Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team Headed To Contract Mediation, But ULP Still Alive
|
|
"Green-Up" Day!
Next Friday!
On Friday, February 7, VSEA Judiciary Unit members are being asked to wear green to work as a show of solidarity with your unit bargaining team. All VSEA members are welcome to participate as well!
Take some photos of your worksite's sea of green and email them to VSEA Organizer, Jen Larsen: jlarsen@vsea.org
|
|
|
Members Of VSEA's Judiciary Unit Bargaining Team took their seats at a mock negotiating table outside the Vermont Supreme Court on Monday morning, ready to negotiate with the Court Administrator, but she was a no show, evidenced by her empty seat and table placard.
The Team's very public action was designed to draw Vermonters' attention to what they say are the Court Administrator's repeated refusals to meet with them to negotiate in good faith, and in a timely manner, about compensation. In fact, the Team even went so far as to file an unfair labor practice, which begins:
In this unfair labor practice charge, the Vermont State Employees' Association ("VSEA") challenges the actions of the Judiciary Department of the State of Vermont ("Judiciary") in failing and refusing to meet at reasonable times and confer in good faith with respect to wages and other compensation, and by further engaging in surface bargaining by delaying substantive negotiations over compensation, refusing to consider or respond to proposals relating to compensation, and by otherwise refusing to engage in good faith negotiations with the intent of reaching an agreement over compensation, all with an intent of imposing terms negotiated by the Executive Branch, all in violation of 3 VSA §§1026(5) and 1036(e).
ULP aside, the Judiciary Team and the Court Administrator have now agreed to contract mediation, and this new phase of the negotiating process with a neutral, third-party will begin soon.
|
|
Vermont Closing Woodside While New Hampshire Plans For New, 30-Bed Youth Facility. Calls Needed!
|
|
WCAX reported this week on DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz discussing what will happen to Vermont's at-risk youth if and when the Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center is closed. If it sounds a lot like the rhetoric we all heard when Vermont's mental health system was "reorganized," you're correct.
"We have an existing array of community providers to put forward a proposal to say, if we get a few more resources, we can meet that need within our existing programs," Schatz says, adding that "the state plans to subcontract the work to a company or organization to house the state's most violent offenders in a decentralized way." Right now, for the small number of youth who are tried as adults, DCF sends them to the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland, which drew the ire of VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard.
"You think about what message that sends to a young child being driven up to a correctional facility," Howard tells WCAX. "It says the people of Vermont have given up on you." He adds that the State should instead invest in a new $4 million, 16-bed, half-secure and half-therapeutic facility; a proposal being floated at the State House by VSEA. Another option would be a $2 million, 10-bed secure facility, where youth can calm down after a violent incident. Schatz' response is that there is no need to build anything.
Call Your Lawmakers!
VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard is asking all VSEA members, retirees and supporters to call your local lawmakers with the following message:
The Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility is in the 99 percentile nationally for the quality of care provided to Vermont youth, according to the Department of Justice.
If you’re there for more than 90 days, testing shows the youth increase their educational achievement by 1.5 levels.
Tell your legislators not to abandon these kids. No to privatizing Woodside!
Leave a message with the Sergeant at Arms: 828-2228
Meanwhile In New Hampshire
While Vermont contemplates shuttering its sole facility to treat at-risk youth, New Hampshire is preparing to open a new, 30-bed treatment facility for at-risk youth.
From a 1/28 NHPR Story
The state is seeking feedback from parents and community partners on its tentative plan to open a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) for youth in a recently closed wing of the Sununu Youth Services Center.
Until December, the 30-bed wing was operated by the organization Granite Pathways to treat teens with substance use disorder, but the state canceled its contract after a series of non-fatal overdoses there.
“We want to make sure that our system has capacity to meet the needs of all kids in New Hampshire," Joseph Ribsam, the director of the Division of Children, Youth and Families said. "We don’t want to have to send kids halfway across the country to get their needs met."
Note: Wow... Talk about your night and day.
|
|
|
Blogger's 2019 Commentary On Vermont's Failed Reorganization Of Its Mental Health System Exposes Holes In Relying Heavily On Community-Based Care
|
|
The following excerpt is from a December 2019 post to VPOObserver, titled Let's Not Fix the Mental Health System and Say We Did
The [Department of Mental Health's 10-year] report focuses on linking treatment of mental and physical illness, “eliminating stigma around mental health and expanding community-based treatment programs.” That’s nice. But meanwhile, people with profound mental illnesses continue to be stuck in hospital emergency rooms in greater numbers and for longer periods.
That has nothing to do with “stigma” or “community-based treatment programs.” It has everything to do with Vermont’s lack of capacity to treat our severely mentally ill. That’s been a problem since Irene damaged the state hospital at Waterbury.
In the wake of Irene, the Shumlin administration ignored the advice of its own mental health care leaders and, instead of replacing the lost beds in Waterbury, chose to add substantially fewer beds while promising to strengthen “community-based” mental health care services.
Which (a) it failed to do, and (b) ignored the fact that while better community-based services would help a lot of folks, it would do nothing to address the needs of those whose illnesses are already beyond the scope of community-based solutions.
So here we are, eight years after Irene and rebooting the same approach that didn’t work before. Not to mention the same approach to financing that didn’t work before.
Note: DCF Commissioner Schatz and the State are committed to community-based care for a majority of the youth population that would have gone to Woodside.
|
|
VSEA Website Undergoing Maintenance
|
|
More than a decade after VSEA's website first came online, the site is currently undergoing long-overdue maintenance and changing its look in the process. While VSEA's website is being brought into the 21st century, it will still be accessible to members to find contact information, contracts, etc., however, VSEA members will not be able to register for new accounts.
"VSEA's Communications Department understands this maintenance will be a temporary inconvenience for some members, but the upgrades and fixes really need to happen, and, honestly, we couldn't wait any longer," explains VSEA Communications Department Director Doug Gibson. "We appreciate members' and retirees' patience while this work is completed, and we look forward to rolling out a new and improved website very soon."
While maintenance is being performed, members and retirees experiencing issues with the VSEA website should contact the VSEA Communications Department.
|
|
Your Chance To Voice Your Opinion About State's Budget Proposal
|
|
|
The Vermont House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are seeking public input on the State’s recommended FY 2021 State Budget and will hold community-based public hearings on Monday, February 10, 2020, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the following locations:
- Barre City: Downstreet Housing and Community Development, 22 Keith Ave, Suite 100
- Morrisville: People’s Academy High School, Auditorium, top of Copley Avenue
- Rutland City: Rutland Public Schools, Longfellow School Building, Board Room
- St. Johnsbury: St. Johnsbury House, main dining room, 1207 Main St.
- St. Albans City: St. Albans City School, Library, 29 Bellows Street
- Winooski: Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC), 10 East Allen Street (follow the signs when entering the building)
- Springfield: Springfield Town Hall, 96 Main Street, 3rd floor Conference Room (Selectmen’s Hall) [5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.]
The Committees will take testimony on the Governor’s recommended State budget at the above date and times. Anyone interested in testifying should come to one of the hearings. Time limits on testimony may apply depending on the volume of participants. If you have a story you would like to share privately with the committee members, please contact Theresa to schedule this at the end of one of the hearings.
To view the proposed budget go to the Department of Finance and Management’s website.
For more information about the format of these events, contact Theresa Utton-Jerman or Rebecca Buck at tutton@leg.state.vt.us or rbuck@leg.state.vt.us, or call 802-828-5767 or toll-free within Vermont at 1-800-322-5616. Written testimony can be submitted electronically to Theresa or Rebecca through e-mail or mailed to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, 115 State Street, Montpelier, VT, 05633.
Requests for interpreters were due by Monday, January 27, 2020.
|
|
Senate Committee Begins Deliberations On VSEA "Defensive Weapon" Bill
|
|
|
VSEA member and Probation and Parole Officer Mike Arace (at microphone) and some of his colleagues traveled from Brattleboro to Montpelier in 2017 to testify to the Senate Corrections Committee about why they want to be allowed to carry a firearm while on the job—but only after completing extensive training and being certified as a law enforcement officer.
|
|
|
Since 2017, VSEA Probation and Parole members have been traveling to Montpelier annually to testify in various committees about why they are lobbying for passage of legislation that would allow them to carry a weapon if they choose. Last Friday, a new round of deliberation on S. 289 (the defensive weapon bill) began in the Senate Institutions Committee, and VTDigger published a story, containing the following:
"Probation and parole officers would not be required to carry firearms under the legislation. The bill would permit those who want to carry firearms while on duty to do so after completing a course at the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council."
“As people mull it over and think about the ramifications,” explains VSEA Lobbyist Vince Illuzzi, “they are beginning to understand that there is a need out there for allowing our probation and parole officers to really be able to defend themselves.”
Note: WIA will continue to update readers on this bill's progression.
|
|
Union Rep's Veterans' Home Meetings Set
|
|
VSEA Union Representative Rachael Fields asked WIA to let members there know about two upcoming chances to meet with her to discuss ongoing and new facility needs and issues.
The shift meetings are:
- February 11 - 4:30 p.m.
- February 12 - 6:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
VVH members can email thoughts and questions to Rachael in advance of these meetings at rfields@vsea.org
|
|
March 31 Is The Deadline To Submit Bylaw Changes
|
|
The deadline to submit proposals for changes to VSEA’s Master Bylaws is Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Proposals must be mailed to: Tim Belcher, General Counsel, c/o VSEA Headquarters, 155 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Proposals should reference the number, section, sub-section, etc. of the bylaw you would like to change. You should also include the language you want to add, delete or substitute. Also include the reason(s) you are making this proposal. Example: “Bylaw 0 A (1) (b) Change: Monday to Sunday. Reason: Makes it easier to work with the calendar.”
Please be sure the changes you are recommending include all Articles and/or Bylaws that may be affected by the proposed change.
If you have questions, please contact Tim by email at tbelcher@vsea.org.
|
|
VSEA Winter Membership Drive Underway!
|
|
|
A reminder that VSEA's Winter Membership Drive is in progress, but you still have a little more than a month to participate. Never forget that ongoing recruitment is vital to the strength of your union!
And there's rewards in addition to you helping to grow your union, including:
- Members who recruit TWO members will receive a VSEA insulated travel mug;
- Members who recruit FIVE new members will receive a dues holiday for a month; and
- Members who recruit TEN new members will receive a check for $50!
Bonus! Every time you recruit a new member now through February 28, your name is entered into a drawing. Four names will be pulled at random, and each winner will receive a check for $100!
Learn More About VSEA's Winter Membership Drive Here!
|
|
VSEA Legislative Dinner Series Continues Next Week
|
|
VSEA Members' Chance To Meet Face-To-Face With Key Decision Makers Outside
The Dome
|
|
|
Photo from a recent VSEA Legislative Committee-sponsored issue-dinner meeting, where VSEA members and retirees educated lawmakers in attendance about staffing issues across state government. VSEA Legislative Committee Chair Margaret Crowley is addressing the group.
|
|
Legislative Dinners Resume!
Barring any future snowstorms or scheduling conflicts, the VSEA Legislative Committee's issue-themed, dinner reception series will pick up again next week.
Upcoming dinner dates are:
|
|
Both receptions are being held at VSEA HQ (155 State Street, Montpelier, VT) starting at 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be provided.
RSVP here today for the February 6 or 13 dinner meetings
|
|
Quote Of
The Week!
"We don’t want to have to send kids halfway across the country to get their needs met."
Joseph Ribsam, the director of New Hampshire's Division of Children, Youth and Families, explaining this week to NHPR why the state is investing in a new, 30-bed facility to treat at-risk youth. Meanwhile, Vermont wants to close Woodside.
|
|
|
VPCH Chapter
Monday, February 3
12:00 p.m.
Education and Training Room A
350 Fisher Road
Berlin
For more information please feel free to contact Chapter President Jason Rushlow, JDaBear@yahoo.com
|
|
DMV - South Burlington
Tuesday, February 4
11:30 a.m.
Break Room
4 Market Street
South Burlington
For more information please feel free to contact VSEA Organizer David Oppenheimer, doppenheimer@vsea.org
|
|
U.S. House Set To Pass
Pro-Worker Legislation Next Week
|
|
The Washington Post reports this week that "one of the most significant bills to strengthen workers’ abilities to organize in the past 80 years is headed to a vote next week in the House, where it will probably pass."
From the story:
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act would amend some of the country’s decades-old labor laws to give workers more power during disputes at work, add penalties for companies that violate labor law, and grant potentially hundreds of thousands of workers collective-bargaining rights they don’t currently have. It would also weaken “right-to-work” laws in 27 states that allow employees to forgo participating in and paying dues to unions.
Although the bill is unlikely to be taken up by the Senate, it comes amid a growing conversation about workers’ rights.
|
|
America's First Labor Strike Was By Maine Fishermen
|
|
|
The Bangor Daily News reports that Maine lawmakers and historians are taking steps to honor six fisherman, who walked off the job in 1636, in what the paper labels America's first strike.
From the article:
The first organized labor strike over working conditions and wages in the history of what would become the United States happened in Maine in 1636. Toiling in brutal conditions, with their pay withheld for more than a year, six fishermen walked off the job and never came back. Now, 384 years later, unions, lawmakers and historians want to commemorate the event.
“The story of the fishermen strike shows us that Maine workers have resisted and fought back against unfair treatment since before Maine was even a state,” said Andy O’Brien, communications director for the Maine AFL-CIO. “At a time of record wealth and income inequality, we need to keep telling these stories to inspire a new generation of Maine workers.”
|
|
|
|
February 3
VPCH Chapter Meeting
Education and Training Room A
350 Fisher Road
Berlin
12:00 p.m.
February 4
Board Of Trustees Meeting
VSEA HQ
155 State Street
Montpelier
9:00 a.m.
February 4
Worksite Meeting - S. Burlington DMV
Break Room
4 Market Street
South Burlington
11:30 a.m.
February 5
L / M Committee Meeting - NSCF
Superintendent's Office
2559 Glen Road
Newport
10:00 a.m.
February 6
Legislative Dinner - Pensions
VSEA HQ
155 State Street
Montpelier
5:30 p.m.
|
|
|
Thank you for reading Week In Action!
|
|
|
New Enrollment Period For VSEA Vision Insurance Program Begins February 1!
|
|
|
February 1, 2020, is the day VSEA members who haven't already can begin enrolling in your union’s popular vision-care program.
More information about the vision benefit being offered is being emailed to members soon. It will also be posted here, once available, and WIA will include a notice.
|
|
Reminder: You Can & Should Report Building-Related Safety & Health
Incidents
|
|
|
|
Over the years, VSEA members in various state offices across Vermont have probably lived through, seen or heard about a building-related safety and health incident that sickened state workers or caused a state building to be investigated, or worse, vacated. If you have a safety and health issue where you work, VSEA is reminding about the State's "Building Related Incident Notification" (BRIN) reporting system and is urging members to use it. All BRIN forms submitted go directly to Buildings and General Services (BGS).
To aid you, VSEA has produced a BRIN process explanation flyer to print out for your own reference, share with your colleagues or post on your VSEA-designated bulletin board.
VSEA BRIN Process Explanation Flyer
Important BRIN Links
|
|
|
New VSEA Steward Training Dates Posted!
|
|
|
VSEA Field Services Director Gretchen Naylor asked WIA to include an announcement about new training dates for VSEA Stewards:
Judiciary Steward Training
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Montpelier -VSEA
155 State Street
Colleges' Steward Training
Thursday, March 26, 2020
8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Montpelier -VSEA
155 State Street
Friday, July 17
8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Rutland -Holiday Inn
476 Holiday Drive
Thursday, September 24
8:30 -3:00 p.m.
Montpelier -VSEA
155 State Street
Wednesday, December 9
8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
870 Williston Road, South Burlington
Friday, March 5, 2021
8:30 -3:00 p.m.
Montpelier -VSEA
155 State Street
*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.
Please RSVP to VSEA Administrative Assistant Sue DeVoid at: sdevoid@vsea.org or call 802-223-5247.
|
|
VSEA Legislative Team Now Posting
Updates Online
|
|
|
|
VSEA's legislative team at the State House has begun to email and post updates from the State House.
Latest: January 16 Legislative Update
Interested VSEA members can find more information about the 2020 legislative session by visiting VSEA's 2020 Session Online Hub. Here you will find a collection of resources, reports and tools to help VSEA members navigate the Vermont Legislative Session, including:
- 2020 Legislative Session Reports;
- 2020 Legislative Session Agenda;
- Find/Contact Your Legislator;
- Virtual Vermont State House Tour;
- Become A VTPAC Member; and
- VSEA Legislative Committee Profile.
The hub will be updated with new information as it becomes available.
|
|
|
2020 VSEA Scholarship Application Available Now!
|
|
|
|
The VSEA Awards/ Scholarship Committee is currently soliciting applications from students seeking financial assistance in the pursuit of post-secondary educational goals.
The Committee will announce the recipients of the scholarships at the June Council Meeting.
View/download the 2020 VSEA Scholarship Application.
Deadline: 4:30 p.m. on May 8, 2020
Note: Depending on your settings, the link above will open a PDF in your web browser or download the PDF to your computer or device. If you have any questions please email vsea@vsea.org.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Here's a reminder of what the Non-Management Unit contract language says in Article 29, section 16, about cold and hot offices:
16. AIR QUALITY AND TEMPERATURE
The State will respond promptly to complaints about air quality in existing State owned and leased buildings including air testing when appropriate. The State will consider reasonable corrective measures when indoor workplace temperatures are less than sixty-five (65) degrees or more than eighty-five (85) degrees. Air quality standards for newly-constructed or newly-leased buildings shall be subject for consideration/recommendation by the Safety and Health Maintenance Committee.
Note: If excused from work because it's too cold or hot, employees will have to use their own leave, unless management approves employees leaving without using their own leave. If your building is closed outright, constituting an "emergency closure," Article 44 of the contract kicks in.
|
|
|
Bolton Valley Again Offering Discounted Ski & Ride Passes To VSEA Members!
|
|
|
|
WIA was asked by Bolton Valley Group Sales Manager, Eric Davis, to include the following in this week's newsletter:
|
|
Buy next year’s season pass now and:
- Get the lowest price of the year AND...
- Ski & Ride the rest of this season FREE!!! That’s right, if you buy next year’s pass now, you can join us for the rest of this season on next season’s pass!
|
|
Please contact me with any questions.
Eric Davis
Group Sales Manager
edavis@boltonvalley.com
|
|
|
State Employees Who Are Threatened On The Job Should File "eAlert" Form
|
|
|
We are reminding members that there is an online form to fill out if you are threatened while at work.
Find The State’s “eAlert” Homepage Here
Important: Once you land on the eAlert page, you will see an entry labeled “threat” in the menu provided. Click on it and you land on a page with written instructions and fields to complete.
In November 2017, the current Secretary of the Administration sent the State’s “Workplace Safety and Security” policy to state employees, and VSEA members are encouraged to read through the different policies, examples and responses, prior to an actual event occurring.
|
|
|
Told You're Being Investigated? Watch This Video!
|
|
|
|
Please take a few minutes on a break to watch the video, and know that the information being relayed could very well save your job someday. Remember, as a VSEA member, you are entitled to no-cost representation in investigatory meetings that may lead to discipline. Non-members, however, must now pay a rate of $250 to $350 per-hour for the same level of representation!
More: Know Your Union Rights
Not currently a VSEA member?
You can sign up online.
|
|
|
What You Should Know About The Anti-Worker Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court Ruling
|
|
|
|
If you haven’t already, begin educating yourself today about what the Janus decision means—or supplement what you know already. Please also inform your co-workers about this Janus page and talk with them about what you learned and remind them of the importance of a union in their everyday life. You could make a difference. Every study shows that nothing is more effective than member-to-member communication.
Learn More On VSEA.org
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
What is the VSEA Advantage Program?
|
|
|
Did you know?
The average VSEA member can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking advantage of some of the Members Only benefits offered through their union!
GET EXCLUSIVE OFFERS, DISCOUNTS & MORE
It’s free, just for being a Vermont State Employees’ Association PerksConnect member!
Learn More!
Questions? Feel free to email
vsea@ vsea.org
|
|
|
Need To Update Your Contact Information
With VSEA?
|
|
|
|
|
