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 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: , 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. VSEA will continue to challenge every privatization effort, Send Online Message Here: ensuring the 10% savings statute is being met and that the http://governor.vermont.gov/contact-us/message service itself is not being denigrated.

Now, about the second part of this column’s title “All Hands Senator/Representative On Deck!” I say this because it looks like VSEA is going to need members to demonstrate solidarity, possibly like we never have Phone & Email: http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/ before. All VSEA members will need to join with me and your VSEA leadership and activists to provide a strong defense of Sergeant-At- Arms Office our contractual benefits and our workplace rights, as well as doing everything in our power to stop privatization. Phone: (802) 828-2228

VSEA has survived for nearly a century because of the strength of our membership, and your solidarity and strength may be Newspaper Letters To The Editor required more in the coming year then ever before. VSEA members have won a lot for state employees over the years, Individual Newspaper Submission Links: http://www.vsea.org/letterstoeditor but it could all go away quickly if we are not vigilant, vocal and united.

Vermont State Employees’ Association 4 VSEA’s 2017 Legislative Agenda

At the end of each year, VSEA’s Legislative Committee (one of the union’s largest and most diverse committees in terms of agency/ department representation) sits down to draft a list of legislative priorities for VSEA. Ideas are discussed, language is drafted and votes are taken, all leading to the publication of a formal list of priorities. The union’s Board of Trustees then vets the proposed list, amending it if needed and then approving it. The VSEA Council then has an opportunity to examine what the Committee and Board have proposed, and they then vote to approve, reject, or amend the priorities. After being seen by many eyes, the list is finalized and shared with the membership.

Here then is the final list of VSEA’s 2017 legislative priorities. Please note that these priorities are fluid and flexible due to the nature of Vermont’s legislative process. VSEA Legislative staff and Legislative Committee members monitor the list below daily and reprioritize items, as needed, throughout the session.

• Preventing the Privatization of State Services • Fully Funded Budget • Protect and Enhance Retirement Security • Enhance Safety & Security • Protect Our Health Care • Stop Right to Work and Protect Collective Bargaining • Fund and Protect Our State Colleges • Increase State Revenues • Visible, Vocal and Mobilized Around Labor Unity/ Solidarity Issues • Enhanced Whistleblower Protections for State Employees Who Blow the Whistle on Waste, Fraud and Corruption.

5 Meet The General Assembly’s Expected New Leaders

hen the convenes on and her committee’s budget supported the “Position Pilot WJanuary 4, new faces will be stepping into the leadership Program,” a successful program that allows agencies and roles of Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore departments to hire more classified employees and reduce (a.k.a. Pro Tem). Although they have yet to be officially elected, reliance on temporary workers and mandatory overtime; it seems clear that Rep. Mitzi Johnson will be taking the gavel in the House, and that Sen. Tim Ashe will serve as the new • Rep. Johnson voted against the Fair Share bill that allows your union to collect an agency fee from non-members in Pro Tem in the Senate. state government; In the House, as mentioned, the Democratic Caucus did nominate Rep. Johnson to be Speaker, but she does face a • Rep. Johnson was a co-author of the ill-advised “Johnson- challenge from Republican Rep. Linda Myers. Given that the Sweaney” letter, which called for limiting spending on Democrats have a large majority in the House, Rep. Johnson compensation and benefits for state employees; is predicted to win the body’s support. On November 14, the members of the Democratic Caucus • Rep. Johnson was a crucial ally in stopping a last-minute and in the Senate unanimously nominated Sen. Ashe to be Senate surprise amendment out of the House Government Operations Pro Tem. The Democrats have an overwhelming majority in Committee, which proposed to slash 5% of the state workforce the Senate, so Ashe will almost certainly become the body’s across the board. The proposal threatened the Pay Act; and new Pro Tem. To provide VSEA members with some background on each • Rep. Johnson’s committee fully funded the first year of the NMU, Supervisory and Corrections Unit contracts. of the legislature’santicipated new leaders and their relationship to date with labor, VSEA and other union representatives belonging to the Working Vermont Coalition work together to Tim Ashe create a Labor Scorecard, where lawmakers’ votes on a range of key labor issues are available to view. • Since 2013, Sen. Tim Ashe has been The past session’s Scorecard shows Rep. Johnson with an the chair of the Senate Finance; 8-2 record (positive-negative) and her opponent, Rep. Myers, • Committee, or the committee had a 4-6 record. Sen. Ashe’s record was 5-2. responsible for oversight of state revenues. In this role, Ashe has Here is some more about each of the two lawmakers expected been a strong supporter to increase to lead the legislature’s two chambers: revenue to support state services;

• Before chairing Senate Finance, Ashe Mitzi Johnson served on the Senate’s Committee on • Before being elected as speaker, Rep. Economic Development, where he stood strong with labor on Mitzi Johnson served as chair of the unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation issues; House Appropriations Committee, which is the committee responsible • Sen. Ashe works as a housing developer and has created many for crafting the state budget; units of affordable and senior housing in the Burlington area;

• In that role, Rep. Johnson delivered a • Sen. Ashe opposed Sen. Anthony Pollina’s amendment to stop budget in the last legislative session the privatization of the Office of Risk Management; that added 45 new, permanent, classified positions, including 35 • Sen. Ashe voted against Act 162, which included new criminal newpositions in the Department penalties for persons who threaten DCF employees; and for Children and Families and the Office of the Defender General, both part of a child-protection package to address • Sen. Ashe supported health care reforms to ensure working increased frontline worker caseloads; Vermonters can afford health care costs. He also supported the Paid Sick Days Coalition, andhe voted last session for Act • At the same time, the budget cut funding for exempt positions; 69, which required all Vermont employers to provide earned sick time to their employees. • Rep. Johnson’s committee rejected Governor Shumlin’s proposed cuts to the Community High School of Vermont. The Committee instead fully funded both the High School and the Vermont Veterans’ Home;

• Rep. Johnson opposes a cap on permanent, classified positions, Vermont State Employees’ Association 6 A Good VSEA Soldier Meet VSEA Legislative Committee Chair Margaret Crowley

hen President Bellini because legislators need and Wasked VSEA Judiciary want to hear from us,” explains Unit member Margaret Crowley Crowley. “They know we’re the to chair the union’s Legislative experts on our services, and Committee a few years ago, she they know we also vote and initially had some reservations. pay taxes. Many legislators have told me that they were glad to be “I was as green as could be given the opportunity to meet when it came to politics,” VSEA members and to hear our explains Crowley, a 13-year state testimony. Usually, they say they employee who currently works only hear from professional as a Family Case Manager at lobbyists or from State officials, Chittenden Family Court. “But I but they actually want to hear understood how politics impacts all sides. It’s important for VSEA state employees’ lives…meaning members to put a face to an issue how our rights to organize and because it personalizes it for bargain are in written in statute, lawmakers.” and how these rights can be taken away by lawmakers.” Crowley explains how the Crowley adds that since joining Committee supplements its the Committee, some members lobbying and testimony with have told her VSEA should stay events during the session, out of politics because ‘we’re including a breakfast for not ‘political’, but I disagree and lawmakers on day one of the explain all the reasons we have 2016 session, the annual VSEA to be constantly monitoring Legislative Reception and a what’s going on at the State series of issue-specific meetings House” at VSEA headquarters. Margaret Crowley’s VSEA Legislative Committee Nuts & Bolts: Crowley lauds the help she and “These kinds of events help the others on the Committee get Committee and VSEA members • The Committee currently has 24 rank-and-file VSEA members throughout the session and year foster some good will with on it. It has been as high as 30 members in the past; from VSEA’s in-house Legislative legislators,” say says. “This comes • The Committee’s Chairperson is appointed by the VSEA Team, explaining how Nancy in handy, like it did last session President; Lynch and Tom Abdelnour are when we needed lawmakers often the members’ eyes and to support VSEA Bargaining • The Committee’s primary mission is to identify the legislative ears at the State House, and how Teams and the Pay Act and help proposals that will impact VSEA members the most; both they also serve as messengers, VSEA fight the privatization of positively and negatively; relaying members’ issues and the state’s Risk Management • The Committee is also charged with developing a formal concerns directly to lawmakers Division, which, sadly, ended legislative agenda, which is then approved by the Council when members are unable to up happening anyway.” and Board of Trustees; come to Montpelier. Crowley adds that staff also helps the Crowley recognizes that some • The Committee meets each fall to set the union’s list of Committee with crafting bill VSEA members might be priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and ideas for language, drafting testimony, nervous about coming to the consideration come from Committee members, frontline facilitating face-to-face meetings State House to testify or support workers and staff; and building relationships. the union, but she stresses that • The Committee’s primary ask of members is to be willing to it’s important to remember that take action when needed, be it testifying, writing a letter to a While Crowley extols the great lawmakers are “our neighbors, lawmaker(s) or to your local newspaper, calling a lawmaker(s), work of VSEA’s Legislative friends and sometimes even our meeting with a lawmaker(s), participating in a rally at the Team, she also stresses the family members.” State House or any other action to benefit VSEA members; importance of frontline workers • VSEA members who want to contact the Committee, or a taking time to come to the State “They are Vermonters just like Committee member, or who want to maybe join the Committee, House, when required. us and they want to do what are encouraged to reach out personally to Margaret Crowley is best for all Vermonters, ([email protected]), another Committee “It’s critical for VSEA members including State employees,” she member, a VSEA Steward or a VSEA staff member. to come to the State House explains. “Don’t be intimidated

Vermont State Employees’ Association 7 by titles or positions of power. It’s the voters who put them there, and they know that the voters can take them out as well. Remember VSEA Members Invited To Participate too that they care about the work that we do as public servants” Crowley highly recommends that members visiting the State House In Special Legislative Training be “respectful and thoughtful” when interacting with lawmakers.

Crowley says there are two issues she’s personally very concerned about in the 2017 legislative session, and they are right-to-work rumblings and privatization.

“Given the climate around the country right not, I’m afraid there could be multiple attacks on our collective bargaining rights from many sources,” she says. “People sometimes talk positively about the concept of ‘right-to-work,’ but I don’t think they understand the idea is to really create a situation where people have the right to work—but for less money. A rush to privatize services is also not advised, and VSEA members will need to be on guard and ready to fight back against any and all privatization proposals that might come up this session. I’m afraid we’re all going to have to a little more on the defensive in 2017.”

VSEA Labor Educator Tim Lenoch has been working with VSEA’s legislative team to create a new training to educate VSEA members about how statutes, policies and Vermont’s legislative process can impact state employees’ working conditions—and sometimes even, their livelihoods.

This comprehensive training will be offered at five different locations throughout the state, including:

• Bennington: Wednesday March 8 – Hampton Inn Bennington, 51 Hannaford Square • Springfield: Wednesday March 8 – Holiday Inn Express, 818 Charlestown Rd. • Burlington: Thursday March 9 – Zampieri Building, 108 Cherry St. • St. Johnsbury: Thursday March 9 – TBD

> Register For Training At VSEA.org/training

All trainings begin at 9:30 a.m., and they are open to all VSEA members, but only members in the following VSEA leadership roles Weekly News From Your Union! are eligible for paid leave time to attend training:

Your union's weekly newsletter, Week In Action, is sent • VSEA Council Members; every Friday afternoon. Week In Action is the best way to • VSEA Stewards; stay up to date with weekly VSEA news! • VSEA Chapter Officers • VSEA Board of Trustee Members; • VSEA Standing Committees Members; • VSEA Unit Executive Committee Members; Sign up for VSEA’s Week In Action Online: • VSEA Bargaining Team Members; and • VSEA Labor/Management Committee Members. VSEA.org/wia Please review your Collective Bargaining Agreement’s “VSEA Rights” section for specific language about paid leave time. Find your contract here at VSEA.org/our-contracts

Important! You must request time off to attend this training at least two weeks prior to your desired date.

Vermont State Employees’ Association 8 New Faces At The State House

hen the gavel bangs to begin the 2017 Vermont legislative Wsession, there will be several new faces roaming the hallways, sitting on committees, drafting laws and working for or against state employees and our issues and concerns.

Here are the newly elected lawmakers (if bolded, it means the lawmaker was endorsed by VSEA):

Vermont Senate

Chittenden – Chris Pearson (P/D) Franklin – Carolyn Whitney (R) Washington – Francis Brooks (D) Windsor – Alison Clarkson (D)

Vermont House

Addison 1 – (D) Addison 2 – (D) Bennington 4 – (R) Bennington/Rutland – (D) Chittenden 1 – Marcia Lawrence Gardner (D) Chittenden 3 – (D) Chittenden 5-2 – Jessica Comai Brumsted (D) Chittenden 6-1 – (D) Chittenden 6-4 – (P/D) Chittenden 6-4 – (P/D) Chittenden 8-1 – (D) Chittenden 8-2 – (D) Chittenden 8-2 – (D) Chittenden 9-1 – (D) Franklin 7 – (P/D) Grand Isle/Chittenden – (D) Lamoille 2 – (D) Lamoille 2 – Matthew Hill (D) Lamoille/Washington – David Yacavone (D) Lamoille/Washington – (R) Orange 1 – (R) Orange/Addison/Washington – (D) Orange/Addison/Washington – (I) Orleans 1 – Brian Smith (R/D) Rutland 5-3 – Mary E. Howard (D) Washington 5 – Kimberley Jessup (D) Windham 6 – John Gannon (D) Windsor 1 – Paul Belaski (D) Windsor 2 -- Anne Marie Christensen (D) Windsor 3-1 – Thomas A. Bock (D/R) Windsor 4-1 – Susan Buckholz (D) Windsor 5 – Charlie Kimbell (D)

Vermont State Employees’ Association 9