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Message from the President: VSEA's 2017 Legislative Agenda Meet The January 2017 Message From The President: Venture Into The Unknown: All Hands On Deck! Page 3 VSEA’s 2017 Legislative Agenda Page 5 Meet The General Assembly’s Expected New Leaders Page 6 A Good VSEA Soldier Meet VSEA Legislative Committee Chair Margaret Crowley Page 7 New Faces At The State House Page 9 Vermont State Employees’ Association 1 The VSEA VOICE is an official publication of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, Inc. 155 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Phone: (802) 223-5247 Fax: (802) 223-4035 E-mail: [email protected] The VSEA VOICE is published annually by the Vermont State Employees’ Association, Inc. VSEA is a non-profit labor organization, owned and run by members. Letters published in the VOICE are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of VSEA. Final determination of VOICE content will be at the decision of the Director. Paid advertising published in the newspaper does not necessarily constitute “Our PAC give us the ability to elect union an endorsement. The VSEA assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations made on goods or services offered members and labor supporters to key decision- in paid advertisements. All submissions to, inquiries about, and comments regarding the VOICE should be directed to making roles,” the VSEA HQ, [email protected]. Dr. Leslie Matthews, VSEA Legislative Committee and VTPAC Member, Agency VSEA BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS: of Natural Resources. President: Dave Bellini; DOC, Burlington 1ST Vice President: Aimee Towne; AHS, Morrisville VSEA does not use dues money to support political candidates. 2nd Vice President: Rubin Jennings; DG, Montpelier Treasurer: Sheila Manchester-Coniff; DOL, Montpelier Clerk: Katelyn Chase, DCF, Morrisville TRUSTEES (UNIT & DISTRICT): Non-Management Unit: William Wells; ESD, Burlington Supervisory Unit: Joseph Silvestri; DOC, Newport Corrections Unit: Jonathan Bruce; DOC, St. Albans State Colleges Unit: Sandra Noyes; VSC, Johnson Combined Units: Chris Frappier, Middlebury Be Informed! Judicial Unit: William Capasso, Middlebury Retirees: Robert Hooper District 1: Mary Poulos; DOC, Barre Join VSEA's District 2: Vacant District 3: Bob Arkley; DOC, Newport District 4: John Gauthier; DVHA, Burlington Texting List! District 5: Barbara King; VVH, Bennington District 6: Jeff Trowt; DMV, Springfield Texting is a great VSEA STAFF: Executive Director: Steve Howard way for VSEA to Operations Director: Ray Stout let members know Legislative Director: Nancy Lynch Organizing Director: Vinnie O’Connor about important Communications Director: Doug Gibson state employee issues Director of Labor Relations: Gary Hoadley General Counsel: Tim Belcher or fights in a timely Staff Attorney: Kelly Everhart manner, but VSEA Director of Field Services: Gretchen Naylor Union Reps: Rachael Fields, Brian Morse, Mike O’Day, can’t text you if we Bob South, Nikolas Stein, David Van Deusen Communications Specialist: Kris Lizzari don’t have your correct Financial Coordinator: Amy Haskins cell phone number. Labor Educator: Tim Lenoch Legislative Specialist: Tom Abdelnour Organizers: Jennifer Larsen, Danielle Warner Strategic Analyst: Adam Norton Sign Up To Receive At: Admin. Assts: Ayla Hudson, Laurie Hassett, Susan DeVoid VSEA.org /mobileupdates Unless otherwise credited, material appearing in this news magazine is the property of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, Inc. VSEA headquarters: 155 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05601. Copyright © 2017 Vermont State Or contact VSEA headquarters (802-223-5247) Employees’ Association, Inc. today to provide, check or update your number. Please urge your colleagues to do the same. Vermont State Employees’ Association 2 Message From The President Venture Into The Unknown: All Hands On Deck! Dave Bellini VSEA President titled this column partly “Venture Into The Unknown” mission one of signing up members. Employers know this I because, as I write this, VSEA leaders and members don’t will bog us down, and make it much harder to effectively have a clear idea what is in store for state employees at the represent members or bargain and enforce contracts. state or national level. Work life could get more challenging for VSEA members in the coming years. Here’s why… • VERMONT BUDGET DEFICIT – The legislature arrives in Montpelier in January, with a budget deficit some say is $50 • U.S. SUPREME COURT – VSEA members might million to $70 million. We know that earlier this year, the remember the “Friedrich’s” case that was heard early last Shumlin Administration asked department and agency heads year by the nation’s highest court. A California teacher to provide ideas for entire programs to be eliminated (and brought the lawsuit, claiming she was forced to pay probably other budget-cutting ideas) then handed them off to the incoming Scott Administration. Vermont’s newly elected agency-fee union dues against her will. It looked like Governor has said that on day one of his term, he will “sign an she would win and public-sector unions would lose the executive order, creating the government modernization and right to collect agency fees, but then Justice Scalia died efficiency team.” I am concerned there could be more cuts to unexpectedly. His death left the Court deadlocked 4-4, services and positions. Scott also said “There’s going to be some meaning it could set no precedent. There are several tough choices made, but we’ll right-size state government and similar lawsuits percolating around the country, and most provide the services in the most efficient manner possible.” legal and labor experts expect a new “Friedrich’s” case State employees and services to Vermonters have long been the to be brought soon. They also believe that any Justice(s) main item on Vermont’s budget cutting menu for too long now. President-Elect Trump nominates will vote against agency fee. Worse, the Court could strip unions of any • CONTRACT BARGAINING – Every VSEA Bargaining right to collect dues, forcing unions to sign up members Unit in negotiations this past year knows how difficult it voluntarily, one by one. This makes the union’s primary was to secure a fair contract agreement. Four Units went Vermont State Employees’ Association 3 to fact-finding and three even went as far as the Labor I’m urging all VSEA members to update your contact information Board, which has only ever happened once in VSEA’s today with headquarters. We want to be prepared to reach as existence. We can expect tough negotiations to continue. many members as possible in a timely fashion, and that begins with VSEA having your correct contact information. You can • RIGHT-TO-WORK – This anti-union catchphrase actually send updated contact information to [email protected], with “My means “right-to-work-for-less” because that is the end result Contact Info” in the subject line. Thanks in advance. for workers. A recent study from the Economic Policy institute found that “Wages in RTW states are 3.1 percent lower than those in non-RTW states, after controlling for a full Strength and unity in 2017! complement of individual demographic and socioeconomic factors as well as state macroeconomic indicators. This translates into RTW being associated with $1,558 lower annual wages for a typical full-time, full-year worker.” VSEA will fight any and all efforts to introduce RTW in Vermont. Your Voice Counts! • NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD – Under President Obama, the federal National Labor Relations Contacting Lawmakers Board (NLRB) put several pro-worker measures in place. Corporations and business owners objected. Currently, there & State Officials are three filled seats on the NLRB, two Democratic and one Republican. President-Elect Trump is expected to immediately As VSEA members have learned all too well in the past few years, fill two empty seats with anti-union picks, and it’s expected state employees must constantly be on guard against service and he will direct the now 3 to 2 majority to undo many of the position cuts, privatization efforts, draconian contract proposals, pro-worker measures put in place in the past few years. reduced Pay Act funding and a host of other threats to VSEA members’ services and livelihoods. • U.S. LABOR SECRETARY – President-Elect Trump has nominated fast-food CEO Andy Puzder as Secretary of Labor, During the legislative session, or contract bargaining, VSEA often the individual in charge of enforcing labor laws and working sends out multiple requests for help from the membership, be it to even the playing field for working Americans. News outlets by email, by text or by phone. In most cases, your union is looking have reported that Mr. Puzder is “a tireless advocate against to generate phone calls and emails with a message targeted to workers, arguing for lower wages, lower safety standards lawmakers, officials or both. Please know that VSEA will not and even fewer jobs.” Working people and labor unions send out an alert or call-to- arms unless VSEA leaders consider will need to be on guard, watching to see what kinds of the matter urgent or worse. Therefore, when VSEA members do moves the new Labor Secretary will make, if he’s approved. receive a message from your union, asking for help, it’s imperative that as many of you as possible heed the warning and respond • PRIVATIZATION – Every year VSEA is fighting off attempts to in a timely fashion. privatize state services. Last session, it was Risk Management Division that was privatized, even with a warning from VSEA about what happened the last time this service was privatized. Important Contact Information There was also debate at the State House last session about privatizing Vermont’s two remaining 911 Call Centers, the Governor’s Office St. Johnsbury Work Camp, the Department of Information and Innovation and, perennial target, the Vermont Veterans’ Phone: (802) 828-3333 Home, which was just named one of the nation’s best facilities.
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