left Out Of COVID Planning

Note: This UA website photo was taken prior to the COVID crisis, hence no masks or social distancing. 

WIA let readers know last week that UVM's faculty union, United Academics (UA), was considering filing a formal unfair labor practice (ULP) charge, alleging the union was left out of the planning process for fall "in-person" teaching during a pandemic. VTDigger reports yesterday that, this week, UA did file a formal ULP. 

From the story:

[UA] wrote in a press release that university President Suresh Garimella and Provost Patricia Prelock have refused to engage in bargaining as the school has made "sweeping, unilateral” workplace changes affecting the collective bargaining agreement.

“It is all the decisions that they’ve made since the pandemic started, really, that they haven’t involved the union in at all, even though most of those decisions change our working conditions and therefore they should have been bargained,” faculty union President Julie Roberts said in an interview.


The unfair labor practice complaint — filed Tuesday night — is the first the union has filed in its 19-year history.

National AFL-CIO Creates Website For "Workers Impacted by COVID-19" 

The national AFL-CIO has created a worksite to help workers impacted by COVID-19 find the resources they might need, such as:

  • Resources and benefits to help replace lost wages;
     
  • Eligibility requirements for emergency paid leave;
     
  • Housing and food assistance programs; and 
     
  • Health insurance and public health services and guidance.
This Week:
Newest VSEA Bargaining Unit Ratifies First-Ever Contract!
On July 4th Shop Union!

Important BOT Election Ballot Deadline Approaching!

July Steward Training Being Conducted, Via Zoom

Upcoming VSEA Council Meeting Also Being Conducted, Via Zoom

Delta Dental Supplemental Plan's July Premium Holiday Reminder

Quote Of The Week!
Talking Points:
Salt In The Wound. More Than 1,000 Vermont Immigration Employees Get Furlough Notices

UVM Faculty Union Files Formal ULP After Being Left Out Of COVID Planning

National AFL-CIO Creates Website For "Workers Impacted by COVID-19"
Calendar:
July 3
July 4 Holiday (Observed)
VSEA HQ Closed
July 7
VSEA Board of Trustees' Meeting
via Zoom
July 17
Rutland Steward Training
via Zoom
July 31
VSEA Council Meeting
via Zoom
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all other VSEA meetings are canceled until
further notice.
Important Reminders:
Employees Who Fail To Comply With Mask Directive Could Be Disciplined

Employee Child Care Reimbursement Extended Until July 15

New "Purchasing Power" Benefit Offered To VSEA Members

AFLAC Insurance Enrollment: Sign Up Through VSEA!

VSEA Retirement Security Fact Sheet

Getting Ready To Retire? Retired Already? Join The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter!
Thank you for reading Week In Action!
Reminder: Employees Who Fail To 
Comply With Mask Directive Could Be Disciplined
During these very uncertain times, VSEA is reminding state employees not to ignore a directive from your supervisor to wear a protective mask while at work. Remember, if you defy your supervisor's mask directive, you may face allegations of insubordination, which could result in management taking disciplinary action against you.    

VSEA is strongly advising all employees to comply with the mask directive, to protect your health and the health of your co-workers.
Employee 
Child Care Reimbursement Extended Until
July 15 
VSEA's Child & Elder Care Committee asked WIA to remind members that, due to the federal and state income tax deadlines being extended to July 15, the State's employee child care reimbursement program is also extending its enrollment deadline to July 15.

Please note that this is an annual negotiated benefit and not a special benefit resulting from coronavirus outbreak.  

Here's more about the benefit:

This program offers financial assistance to Vermont State employees for their work-related child care expenses. The funds are made available through labor/management agreements with the State of Vermont. This initiative is the result of employee surveys and feedback on child care and child care assistance.

To learn more about the child care benefit and who is eligible, please click here. A form to enroll can also be found here.  
New "Purchasing Power" Benefit Offered To VSEA Members
In times when paying with cash or credit is challenging, Purchasing Power is here for you with a program you can trust. Get what you need now, and pay overtime – right from your paycheck.​

View the Program PDF

Depending on your settings, the link above will open a PDF in your web browser or download the PDF to your computer
or device.
AFLAC Insurance Enrollment:
Sign Up Through VSEA!
WIA was asked by VSEA Benefits Administrator, Joanne Woodcock, to include the following in this week's newsletter:
Dear Friends,

During these uncertain times, it has never been more important than now to protect your income.

Did you know that as a VSEA member, you are eligible for guaranteed issued disability with AFLAC through the convenience of payroll deduction! The State does not offer short term disability insurance other than accrued sick time.

If you would like to discuss this valuable VSEA member benefit in more detail, please call me or make an appointment using this link.

I will call you on the day and time you select. Please be in front of a computer at the time of your appointment.

There are many advantages to VSEA membership. Please check them out at www.vsea.org.

Thank you and I hope you stay well and safe.

Best regards,
Joanne
Joanne Woodcock
VSEA Benefits Administrator
888-510-4467
Joanne@vseainsurance.com
VSEA Retirement Security Fact Sheet
Did you know? Defined benefit plans are safer and more reliable for Vermont's retirees & are cheaper for taxpayers than risky, Wall St 401(k)-style plans. Learn more about the differences between defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution pension plans (a.k.a. 401K) here.
Getting Ready To Retire? Retired Already? Join The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter!

Long-time VSEA activist and leader Terry Lefebvre is asking VSEA members getting ready to retire to join the VSEA Retirees’ Chapter to continue to be an active and engaged union member, even in retirement. Lefebvre also appeals to VSEA members to talk up the co-workers they know who might be preparing to retire. If you already belong to the Retired Members’ Chapter, a big thanks to you.

Learn More Here About The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter
Getting Ready To Retire? Retired Already? Join The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter!
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