VSEA
Co-Sponsoring May Day Worker Solidarity Rally & Milk With Dignity Action
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Join a coalition of labor, community, and environmental organizations as we rally on May Day in solidarity with Vermont Workers!
We are standing with farmworkers, essential workers, teachers, state employees, and ALL Vermont workers to protect workers' rights and public pensions and to call for a jobs guarantee and healthcare for all.
Learn More Here!
Facebook Event Page
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The Time Argus featured a photo this week of AOT members Tristan Joy, left, of Calais, and Caleb Cerutti, of Woodbury, picking up litter along Rt. 14 in East Montpelier. Tomorrow is Green Up Day across Vermont!
Green-Up Day 2021 Information
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VSEA Brattleboro Chapter President Encourages VSEA Members To Clean Up Vermont
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The VSEA Brattleboro Chapter is encouraging members to join in on Green Up Day on Saturday, May 1st!
Green Up Day, by nature, is an activity of social distancing as citizens of all ages get outside and clean up miles of Vermont roads. It is a sense of commitment to where we live and each other, it is about healthy surroundings, and it is about connecting our communities with a goal for common greatness. It is the largest statewide volunteer event in Vermont with over 22,500 taking part, and the longest-running statewide Green Up Day in the United States.
We also want to thank our AOT employees for all their work cleaning our roadways year-round!
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VSEA Sends Notice About Upcoming Board Of Trustee Elections
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VSEA emailed members this week about upcoming Board of Trustees elections. In case you missed the email, here are the states up for election in 2021:
- Judiciary Unit Trustee;
- Non-Management Unit Trustee;
- District 3 Trustee (Newport / Island Pond, Lamoille, Northeast Kingdom, St. Johnsbury); and
- District 6 Trustee (Brattleboro, Springfield, White River Junction).
Petitions are due back to VSEA HQ by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 1.
VSEA is now accepting petitions for the Board of Trustee positions listed above. A few things to remember:
- To be eligible to run for the Judiciary or Non-Management Unit Trustee seats, you must belong to the Unit and be a member in good standing;
- To be eligible to run for the District 3 Trustee position you must reside in, or have an assigned workstation in the Newport / Island Pond, Lamoille, Northeast Kingdom, or St. Johnsbury Chapter Districts;
- To be eligible to run for the District 6 Trustee position you must reside in, or have an assigned workstation in the Brattleboro, Springfield, or White River Junction Chapter Districts;
- Any members interested in running for election are required to submit a petition bearing no fewer than 25* VSEA members’ names, signatures, and employee numbers by the June 1 deadline.
*Candidates are encouraged to obtain more than 25 members’ signatures to ensure compliance with the eligibility requirements.
If you like to place your name into nomination for this seat, there are two ways to do so:
- Submit a paper petition (linked below) with 25 signatures to VSEA HQ; or
- Submit electronically: It's a two-step process that begins by you filling out this self-nomination online form followed by you soliciting 25 members to complete this online petition, providing your name, their name, their EE numbers, and a short statement of support for your name on the ballot.
Please note that non-VSEA member signatures are not valid on your petition. You can recruit non-members to become full-fledged members online.
If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to email vsea@vsea.org or call 802-223-5247.
View/Download a PDF Petition:
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Anti-Union Forces Are Back, But Here Are The Facts...
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VSEA is aware that well-funded, corporate, anti-union forces from outside Vermont are again sending emails to VSEA members to promote the group's anti-union, anti-worker agenda. Each time this group tries to peddle its propaganda here in Vermont, VSEA reminds members that there are so many good reasons for VSEA members to ignore this email.
Here are some reminders:
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VSEA Remembers: International Workers Memorial Day 2021
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VSEA joined with labor unions worldwide on Wednesday, April 28, to remember workers who have died on the job on International Workers Memorial Day.
This year's commemoration is especially solemn, as we remember the thousands of frontline public workers who have tragically died providing critical COVID-19 health services to Americans or while directly monitoring or working with at-risk populations.
VSEA remembers these workers and all before them who made the ultimate sacrifice while doing their job, or as a result of their job.
VSEA members continue to identify workplace safety and health as a primary issue for their union to forcefully address.
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Corrections Members Mourn Retired Member's Passing
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WIA was asked to let VSEA Corrections members know that longtime DOC employee James "Sarge" Martin has passed away. Sarge, who retired in 2005, worked as a Correctional Officer in several facilities in Vermont, including Windsor, Woodstock, Rutland and Springfield.
Current VSEA member and Community Corrections District Manager David Fitts remembers Martin as "a larger than life personality in the correctional officer world for many years," teaching security techniques and how to manage a correctional unit. "Many of us are glad to have called him a co-worker and friend."
A graveside service for both James and his wife, Caroline will be held at 3:00 p.m. on May 7, 2021 at Mountain View Cemetery in Claremont, NH.
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Upcoming Union Meetings, Events, and Deadlines:
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May Day Worker Solidarity Rally
Saturday, May 1
12:00 p.m.
State House Lawn
Montpelier
Facebook Event Page
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May VSEA Board of Trustees' Meeting
Tuesday, May 4
8:30 a.m.
Zoom Meeting
More Information
Questions? Email VSEA HQ: vsea@vsea.org
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Special VSEA Central Vermont Chapter Meeting w/ Legislators
Wednesday, May 5
12:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
More Information
Questions? Email Central Vermont Chapter President Rose Lucenti, rose.lucenti@gmail.com
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VSEA 2021 Scholarship Deadline
Friday, May 7
4:30 p.m.
More Information
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VSHASF Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 12
12:00 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
More Information
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Quote Of The Week!
"In an economic system that puts too much power in the hands of wealthy corporations and Wall Street, unions give workers a way to band together, wield their full power, and stand on equal footing with management. Unions not only protect the physical wellbeing of workers, but they also protect their financial security; they protect workers’ equity, too, helping ensure that workplaces are free from harassment and discrimination."
Excerpt from a proclamation issued this week by the White House to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day 2021.
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Non-VSEA specific stories that may be of interest to VSEA members.
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NH State Employees Back To Work On May 10
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The Associated Press is reporting that New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has announced that state government employees who have been working from home during the coronavirus pandemic will be back in their offices by May 10.
“All agencies are getting the same message, we’re not picking or choosing certain agencies or divisions or departments,” he said. “We expect to be fully operational and in person, with buildings open to the public, with public access for the business transactions that have to happen one-on-one.”
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National Nurses Union Applauds Fed Action To Address Violence Against Health Care Workers
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The National Nurses Union (NNU) issued a press release this week, welcoming news that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to ensure safe workplaces for nurses, and other health care and essential workers. NNU is calling for quick final approval with the pandemic continuing to surge.
From the NNU release:
“We are grateful to the Biden administration for taking this long-delayed step toward finally promulgating an emergency temporary OSHA standard, in the face of this deadly pandemic that has already killed nearly 600,000 people in America, the most in the world,” said NNU President Zenei Triunfo-Cortez, RN.
The OSHA ETS was mandated by President Biden in an executive order on January 21, 2021 with a deadline of March 15.
“We strongly urge the Biden Administration to ensure there are no further delays, and that the ETS gets formally promulgated before May 12, which marks International Nurses Day, the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. That would be especially fitting given the horrific toll this pandemic has taken on nurses and all health care workers, which is why the ETS is so critically important,” said NNU President Deborah Burger, RN.
As of April 23, at least 3,758 health care workers, including 387 RNs, have died of Covid-19. Since the data has not been collected in many places, the full accounting may never be known.
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Protect Our Pensions! Hub
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Still Time To Apply For A 2021 VSEA Scholarship!
May 7 Deadline!
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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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Its' Open Enrollment Time For VSEA’s Popular Delta Dental Supplemental Plan
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The deadline to enroll in the supplemental dental plan, or amend your current plan, is Friday, May 14, 2021.
If you are currently enrolled in the plan but are not making any changes, you do not have to do anything.
Learn More About VSEA's Delta Dental Benefit
Additional VSEA Insurance Benefits on VSEA.org
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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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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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