Tick Tock… Government Shutdown Looms Larger After New Veto Of Budget Bill

VSEA leaders and Bargaining Unit Team members continue to work with VSEA Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley to schedule meetings with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to discuss what a potential government shutdown on July 1 will look like. Here’s a reminder of the issues that VSEA informed DHR more than a week ago members want to negotiate prior to a shutdown:

• Compensation to be paid to employees after budgetary authority is restored, both for employees who are called to work and for those who are prevented from working;
   
• The designation of employees as essential, including the selection of which employees are selected to work where a worksite operates on a reduced workforce;
   
• Procedures for notifying employees of the commencement or conclusion of the shutdown;
   
• Whether any non-working time is treated as work time for benefits and other rights;
   
• What obligations employees may be under to be available for work during non-work days; and
   
• The treatment of pre-scheduled vacations, employees who are otherwise entitled to use sick leave, and compensation for the July 4 holiday. 

Hoadley has been talking with DHR and it appears there could be a meeting scheduled soon, however, nothing is firmed up yet and still no reply from DHR to even one of VSEA’s want-to-negotiate issues, which is only fueling state employees’ and retirees’ anger and anxiety about a possible shutdown.

Equally frustrating, the State—according to a VTDigger story this morning—is “confident” a budget deal can be reached with lawmakers, so they “have no contingency plan” in place to address a government shutdown.

Confident or not, VSEA members and retirees are urged to keep the pressure on the State to come to a budget agreement or begin to provide VSEA members and retirees with shutdown information TODAY!

VSEA Wants To Know:

What’s A Government Shutdown Mean For You, Your Family, Your Job & Your Service?

The VSEA Board of Trustees is asking members and retirees to let headquarters know what harm one of the following scenarios would cause you, your family, your job & your service:

1. Government shuts down on July 1, and you are told to stay at home, without pay. The State is not paying health care premiums. 
    
2. Government shuts down on July 1, and you are told you are essential and must report for work, but you won’t be paid. The State is not paying health care premiums.
    
3. You’re a VSEA retiree who no longer knows if your next pension check is going to arrive or not. The State is not paying health care premiums. 

VSEA appreciates your responses and will be using them as an additional way to educate State officials and lawmakers about the harm of a shutdown.

You can post your response publicly on VSEA’s Facebook page or you can write an online response and send it discreetly to headquarters. If you wish to remain anonymous, please include that somewhere in your response.

DHR Commissioner Tells VTDigger Department Has Had Zero Discussions About Its Role If Gov’t Shuts Down On July 1

Shortly after VSEA issued a press release last Friday, announcing that a letter from VSEA had been delivered to the Department of Human Resources (DHR), requesting impact bargaining with the State in advance of a possible government shutdown, DHR Commissioner Beth Fastiggi was telling VTDigger that her department has had no discussions about DHR’s “role” in a shutdown.

From the story:

Fastiggi did not provide any specifics about what would happen for state employees’ payment or other details.

Fastiggi noted that a shutdown is unprecedented, and said it is unclear what a shutdown would look like in the state. She said she was “not going to speculate or talk about” what one might look like.

State Treasurer Pens Strongly Worded Letter To State & Chief Lawmakers, Warning Against A Government Shutdown

State Treasurer Beth Pearce stepped up again for Vermonters, penning a letter on June 12 to the State’s highest official and the Senate Pro Tem and House Speaker, strongly urging all parties to prevent a shutdown.

From Pearce’s letter:

"It is imperative we avoid a government shut down. Vermonters are beginning to ask whether the critical public services they rely on are going to be available come July. Public retirees are questioning whether they will still receive the pensions they earned over a lifetime of service. And state employees are requesting guidance on how a shut down will impact their work, their families and their livelihoods."

Read Treasurer Pearce’s Entire Letter

Council Meets
To Discuss Imposed Contract, Possible Shutdown, Janus Lawsuit, Karen O’Neill & Endorsements, To Name A Few Topics

You could feel and hear the strong sense of urgency in the room at the June 12 VSEA Council meeting, as Council members met as a group for the first time since February to discuss a whole host of topics. Here is some of what was discussed:

• The July 1 imposition of the State’s last-best-contract-offer on thousands of active and retired VSEA members and what VSEA is doing in advance to try to prevent it, including legal steps, organizing and communications efforts and member actions. Council members were briefed extensively by VSEA General Counsel Tim Belcher and Labor Relations Director Gary Hoadley;
   
• The Department of Human Resources’ weak response to VSEA’s letter, requesting impact bargaining in advance of a government shutdown, and VSEA’s commitment to continue seeking answers from any and all State officials with knowledge of how this is all going to go down;
   
• The status of Karen O’Neill and her “neutral” VLRB seat appointment and ways VSEA members and retirees can work with lawmakers to improve the process to allow all parties to be on equal footing, meaning labor having as much influence on VLRB appointments as management appears to have now;  
   
• The ramifications of a “bad” Supreme Court ruling in the Janus vs. Illinois lawsuit, and the steps VSEA leaders and staff are taking now to meet the challenge head on, including member education efforts and budget and resource planning; and
   
• A review of the entire list of VSEA 2018 primary election endorsements, allowing Council members to evaluate and weigh-in on the VSEA Legislative Committee and Board’s selections.

In addition to these topics, VSEA Council members also discussed proposed Bylaw changes, Chapter and Unit business and the VSEA Judicial Board, and they heard a wrap-up on the 2018 legislative session (to be amended once session formally adjourns).

VSEA Council members also heard from VSEA President Dave Bellini, Executive Director Steve Howard and Vermont Senate Pro Tem Tim Ashe, who shared his similar frustration with the State’s lack of compromise and lack of answers on many issues, but especially the state budget. He urged VSEA members to turn up the heat on the State in advance of any government shutdown, urging a flood of anti-shutdown calls and emails to the State’s highest official.

Note: VSEA’s Communications Department is applauding VSEA Council members’ use of the group’s closed Facebook group page and the way members are using it to inform, educate and solicit feedback on important union-wide issues.
Well done.

VSEA
Awards 2018 Scholarships To Four Lucky Recipients!

At the June 12 VSEA Council meeting at Northern Vermont University, the union’s Awards and Scholarships Committee announced the four winners of a 2018 VSEA $2000 scholarship award. All the winners attended a special ceremony during the Council meeting, and they are each pictured here receiving their award from longtime Awards & Scholarship Committee member Ed Thomas, who hosted the ceremony.

Here are the winners, in alphabetical order:

• Allen Charest is the son of VSEA member Ellen Sauer; an Administrative Services Technician with the Agency of Transportation in Wilder, Vermont. Allen has been accepted to Western New England University, where he will major in communications;
   
• Kelly Locke is daughter of VSEA member Richard Locke Sr.; a Warehouse Delivery Specialist with the Department of Liquor Control in Montpelier. Kelley has already been accepted to half a dozen colleges and universities, including Northern Vermont University. She will major in psychology.  
   
• Christa Waters is an active VSEA member who currently works for the Department of Vermont Health Access in Essex Junction as a Fair Hearing Specialist. Christa is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix and wants to continue working in Human Services; and
   
• Katherine Whipple is the daughter of VSEA member Heidi Whipple, an Education Programs Coordinator with the Agency of Education in Barre. Katherine is currently enrolled at University of King’s College in Nova Scotia, where she is studying psychology and contemporary studies.

VSEA congratulates all this year’s winners and notes Ed Thomas’ announcement during the ceremony that this year there were more applications submitted then ever before. Ed added that the committee thought one reason for the increase could be more economic need in the VSEA rank and file, which is never a good thing, but he added it could also be better word-of-mouth and promotion about the scholarship program.

VSEA 2018 Primary Election Endorsements Announced

VSEA’s Legislative Committee and Board of Trustees have agreed on dozens of endorsements VSEA will make in the upcoming 2018 primary election in August.

VSEA members and retirees are urged to review the list and educate yourself about the candidates your union has endorsed for their pro-VSEA, pro-worker positions and for their advocacy for state services and the employees who make them work.

VSEA Endorsed Candidates: June, 2018

VSEA Schedules 2018 “Day At Fenway” Event For August 27

“VSEA Day 2018 at Fenway” has been scheduled and the bus will be headed to Fenway Park on Friday night, August 17, to see the Red Sox battle the Tampa Bay Rays, starting at 7:10 p.m. The cost is $80 per person, which includes a bus ride to and from the park, as well as a ticket to the game.

As in years past, the bus will make stops in Waterbury (2:00 p.m.) and White River Junction (3:00 p.m.). ETA at Fenway is 5:30 p.m.

If you and your family would be interested in joining your union and fellow members at Fenway on August 17, 2018, contact VSEA Union Representative Bob South or VSEA Administrative Assistant Sue DeVoid. You can reach Bob by email at bsouth@vsea.org or by phone at 223-5247. You can reach Sue by email at sdevoid@vsea.org or by phone at 223-5247.

Note: Payment must be received before tickets are released, and there is no refund on purchased tickets.

June 20 Fundraiser To Help VSEA
State Colleges’ Member & Her Daughter, Who Lost Everything In Recent
House Fire

Friends of VSEA State Colleges’ member Monique Prive and her daughter Tiffany reached out to WIA to let us know that they are holding a fundraiser for the family on Wednesday, June 20.

Here are the details for members and retirees wanting to attend:

NEK Charity Bingo/
Quarter Auction
Wednesday, June 20
VFW
Eastern Ave.
St. Johnsbury

Doors Open @ 5:00 p.m.
Games Begin @ 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, contact Cindy (802-535-9599) or Rhonda (802-274-8787).

More Photos From VSEA Chapter President’s Recent Food Drive 

Thanks again to all the VSEA Chapters that participated in this very worthwhile drive!

Central Vermont

NEK/ St. Johnsbury Chapter

VSEA Creates One-Stop “Janus” Webpage To Educate Members & Retirees About The Expected Ruling & Its Potential Harm

If you haven’t already, begin educating yourself today about what a bad Janus decision means—or supplement what you know already—by clicking here. Please also inform your co-workers about the Janus page and talk with them about what you learned and remind them of the importance of a union in their every day life. You could make a difference. Every study shows that nothing is more effective than member-to-member communication.

Thanks in advance for visiting VSEA’s Janus webpage to ensure you are an informed union member.
 

• What You Should Know About The Anti-worker Janus Case Before The U.S. Supreme Court
   
• Real Talk About The Pending Changes To Your Union
   
• Benefits of VSEA Union Membership VS Right To Work State (US Supreme Court Case Janus vs. AFSCME) PDF
   
• 5 Things You Should Know About The Anti-worker Janus Case Before The U.S. Supreme Court

Organizer’s Worksite Meetings On June 21 In Montpelier!

VSEA Organizer Carmen Scoles is holding a worksite meeting on June 21 with VSEA members working at the National Life complex in Montpelier. Stop by anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the complex’s Winooski Conference Room. There will be snacks for members attending.

Members with questions can contact Carmen by email (cscoles@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247.  

Help spread the word!
Download, print and distribute this flyer in your worksite! Thanks!

Organizer’s Worksite Meeting On June 21 In Barre!

VSEA Organizer Danielle Warner is holding a meeting on June 21 with VSEA members working at the City Place Building in Barre. The meeting begins at 12:00 p.m. in the City Place’s Third-Floor Conference Room, located in Barre. There will be snacks for members attending.

Members with questions can contact Danielle by email (dwarner@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247.

Organizer’s Worksite Meeting On
June 22 In Montpelier!

VSEA Organizer Carmen Scoles is holding a worksite meeting on June 22 with VSEA members working at the DOL in Montpelier. The meeting begins at 12:00 p.m. in the small UI Conference Room. There will be snacks for members attending.

Members with questions can contact Carmen by email (cscoles@vsea.org) or by phone at 802-223-5247.

Upcoming Steward Training

Workers’ Center Sponsoring “March For Medicaid” Tomorrow,
June 16

The Vermont Workers’ Center is sponsoring a “March for Medicaid” tomorrow in St. Johnsbury and here are the details:

March for Medicaid
Saturday, June 16
United Community Church
1325 Main St.
St. Johnsbury

Gathering: 10:30 a.m.
Rally: 11:00 a.m
March: 11:30 a.m.
BBQ: 12:00 p.m.

In Advance Of Possible Strike, UVM Nurses Holding June 22 Town Hall

Following last weekend’s strike vote by frustrated nurses working at the University of Vermont (UVM) Medical Center, the workers are holding a Town Hall meeting on Friday, June 22, to update the public and press on the status of contract negotiations and talk about the nurses’ next steps and how VSEA members and others can help.

A Town Hall Facebook page describes the event as a place to “come to learn about the issues in negotiations, and how community members can help secure a fair contract and quality patient care at our region’s Level 1 Trauma Center.”

UVM Nurses Town Hall
Friday, June 22
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Burlington High School Auditorium
Burlington

• SevenDays Story
• VTDigger Story

Note: WIA will continue to follow this story as it develops. Solidarity.

Vermont Leads Nation In 2018 Maple Syrup Production

Maine WABI posted a story on June 13 about Vermont being the nation’s largest producer of maple syrup in 2018, collecting 1.9 million gallons of syrup due to what the story says was “Vermont’s longer-than-average maple season” this year. The story notes that the number of taps in maple trees also continues to increase in Vermont.