The
The decision was unanimous to hire the Sirotkin and Necrason firm to represent the Vermont Council of the UNAP at the Vermont State House. Chris and Linda have executed the agreement as we discussed by phone.
Thanks and We will keep you informed as new issues and events happen or are planned.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Know Respect
By now, everyone is aware of the Union’s strong objection to the Retreat’s CEO, Rob Simpson, giving $100 more in bonus money to non-union staff and restoring earned time to non-union staff months before union staff after telling our negotiating team he could not afford a penny more. In our view, this issue is far greater than a simple disagreement over a contract issue. The disagreement gets to the foundation of how our CEO views our work and our important contributions.
Good relationships, whether they be labor relationships, patient/staff relationships, supervisor/staff relationships or any other positive relationships are founded on mutual respect and honesty. In the past and currently, our Union has very good working relationships with many in supervisory and managerial positions. We are proud of those relationships and we believe that everyone, staff, patients and mangers have benefited from them. The underpinning of those positive and productive relationships has been honesty and mutual respect. Certainly we have had many disagreements and we will continue to have them. What has held us together is an ongoing honesty in working with one another and mutual respect.
So it continues to alarm us that respect and honesty is missing from the front office, the office of the Retreat’s CEO. It is not honest to tell the Union negotiating team, representing all of you, that there is not a penny more and then give more to others. It is not respectful to, for the first time in anyone’s memory, reward one set of employees more than another simply on Union status. We want to be very clear on this point. We support the idea that everyone be treated fairly and that everyone be rewarded for their contributions to the Retreat, union and non-union alike. But it is very disrespectful and unfair to pay front line staff less than supervisors, administrators and other non-union staff.
In this coming year, we are committed to fighting for all members to assure that we are all dealt with both individually and as a Union with the respect and dignity we have all earned and deserve.
Good relationships, whether they be labor relationships, patient/staff relationships, supervisor/staff relationships or any other positive relationships are founded on mutual respect and honesty. In the past and currently, our Union has very good working relationships with many in supervisory and managerial positions. We are proud of those relationships and we believe that everyone, staff, patients and mangers have benefited from them. The underpinning of those positive and productive relationships has been honesty and mutual respect. Certainly we have had many disagreements and we will continue to have them. What has held us together is an ongoing honesty in working with one another and mutual respect.
So it continues to alarm us that respect and honesty is missing from the front office, the office of the Retreat’s CEO. It is not honest to tell the Union negotiating team, representing all of you, that there is not a penny more and then give more to others. It is not respectful to, for the first time in anyone’s memory, reward one set of employees more than another simply on Union status. We want to be very clear on this point. We support the idea that everyone be treated fairly and that everyone be rewarded for their contributions to the Retreat, union and non-union alike. But it is very disrespectful and unfair to pay front line staff less than supervisors, administrators and other non-union staff.
In this coming year, we are committed to fighting for all members to assure that we are all dealt with both individually and as a Union with the respect and dignity we have all earned and deserve.
Newsletter
In an effort to strengthen our Union by providing better communication to all of our members, and in an effort to make our Union more effective by providing more timely and useful information to our members the Executive Board has decided to publish a regular newsletter. We welcome suggestions for articles and member feedback. Please address any suggestions to Tom Flood. Tom is the Vice president of Child and Adolescent Services.
Happy New Year
Know Your Officers and Unit Representative
Officers
President (unit 1) Bonnie Chase
Preesident (Unit 2) Sean Whelan
Executive Vice President (unit 1) Beth Kiendl
Executive Vice President (unit 2) Michael Barry
Vice President Adult Doug Cooper
Vice President Adolescent Tom Flood
Treasurer Gary West
Secretary Robin Chase
Unit Representative
Osgood 3 Robin Chase
Tyler 3 1 RN (unit 1) Ed Dowd
Per Diems /Float MHW Palma Lorde
Admissions (A & E) John Langan
UR, Transcriptionists Luana Whitefox
Medical Records
Osgood 2 Jerry O’Brien
Tyler 1 MHW Jerry Irish,
Tyler 1 RN Deirdre Donovan
RN Per Diem/Floats (unit 1) Christine Gray
Tyler 4 Mary Brooke
MHW Floats Jackie Williams
Starting Now, John Decesare
Social Workers, Therapists, Matthew Schibley
AMBCC Bratt.
Uniform Service Worker Tom Manning
Officers
President (unit 1) Bonnie Chase
Preesident (Unit 2) Sean Whelan
Executive Vice President (unit 1) Beth Kiendl
Executive Vice President (unit 2) Michael Barry
Vice President Adult Doug Cooper
Vice President Adolescent Tom Flood
Treasurer Gary West
Secretary Robin Chase
Unit Representative
Osgood 3 Robin Chase
Tyler 3 1 RN (unit 1) Ed Dowd
Per Diems /Float MHW Palma Lorde
Admissions (A & E) John Langan
UR, Transcriptionists Luana Whitefox
Medical Records
Osgood 2 Jerry O’Brien
Tyler 1 MHW Jerry Irish,
Tyler 1 RN Deirdre Donovan
RN Per Diem/Floats (unit 1) Christine Gray
Tyler 4 Mary Brooke
MHW Floats Jackie Williams
Starting Now, John Decesare
Social Workers, Therapists, Matthew Schibley
AMBCC Bratt.
Uniform Service Worker Tom Manning
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Democrats vie early for labor support
Democrats vie early for labor support
By Nancy Remsen
Free Press Staff Writer
FAIRLEE -- Four of the five prospective Democratic candidates for governor came to the Lake Morey Resort on Saturday to court delegates representing the 9,500-members of the Vermont AFL-CIO -- even though the primary and general elections are months away.
The delegates didn't mind. Unions want to hear from potential candidates early, said Jill Charbonneau of Middlebury, Vermont AFL-CIO executive vice president. "We want to have our voice shape their campaigns."
As a result, the 53rd convention for this association of unions featured a parade of politicians including four Democratic gubernatorial aspirants -- Former Sen. Matt Dunne, Sen. Doug Racine, Sen. Peter Shumlin and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. Sen. Susan Bartlett, who has launched a gubernatorial campaign, too, was scheduled to appear but canceled because of illness.
The union group also heard words of advice from Progressive Anthony Pollina, the gubernatorial candidate the AFL-CIO endorsed in the 2008 election. He said he has yet to decide whether he will run for statewide office in 2010, but he had plenty to say about how labor ought to measure the candidates seeking their votes, money and campaign support.
"How popular you all are going to be in the next few months because you have power," Pollina told the 50 delegates at the convention. Looking to the back of the room where a couple of the Democratic rivals stood, Pollina said, "They want your credibility. They want you to empower them."
"Don't give away that power too quickly," Pollina said. He suggested waiting until after the Legislature adjourns, noting that three of the five serve in the Senate. "See what these people are able to do."
Pollina suggested the AFL-CIO could make some demands now. For example, he said one litmus test would be to see what happens to S.88, a bill to create a single-payer health system in Vermont. The bill received no consideration last winter even though half the Senate has signed on as sponsors.
"That bill should have passed yesterday," Pollina said. He noted that two senators running for governor aren't sponsors of S.88 -- Racine and Bartlett. Shumlin is a sponsor.
Earlier Saturday, Racine had promised the delegates the health care bill would be taken up in the committee he chairs in January -- which drew applause. He didn't promise passage and cautioned, "There are a lot of issues to be worked out. It is not going to be easy."
Racine had come to renew his relationship with the AFL-CIO. He reminded the crowd he had enjoyed their support in past elections. "I have always been there for labor in this state," he said.
Acknowledging his Democratic competition, Racine said, "A lot of us are going to be talking to you and sort of saying the same thing." He urged people to consider his record.
All four candidates spoke of their "vision" for the state. Racine said he was on a "mission to restore the middle class to this state."
Racine was on another mission, too. He was wooing the Vermont Progressive Party.
"If you get their support," he said, referring to the union association, "it means you are looking out for working Vermonters. It carries beyond the union. It would help me earn the support of Progressives."
Dunne, the first potential gubernatorial candidate to speak, was the first to talk about the shrinking middle class. "The challenge that we face together," he said, "is investing in building our middle class."
Dunne hasn't formally announced his candidacy. "I'm being encouraged to jump into the race," he said, telling the crowd that some among them had urged him to run. He expects to announce his decision in November.
The youngest of the Democratic gubernatorial aspirants, Dunne mentioned several times that "Vermonters are clearly hungry to know what the next era is."
Shumlin, who has also yet to confirm his candidacy, nevertheless gave a classic stump speech. He outlined what the Legislature did for labor last session to protect unemployment insurance, to go after employer fraud in workers compensation and to insist on fair wages in the economic stimulus projects.
He made a political promise -- that whatever remedy was found for the looming deficit in the unemployment insurance fund, "We will not reduce benefits."
Shumlin also offered his strategy for reviving the Vermont economy -- focus on businesses that wean the state from fossil fuels. "I believe I have the vision and understanding to help get us there," he said.
Shumlin acknowledged his potential Democratic competitors around the room. "Anyone of them would make a wonderful governor," he said.
"We've got to win this election," Shumlin added, warning his rivals that "anyone who criticizes the others deserves to lose."
Markowitz spoke last. "Those of us who are running are old friends," she said. "On the issues, I don't think we are going to differ that much."
She suggested she had a record of bringing people together to find solutions. She sent a little dart toward her rivals in the Legislature concerning their budget squabble with Gov. Jim Douglas, which led to a veto.
"The veto override works. We got a budget, but I don't think very many Vermonters were happy with that," Markowitz said.
She reminded union members that she stood out in the cold with nurses when they organized at Copley Hospital in Morristown. She also recalled how she worked with unions to educate workers about early voting so they wouldn't lose out on their chance to cast ballots if they worked on Election Day.
Ben Johnson, a librarian at Vermont Technical College and an officer in United Professionals, American Federation of Teachers Vermont, said he appreciated Pollina's advice.
"What resonated with me was his advice to keep the bar high and to see that we aren't taken for granted," Johnson said. "We keep, as unions, giving money to campaigns. We have to be sure we support people who support us."
By Nancy Remsen
Free Press Staff Writer
FAIRLEE -- Four of the five prospective Democratic candidates for governor came to the Lake Morey Resort on Saturday to court delegates representing the 9,500-members of the Vermont AFL-CIO -- even though the primary and general elections are months away.
The delegates didn't mind. Unions want to hear from potential candidates early, said Jill Charbonneau of Middlebury, Vermont AFL-CIO executive vice president. "We want to have our voice shape their campaigns."
As a result, the 53rd convention for this association of unions featured a parade of politicians including four Democratic gubernatorial aspirants -- Former Sen. Matt Dunne, Sen. Doug Racine, Sen. Peter Shumlin and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz. Sen. Susan Bartlett, who has launched a gubernatorial campaign, too, was scheduled to appear but canceled because of illness.
The union group also heard words of advice from Progressive Anthony Pollina, the gubernatorial candidate the AFL-CIO endorsed in the 2008 election. He said he has yet to decide whether he will run for statewide office in 2010, but he had plenty to say about how labor ought to measure the candidates seeking their votes, money and campaign support.
"How popular you all are going to be in the next few months because you have power," Pollina told the 50 delegates at the convention. Looking to the back of the room where a couple of the Democratic rivals stood, Pollina said, "They want your credibility. They want you to empower them."
"Don't give away that power too quickly," Pollina said. He suggested waiting until after the Legislature adjourns, noting that three of the five serve in the Senate. "See what these people are able to do."
Pollina suggested the AFL-CIO could make some demands now. For example, he said one litmus test would be to see what happens to S.88, a bill to create a single-payer health system in Vermont. The bill received no consideration last winter even though half the Senate has signed on as sponsors.
"That bill should have passed yesterday," Pollina said. He noted that two senators running for governor aren't sponsors of S.88 -- Racine and Bartlett. Shumlin is a sponsor.
Earlier Saturday, Racine had promised the delegates the health care bill would be taken up in the committee he chairs in January -- which drew applause. He didn't promise passage and cautioned, "There are a lot of issues to be worked out. It is not going to be easy."
Racine had come to renew his relationship with the AFL-CIO. He reminded the crowd he had enjoyed their support in past elections. "I have always been there for labor in this state," he said.
Acknowledging his Democratic competition, Racine said, "A lot of us are going to be talking to you and sort of saying the same thing." He urged people to consider his record.
All four candidates spoke of their "vision" for the state. Racine said he was on a "mission to restore the middle class to this state."
Racine was on another mission, too. He was wooing the Vermont Progressive Party.
"If you get their support," he said, referring to the union association, "it means you are looking out for working Vermonters. It carries beyond the union. It would help me earn the support of Progressives."
Dunne, the first potential gubernatorial candidate to speak, was the first to talk about the shrinking middle class. "The challenge that we face together," he said, "is investing in building our middle class."
Dunne hasn't formally announced his candidacy. "I'm being encouraged to jump into the race," he said, telling the crowd that some among them had urged him to run. He expects to announce his decision in November.
The youngest of the Democratic gubernatorial aspirants, Dunne mentioned several times that "Vermonters are clearly hungry to know what the next era is."
Shumlin, who has also yet to confirm his candidacy, nevertheless gave a classic stump speech. He outlined what the Legislature did for labor last session to protect unemployment insurance, to go after employer fraud in workers compensation and to insist on fair wages in the economic stimulus projects.
He made a political promise -- that whatever remedy was found for the looming deficit in the unemployment insurance fund, "We will not reduce benefits."
Shumlin also offered his strategy for reviving the Vermont economy -- focus on businesses that wean the state from fossil fuels. "I believe I have the vision and understanding to help get us there," he said.
Shumlin acknowledged his potential Democratic competitors around the room. "Anyone of them would make a wonderful governor," he said.
"We've got to win this election," Shumlin added, warning his rivals that "anyone who criticizes the others deserves to lose."
Markowitz spoke last. "Those of us who are running are old friends," she said. "On the issues, I don't think we are going to differ that much."
She suggested she had a record of bringing people together to find solutions. She sent a little dart toward her rivals in the Legislature concerning their budget squabble with Gov. Jim Douglas, which led to a veto.
"The veto override works. We got a budget, but I don't think very many Vermonters were happy with that," Markowitz said.
She reminded union members that she stood out in the cold with nurses when they organized at Copley Hospital in Morristown. She also recalled how she worked with unions to educate workers about early voting so they wouldn't lose out on their chance to cast ballots if they worked on Election Day.
Ben Johnson, a librarian at Vermont Technical College and an officer in United Professionals, American Federation of Teachers Vermont, said he appreciated Pollina's advice.
"What resonated with me was his advice to keep the bar high and to see that we aren't taken for granted," Johnson said. "We keep, as unions, giving money to campaigns. We have to be sure we support people who support us."
Staffing grids
There is another meeting with management to discuss the staffing grids on Tuesday 10-20-09 at 1 pm. Management wants to be able to change the grid whenever they like. We say NO the that.
We have worked hard to have staffing grids in our contracts and we are not about to give them up!
Stay tuned for further news!
We have worked hard to have staffing grids in our contracts and we are not about to give them up!
Stay tuned for further news!
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