Message From The President: VSEA's 2017 Legislative Agenda Meet ...

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Jan 4, 2017 - Director of Field Services: Gretchen Naylor. Union Reps: Rachael .... Committee members monitor the list b
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

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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]

“Our PAC give us the ability to elect union members and labor supporters to key decisionmaking roles,” Dr. Leslie Matthews, VSEA Legislative Committee and VTPAC Member, Agency of Natural Resources. VSEA does not use dues money to support political candidates.

Be Informed! Join VSEA's Texting List! Texting is a great way for VSEA to let members know about important state employee issues or fights in a timely manner, but VSEA can’t text you if we don’t have your correct cell phone number.

Sign Up To Receive At: VSEA.org /mobileupdates Or contact VSEA headquarters (802-223-5247) today to provide, check or update your number. Please urge your colleagues to do the same. Vermont State Employees’ Association

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 an endorsement. The VSEA assumes no responsibility for any claims or representations made on goods or services offered in paid advertisements. All submissions to, inquiries about, and comments regarding the VOICE should be directed to the VSEA HQ, [email protected]. VSEA BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERS: President: Dave Bellini; DOC, Burlington 1ST Vice President: Aimee Towne; AHS, Morrisville 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 Judicial Unit: William Capasso, Middlebury Retirees: Robert Hooper District 1: Mary Poulos; DOC, Barre District 2: Vacant District 3: Bob Arkley; DOC, Newport District 4: John Gauthier; DVHA, Burlington District 5: Barbara King; VVH, Bennington District 6: Jeff Trowt; DMV, Springfield VSEA STAFF: Executive Director: Steve Howard Operations Director: Ray Stout Legislative Director: Nancy Lynch Organizing Director: Vinnie O’Connor Communications Director: Doug Gibson Director of Labor Relations: Gary Hoadley General Counsel: Tim Belcher Staff Attorney: Kelly Everhart Director of Field Services: Gretchen Naylor Union Reps: Rachael Fields, Brian Morse, Mike O’Day, Bob South, Nikolas Stein, David Van Deusen Communications Specialist: Kris Lizzari Financial Coordinator: Amy Haskins Labor Educator: Tim Lenoch Legislative Specialist: Tom Abdelnour Organizers: Jennifer Larsen, Danielle Warner Strategic Analyst: Adam Norton Admin. Assts: Ayla Hudson, Laurie Hassett, Susan DeVoid 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 Employees’ Association, Inc.

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Message From The President

Venture Into The Unknown: All Hands On Deck! Dave Bellini VSEA President

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titled this column partly “Venture Into The Unknown” because, as I write this, VSEA leaders and members don’t have a clear idea what is in store for state employees at the state or national level. Work life could get more challenging for VSEA members in the coming years. Here’s why…

• U.S. SUPREME COURT – VSEA members might remember the “Friedrich’s” case that was heard early last year by the nation’s highest court. A California teacher brought the lawsuit, claiming she was forced to pay agency-fee union dues against her will. It looked like she would win and public-sector unions would lose the right to collect agency fees, but then Justice Scalia died unexpectedly. His death left the Court deadlocked 4-4, meaning it could set no precedent. There are several similar lawsuits percolating around the country, and most legal and labor experts expect a new “Friedrich’s” case to be brought soon. They also believe that any Justice(s) President-Elect Trump nominates will vote against agency fee. Worse, the Court could strip unions of any right to collect dues, forcing unions to sign up members voluntarily, one by one. This makes the union’s primary

Vermont State Employees’ Association

mission one of signing up members. Employers know this will bog us down, and make it much harder to effectively represent members or bargain and enforce contracts.

• VERMONT BUDGET DEFICIT – The legislature arrives in

Montpelier in January, with a budget deficit some say is $50 million to $70 million. We know that earlier this year, the Shumlin Administration asked department and agency heads to provide ideas for entire programs to be eliminated (and probably other budget-cutting ideas) then handed them off to the incoming Scott Administration. Vermont’s newly elected Governor has said that on day one of his term, he will “sign an executive order, creating the government modernization and efficiency team.” I am concerned there could be more cuts to services and positions. Scott also said “There’s going to be some tough choices made, but we’ll right-size state government and provide the services in the most efficient manner possible.” State employees and services to Vermonters have long been the main item on Vermont’s budget cutting menu for too long now.

• CONTRACT BARGAINING – Every VSEA Bargaining Unit in negotiations this past year knows how difficult it was to secure a fair contract agreement. Four Units went

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to fact-finding and three even went as far as the Labor Board, which has only ever happened once in VSEA’s existence. We can expect tough negotiations to continue.

• RIGHT-TO-WORK – This anti-union catchphrase actually

means “right-to-work-for-less” because that is the end result 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 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.

• NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD – Under

President Obama, the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) put several pro-worker measures in place. Corporations and business owners objected. Currently, there are three filled seats on the NLRB, two Democratic and one Republican. President-Elect Trump is expected to immediately fill two empty seats with anti-union picks, and it’s expected he will direct the now 3 to 2 majority to undo many of the pro-worker measures put in place in the past few years.

• U.S. LABOR SECRETARY – President-Elect Trump has

nominated fast-food CEO Andy Puzder as Secretary of Labor, the individual in charge of enforcing labor laws and working to even the playing field for working Americans. News outlets have reported that Mr. Puzder is “a tireless advocate against workers, arguing for lower wages, lower safety standards and even fewer jobs.” Working people and labor unions will need to be on guard, watching to see what kinds of moves the new Labor Secretary will make, if he’s approved.

• PRIVATIZATION – Every year VSEA is fighting off attempts to

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. There was also debate at the State House last session about privatizing Vermont’s two remaining 911 Call Centers, the St. Johnsbury Work Camp, the Department of Information and Innovation and, perennial target, the Vermont Veterans’ Home, which was just named one of the nation’s best facilities. VSEA will continue to challenge every privatization effort, ensuring the 10% savings statute is being met and that the service itself is not being denigrated.

Now, about the second part of this column’s title “All Hands On Deck!” I say this because it looks like VSEA is going to need members to demonstrate solidarity, possibly like we never have before. All VSEA members will need to join with me and your VSEA leadership and activists to provide a strong defense of our contractual benefits and our workplace rights, as well as doing everything in our power to stop privatization. VSEA has survived for nearly a century because of the strength of our membership, and your solidarity and strength may be required more in the coming year then ever before. VSEA members have won a lot for state employees over the years, but it could all go away quickly if we are not vigilant, vocal and united. Vermont State Employees’ Association

I’m urging all VSEA members to update your contact information today with headquarters. We want to be prepared to reach as many members as possible in a timely fashion, and that begins with VSEA having your correct contact information. You can send updated contact information to [email protected], with “My Contact Info” in the subject line. Thanks in advance. Strength and unity in 2017!

Your Voice Counts!

Contacting Lawmakers & State Officials As VSEA members have learned all too well in the past few years, state employees must constantly be on guard against service and position cuts, privatization efforts, draconian contract proposals, reduced Pay Act funding and a host of other threats to VSEA members’ services and livelihoods. During the legislative session, or contract bargaining, VSEA often sends out multiple requests for help from the membership, be it by email, by text or by phone. In most cases, your union is looking to generate phone calls and emails with a message targeted to lawmakers, officials or both. Please know that VSEA will not send out an alert or call-to- arms unless VSEA leaders consider the matter urgent or worse. Therefore, when VSEA members do receive a message from your union, asking for help, it’s imperative that as many of you as possible heed the warning and respond in a timely fashion.

Important Contact Information Governor’s Office Phone: (802) 828-3333 Send Online Message Here: http://governor.vermont.gov/contact-us/message

Senator/Representative Phone & Email: http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/

Sergeant-At- Arms Office Phone: (802) 828-2228

Newspaper Letters To The Editor Individual Newspaper Submission Links: http://www.vsea.org/letterstoeditor

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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.

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Meet The General Assembly’s Expected New Leaders W

hen the Vermont General Assembly convenes on January 4, new faces will be stepping into the leadership roles of Speaker of the House and Senate President Pro Tempore (a.k.a. Pro Tem). Although they have yet to be officially elected, 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 Pro Tem in the Senate. In the House, as mentioned, the Democratic Caucus did nominate Rep. Johnson to be Speaker, but she does face a challenge from Republican Rep. Linda Myers. Given that the Democrats have a large majority in the House, Rep. Johnson is predicted to win the body’s support. On November 14, the members of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate unanimously nominated Sen. Ashe to be Senate Pro Tem. The Democrats have an overwhelming majority in the Senate, so Ashe will almost certainly become the body’s new Pro Tem. To provide VSEA members with some background on each 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 create a Labor Scorecard, where lawmakers’ votes on a range of key labor issues are available to view. The past session’s Scorecard shows Rep. Johnson with an 8-2 record (positive-negative) and her opponent, Rep. Myers, had a 4-6 record. Sen. Ashe’s record was 5-2. Here is some more about each of the two lawmakers expected to lead the legislature’s two chambers:

Mitzi Johnson • Before being elected as speaker, Rep. Mitzi Johnson served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, which is the committee responsible for crafting the state budget; • In that role, Rep. Johnson delivered a budget in the last legislative session that added 45 new, permanent, classified positions, including 35 newpositions in the Department for Children and Families and the Office of the Defender General, both part of a child-protection package to address increased frontline worker caseloads; • At the same time, the budget cut funding for exempt positions;

and her committee’s budget supported the “Position Pilot Program,” a successful program that allows agencies and departments to hire more classified employees and reduce reliance on temporary workers and mandatory overtime; • Rep. Johnson voted against the Fair Share bill that allows your union to collect an agency fee from non-members in state government; • Rep. Johnson was a co-author of the ill-advised “JohnsonSweaney” letter, which called for limiting spending on compensation and benefits for state employees; • Rep. Johnson was a crucial ally in stopping a last-minute and surprise amendment out of the House Government Operations Committee, which proposed to slash 5% of the state workforce across the board. The proposal threatened the Pay Act; and • Rep. Johnson’s committee fully funded the first year of the NMU, Supervisory and Corrections Unit contracts.

Tim Ashe • Since 2013, Sen. Tim Ashe has been the chair of the Senate Finance; • Committee, or the committee responsible for oversight of state revenues. In this role, Ashe has been a strong supporter to increase revenue to support state services; • Before chairing Senate Finance, Ashe served on the Senate’s Committee on Economic Development, where he stood strong with labor on unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation issues; • Sen. Ashe works as a housing developer and has created many units of affordable and senior housing in the Burlington area; • Sen. Ashe opposed Sen. Anthony Pollina’s amendment to stop the privatization of the Office of Risk Management; • Sen. Ashe voted against Act 162, which included new criminal penalties for persons who threaten DCF employees; and • Sen. Ashe supported health care reforms to ensure working Vermonters can afford health care costs. He also supported the Paid Sick Days Coalition, andhe voted last session for Act 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

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A Good VSEA Soldier

Meet VSEA Legislative Committee Chair Margaret Crowley

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hen President Bellini asked VSEA Judiciary Unit member Margaret Crowley to chair the union’s Legislative Committee a few years ago, she initially had some reservations. “I was as green as could be when it came to politics,” explains Crowley, a 13-year state employee who currently works as a Family Case Manager at Chittenden Family Court. “But I understood how politics impacts state employees’ lives…meaning how our rights to organize and bargain are in written in statute, and how these rights can be taken away by lawmakers.” Crowley adds that since joining the Committee, some members have told her VSEA should stay out of politics because ‘we’re not ‘political’, but I disagree and explain all the reasons we have to be constantly monitoring what’s going on at the State House” Crowley lauds the help she and others on the Committee get throughout the session and year from VSEA’s in-house Legislative Team, explaining how Nancy Lynch and Tom Abdelnour are often the members’ eyes and ears at the State House, and how they also serve as messengers, relaying members’ issues and concerns directly to lawmakers when members are unable to come to Montpelier. Crowley adds that staff also helps the Committee with crafting bill language, drafting testimony, facilitating face-to-face meetings and building relationships. While Crowley extols the great work of VSEA’s Legislative Team, she also stresses the importance of frontline workers taking time to come to the State House, when required. “It’s critical for VSEA members to come to the State House

because legislators need and want to hear from us,” explains Crowley. “They know we’re the experts on our services, and they know we also vote and pay taxes. Many legislators have told me that they were glad to be given the opportunity to meet VSEA members and to hear our testimony. Usually, they say they only hear from professional lobbyists or from State officials, but they actually want to hear all sides. It’s important for VSEA members to put a face to an issue because it personalizes it for lawmakers.” Crowley explains how the Committee supplements its lobbying and testimony with events during the session, including a breakfast for lawmakers on day one of the 2016 session, the annual VSEA Legislative Reception and a series of issue-specific meetings at VSEA headquarters. “These kinds of events help the Committee and VSEA members foster some good will with legislators,” say says. “This comes in handy, like it did last session when we needed lawmakers to support VSEA Bargaining Teams and the Pay Act and help VSEA fight the privatization of the state’s Risk Management Division, which, sadly, ended up happening anyway.” Crowley recognizes that some VSEA members might be nervous about coming to the State House to testify or support the union, but she stresses that it’s important to remember that lawmakers are “our neighbors, friends and sometimes even our family members.” “They are Vermonters just like us and they want to do what is best for all Vermonters, including State employees,” she explains. “Don’t be intimidated

Vermont State Employees’ Association

Margaret Crowley’s VSEA Legislative Committee Nuts & Bolts: • The Committee currently has 24 rank-and-file VSEA members on it. It has been as high as 30 members in the past; • The Committee’s Chairperson is appointed by the VSEA President; • The Committee’s primary mission is to identify the legislative proposals that will impact VSEA members the most; both positively and negatively; • The Committee is also charged with developing a formal legislative agenda, which is then approved by the Council and Board of Trustees; • The Committee meets each fall to set the union’s list of priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and ideas for consideration come from Committee members, frontline workers and staff; • The Committee’s primary ask of members is to be willing to take action when needed, be it testifying, writing a letter to a lawmaker(s) or to your local newspaper, calling a lawmaker(s), meeting with a lawmaker(s), participating in a rally at the State House or any other action to benefit VSEA members; • VSEA members who want to contact the Committee, or a Committee member, or who want to maybe join the Committee, are encouraged to reach out personally to Margaret Crowley ([email protected]), another Committee member, a VSEA Steward or a VSEA staff member.

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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 too that they care about the work that we do as public servants” Crowley highly recommends that members visiting the State House be “respectful and thoughtful” when interacting with lawmakers.

VSEA Members Invited To Participate In Special Legislative Training

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

Weekly News From Your Union! Your union's weekly newsletter, Week In Action, is sent every Friday afternoon. Week In Action is the best way to stay up to date with weekly VSEA news!

Sign up for VSEA’s Week In Action Online: VSEA.org/wia

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 are eligible for paid leave time to attend training: • • • • • • • •

VSEA Council Members; VSEA Stewards; VSEA Chapter Officers VSEA Board of Trustee Members; VSEA Standing Committees Members; VSEA Unit Executive Committee Members; VSEA Bargaining Team Members; and VSEA Labor/Management Committee Members.

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

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New Faces At The State House W

hen the gavel bangs to begin the 2017 Vermont legislative session, 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 – Robin Scheu (D) Addison 2 – Peter Conlon (D) Bennington 4 – Brian Keefe (R) Bennington/Rutland – Linda Joy Sullivan (D) Chittenden 1 – Marcia Lawrence Gardner (D) Chittenden 3 – Trevor Squirrell (D) Chittenden 5-2 – Jessica Comai Brumsted (D) Chittenden 6-1 – Carol Ode (D) Chittenden 6-4 – Selene Colburn (P/D) Chittenden 6-4 – Brian Cina (P/D) Chittenden 8-1 – Betsy Dunn (D) Chittenden 8-2 – Lori Houghton (D) Chittenden 8-2 – Dylan Giambatista (D) Chittenden 9-1 – Curt Taylor (D) Franklin 7 – Cindy Weed (P/D) Grand Isle/Chittenden – Ben Joseph (D) Lamoille 2 – Daniel Noyes (D) Lamoille 2 – Matthew Hill (D) Lamoille/Washington – David Yacavone (D) Lamoille/Washington – Gary Nolan (R) Orange 1 – Robert Frenier (R) Orange/Addison/Washington – Jay Hooper (D) Orange/Addison/Washington –Ben Jickling (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

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