Board Meets To Review Pension Survey Responses
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Issues Statement Opposing Treasurer's Recommendations
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The VSEA Board of Trustees met this week to review the results of a recent survey to gauge how a majority of members feel about a proposal from the State Treasurer to change how the state employee pension plan is funded. Judging by the results, it's clear that VSEA members have some very serious reservations about the Treasurer's proposal, with many voicing outright rejection.
The Board surveyed members about proposal 4 of Treasurer Pearce's recommendations to lawmakers, and here's how members responded:
Would you support VSEA endorsing this recommendation?
Yes- 463
No - 1,179
Are you able to support the COLA threshold of $24k, securing a COLA for all members?
Yes - 885
No - 757
Are you able to support the AFC addition of 2 years?
Yes - 678
No - 964
Are you able to support the rule of 90?
Yes - 585
No - 1,057
Are you able to support the contribution increase of .35%?
Yes - 1,028
No - 614
After debating the survey results and hearing from each other, Board members voted to adopt the following statement in response to the Treasurer's proposal:
"VSEA opposes the Treasurer's recommended cuts, but is willing to work with the legislature to find a fair and equitable solution."
The VSEA Board voted to reconvene soon to talk about next steps, which most certainly will include a call to members and retirees to lobby their legislators, who will ultimately determine what happens with the state employee and teacher pension funds, if anything.
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Pension Follow-Up Zoom Meetings Scheduled
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The VSEA Board of Trustees' met Wednesday evening to review the responses to a recent pension survey, Subsequently, VSEA leaders decided to host a series of follow-up "Protect Our Pensions" Zoom meetings to talk with interested members about what happened at the Board meeting and how members can help moving forward.
VSEA members and retirees are invited to join one of the following Zoom meetings, which are expected to last for an hour. Each link below contains the Zoom information you will need to join.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact VSEA Organizer Giovanna Zaccaria by email at GZaccaria@vsea.org.
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VSEA President Talks Pensions On VPR's Vermont Edition
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Monday's VPR Vermont Edition was entirely dedicated to a discussion about state employee and teacher pensions. VSEA President Aimee Towne provided a number of reasons for VSEA members to take issue with the State Treasurer's pension proposals, and State Treasurer Pearce also offered her spin to the audience. Two representative(s) of the VtNEA also provided taped comments, opposing any changes to their plan.
Listen To Show
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Join VSEA's Private Facebook Group Dedicated To Pension Discussion
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VSEA recently launched a new Facebook group for members-in-good-standing to join to see the latest posts from VSEA members statewide and VSEA headquarters on the issue of the state employee pension plan and the Treasurer’s proposed plan. It’s a hub for eligible VSEA members and retirees to go to learn what’s going on or to share what you know–and how you feel–about any and all developments.
The page is now live and VSEA members and retirees in good standing are invited to join today. Join on Facebook here!
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Pension Background
Information
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Because of recent changes to actuarial projections, the valuation of the unfunded portion of the fund has increased dramatically. As a result, the Retirement Board directed Treasurer Beth Pearce to recommend changes to the legislature, targeted at reductions in the retirement system’s unfunded liability. More information about the proposed changes to your pension fund can be found here.
Read VSEA's addendum to the Treasurer's report.
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Karen Marchant Appointed Board Of Trustees' Clerk
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The VSEA Board of Trustees met Tuesday and appointed Corrections Unit member Karen Marchant to be the body's new Clerk. Marchant is an Administrative Assistant, working at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport.
"It is my pleasure to be appointed to Clerk on the BOT," says Marchant. "It is my sincere goal as a Board Member to operate as a cohesive member of the team, to actively engage the membership, and to provide support to affect positive change toward the best possible outcomes in the best interest of the entire membership through hard work, transparency, and action."
Marchant had a baptism by fire, serving in her new role less than a day before clerking her first meeting on Wednesday.
Note: Congratulations Karen!
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VSEA Members Encouraged To Participate In Monday's State Budget Forums
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VSEA members and retirees who are able to are encouraged to sign up today for a time slot to participate in Monday night's state budget forum. Unfortunately, all the afternoon time slots are already filled (hopefully with VSEA members and retirees!)
Sign Up For An Evening Time Slot
Some key points to raise with lawmakers include:
- Support a fully funded Pay Act;
- Support funding for the state employee pension plan; and
- Support increased funding for the Vermont State Colleges.
Thanks in advance for the help. If you need some help drafting your comment(s), email VSEA Strategic Analyst Adam Norton (anorton@vsea.org), and he'll try to assist you.
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Horrible Assault Of DCF Member Angers & Upsets VSEA Woodside Workers & Their Union
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VSEA and its members working at Woodside valiantly fought for more than a year to keep the facility open and operating to serve Vermont's most vulnerable youth, but, in the end, the State and lawmakers decided to privatize Woodside; a choice that blew up in their faces this week after a VSEA DCF member was assaulted by a youth in her charge. To say the transition of Woodside's youth services to a private entity has been rocky is an understatement according to many of the displaced Woodside workers.
In VTDigger's story about this terrible assault, VSEA Executive Director Steve Howard rightfully blasts the decision to take this service away from experienced state employees, explaining what's it's been like for Woodside employees as they continue to assist with caring for the youth in their supervision during the transition.
"The assault last month was not the first dangerous situation state social workers had been exposed to when proper placements for youth could not be found in a timely manner," says Howard. “We have had some social workers who reported literally having no place to go and having kids sit in the back seats of their car overnight."
Note: More than one member who commented this week on this story when it posted to VSEA's Facebook page reminded of the Lara Sobel tragedy and correctly asked again if the State is doing enough to protect frontline social workers and other DCF workers; a question that State officials and lawmaker need to answer yesterday.
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VTDigger Drills Down On Worker Complaints At Vermont Vets Home
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VTDigger follows up on a letter VSEA sent last week to VDH Commissioner Mark Levine, listing worker complaints.
Read VSEA's Letter
From the VTDigger story:
[Employees] claim that [VVH Administrator Melissa] Jackson often yells at workers during meetings and once asked an employee, “What, were you hit with a stupid stick?”
The employees’ presentation also said they lack confidence in Patricia Crossman, director of nursing. It includes comments from workers who say Crossman has intimidated and harassed them. Employees are afraid to come forward with concerns, it says, which affects the veterans in their care.
“When staff are afraid to come forward to advocate,” the presentation reads, “it’s not just for themselves, but it also stops them from advocating for veterans and members, safety issues and best practices.”
If nothing is done to address the concerns, employees predict that staff will “continue to leave the VVH at a high rate.”
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VSEA Members Talk Safety & Security At First 2021 VSEA Legislative Dinner
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Meetings Continue Next Week
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VSEA's Legislative Committee hosted the first of four 2021 VSEA legislative dinners on Thursday evening, and the topic was state employee safety and security. More than 30 members joined the online meeting; a majority of whom were DCF members who voiced a lot of serious safety and security concerns to the lawmakers in attendance. Many cited this week's terrible news about the recent horrific assault of a DCF social worker by a Vermont youth under her supervision as a tragic reminder of why DCF management and lawmakers have to make this issue a priority.
This year, due to the pandemic, the "dinners," which are where members and retirees educate lawmakers about specific issues, are being conducted online with lawmakers, via Zoom.
All meetings are from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Here is this year's remaining meeting schedule:
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VSEA 101 Trainings: Where Non-Members & Members Can Learn More About VSEA
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VSEA is hosting a series of special Zoom meetings to introduce VSEA non-members to their union and provide non-members the opportunity to ask any questions they may have. Current full-fledged VSEA members are also invited to participate to learn more about how the union functions.
All meetings will contain the same information – we are just offering multiple opportunities to participate. Select the date you would like to join below to access the Zoom meeting link for that day.
All Tuesday meetings: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
All Wednesday meetings: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
All Friday meetings: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
VSEA hopes our non-members will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about your union, and ultimately join with thousands of your state employee colleagues to fight the good fight for fair wages and benefits, retirement security, and dignity and respect in the workplace.
Note: Current full-fledged VSEA members who refer a non-member to one of the scheduled meetings will have their name entered into a lottery for a chance to earn a special prize from the VSEA. Simply ask the non-member you referred to mention your name during the presentation.
Please contact VSEA Organizer Giovanna Zaccaria with any questions. She can be reached by phone at 802-262-1311, or email at gzaccaria@vsea.org.
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Make Your Valentines Day Union-Made
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It’s Time To Enroll In Your VSP Vision Benefit!
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Now is the time to enroll for the first time or to make changes to your existing account.
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Latest Office of State Safety & Security Bulletin
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Note: Because employee safety and security is so important, WIA is sharing these periodic bulletins from the Vermont Office of State Safety and Security
Are you a new Safety Warden or Emergency Coordinating Manager? Or maybe you're a seasoned Safety Warden and want to go through the training again to keep your understanding up to date. Join us for ECM / SW Training - February 9 at 12:00 pm.
Participants will gain an
- Understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the ECM and SW including actions to take during a fire, medical, or criminal emergency.
- Understanding of an Emergency Chain of Command within your building.
- Understanding of communication techniques between a building’s ECM and the SWs.
- Understanding of the basic operation of a fire extinguisher.
Follow the link above to register on the LMS/CAPS. These trainings will be Live Teams Events and the link to join will be sent to all registrants the day before.
For more information, contact Kristen LaJeunesse at 802-272-3438 or kristen.lajeunesse@vermont.gov
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White River Junction Chapter Meeting & Special Election
Tuesday, February 23
5:30 p.m.
Via Zoom
More Information
Question(s):
David Oppenheimer
doppenheimer@vsea.org
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Worksite Meeting Notices:
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Vermont Veterans' Home
Tuesday, February 9
Via Zoom
Question(s) or to request the Zoom information:
Rachael Fileds
rfields@vsea.org
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Department of Health
Wednesday, February 10
12:00 p.m.
Via Zoom
Question(s) or to request the Zoom information:
Rachael Fileds
rfields@vsea.org
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Quote Of The Week!
"VSEA opposes the Treasurer's recommended cuts, but is willing to work with the legislature to find a fair and equitable solution.”
Statement issued by the VSEA Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening, after meeting to review the results of a survey about recommendations the Treasurer is floating to shore up the state employee pension fund.
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Non-VSEA specific stories that may be of interest to VSEA members.
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VT AFT Organizes Planned Parenthood Of Vermont Staff
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The Vermont American Federation of Teachers (AFT) issued a press release this week about staff at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) voting 60 to 5 this week to form a union and join AFT Vermont. The workers will soon come to the table as negotiating equals with PPNNE's administration, where the two sides will begin bargaining wages, benefits, and working conditions.
“We are excited about our election victory and look forward to democratically deciding on our proposals and sitting down with management to negotiate a fair contract,” states Dana Keyes-Gibbons, a Health Care Associate and member of the union organizing committee. “We believe that through our union we will strengthen PPNNE for ourselves, our patients, our volunteers and the communities we serve.”
According to Deb Snell, President of AFT Vermont, “As the fastest growing union in Vermont, we welcome our colleagues at PPNNE joining with us to improve their work lives and their communities.”
PPNNE staff have already begun preparing for negotiations and hope to sit down with management in the coming weeks to bargain a fair agreement.
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National Unions Urge Passage Of PRO ACT
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The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act protects a person's basic right to join a union by:
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Introducing meaningful, enforceable penalties for companies and executives that violate workers’ rights;
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Expanding workers’ collective bargaining rights and closing loopholes that corporations use to exploit workers; and
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Strengthening workers’ access to fair union elections and requiring corporations to respect the results.
PRO ACT Fact Sheet
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Overview Of Governor Scott’s FY22 Budget Proposal
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The Governor delivered his 2022 budget address on January 26, and here are some of the items he touched on that are important to VSEA members. Read VSEA's comprehensive report about the budget address on VSEA.org.
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VSEA Creates Q&A About State Employees Possibly Moving To OneCare
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In response to a slew of VSEA member and retiree questions about a recent report that state employees could be moved into OneCare Vermont, members of VSEA's Benefits Advisory Committee have produced a Q&A to hopefully address many of the questions and concerns.
VSEA BAC's OneCare Q&A
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VSEA Retirement Security Fact Sheet
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Did you know? Defined benefit plans are safer and more reliable for Vermont's retirees & are cheaper for taxpayers than risky, Wall Street 401(k)-style plans. Learn more about the differences between defined benefit pension plans and defined contribution pension plans (a.k.a. 401K) here.
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2021 Council Meeting Dates
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VSEA First Vice President Margaret Crowley has scheduled this year's VSEA Council meetings for the following dates:
- Wednesday, March 10
(Lobby Day);
- Friday, June 11; and
- Friday, September 10 (the Friday before Annual Meeting)
Crowley notes that the March and June meetings are scheduled to be held by Zoom. The September meeting venue will be determined by the status of the pandemic and the guidance of the Vermont Department of Health.
Are You A VSEA Council Member? Join the VSEA Council Facebook group here!
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2021 VSEA Scholarship Application Available Now!
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The VSEA Awards/Scholarships 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.
Deadline: 4:30 p.m. on May 7, 2021
Learn more or view/download the 2021 VSEA Scholarship Application
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AFLAC Insurance Enrollment: Sign Up
Through VSEA!
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VSEA Benefits Administrator, Joanne Woodcock, sent an email recently outlining ALFAC insurance benefits available to VSEA members. If you did not receive the email or if you would like to see it again, you can view it online here.
If you have any questions or if you'd like to schedule an appointment please contact Joanne Woodcock, VSEA Benefits Administrator, 888-510-4467 or Joanne@vseainsurance.com
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Download Your Contract On VSEA.org!
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The current contracts for the Executive Branch Units, Defender General Unit, Housing Authority Unit, State’s Attorneys’ Office Unit, and Judiciary Unit are posted online to VSEA.org.
View/Download Your Contract
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Thank you for reading Week In Action!
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Told You're Being Investigated? Watch This Video!
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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
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Getting Ready To Retire? Retired Already? Join The VSEA Retired Members’ Chapter!
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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
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VSEA Advantage Discount Program
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Did you know the average VSEA member can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking advantage of some of the Member-Only benefits offered through your union?
Learn more about the VSEA Advantage Discount Program
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Need To Update Your Contact Information
With VSEA?
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