Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Political Issues/Comments => Topic started by: tfence on January 30, 2013, 07:38:29 AM
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We need to stop this for it will increase the cost of childcare beyond affortability. This type of union has nothing to offer us. We already have all the resorces that they claim to be able to get us. They just come with a very large cost that will be passed onto working parents and tax payers.
Senator Don Collins has requested a open forum for Franklin County residents to discuss views on childcare provider unionization. Open forum means he wants representation on both sides. In other words, every body on our side counts! This includes parents in your program, neighbors, family members, your husband (wife), anyone who is a Franklin County resident.
When: February 11th at 6:30
Where: Highgate Elementary School Library
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I also am very against a union for childcare workers; we stand to gain nothing. For registered providers it means any voice that we have now, being able to call & personally voice our concerns will be gone as it will have to go through a union rep. Even if we chose not to be part of a union, we will have to pay them a dues & have even lesser voice as we will not be part of them. The only ones to gain are those caring for children whose parents receive a subsidy from the state as that rate will be increased for them- that's one big promise the union has vowed - to increase wages. But those not receiving subsidy get nothing, except for all, an increase possibly in your taxes & your private childcare rate as providers will have to pay dues. Our Governor has already proposed a 17 million increase to the subsidy program, taken from other areas of funding; so it's easy to see he is for the union. Please, I urge all people to CALL /E-MAIL, WRITE your legislators, your senators & tell them a union is not needed for childcare workers, even if you can't be at this forum, please let your voice be heard,; it does matter!
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I think it is ironic that the union and the $17 million are coming down the road together. It sounds like the union wants a good piece of that money. They try to add costs on the childcare industry at the same time they increase subsidy money. Lets do the math. What is raised goes to the union. If the $17 million plan does not pass and the union does. Those dues, fees, ect from the union will be charged to the childcare owners. Business 101 states that added costs will be passed down to the consumer. In this case the working middle class parents. Unions are beneficial to many industries, I agree. The childcare industry can't afford it.
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I don't see what a union would do. If it's economics, why wouldn't the childcare providers form groups that are sensible to cover benefits and other overhead that might be an issue. I'd be interested to see a group get together and discuss their business models and learn from each other. Union is just admin overhead.
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This is alarming. The link to the proposed legislation is here: http://leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/bills/Intro/H-097.pdf Pay special attention to Section 7604, Page 7 (virtually taking away the rights of owners to set the wages/benefits and rates at their own childcare centers).
Tom, thank you for posting and bringing this to our attention. Good luck at the forum.
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Doesn't this just mean if you join you agree to collective bargaining? You don't have to join, just make sure you know what you're joining.
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Thank you Family of 5.
We need a lot of help from the public at this forum. The union has very deep pockets from all their collections from the other states they have roped in. They are paying reps, tv commercials, lobbyists. All we have is our senators. We need everyone in Franklin county to call or email senator collins and let him know you are against childcare unionizing.
dcollins@leg.state.vt.us
@Nhibbard. Whether we join or not we have to pay a "fair share fee" (as they call it) to the union and we will loose our voice as independents. It will be their way whether we join or not and we will have to pay dues as well.
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Along with Sen Collins our other Franklin Cty senator is Norm McAllister & PLEASE send e-mails, letters, phone calls to him also!! nmcallister@leg.state.vt.usWe really need to be heard LOUD & CLEAR : NO UNION FOR CHILDCARE WORKERS. The forum, or "HEARING" as Sen. Collins stated on my answering machine is for both sides to speak as to what they feel is best. Last year we had one of these meetings with former Sen. Kittell, & though she did NOT have many facts on the issue of a union for childcare, she stated she would vote for one because of (years ago) past personal positive experience with a union during her nursing career~ SO MUCH DIFFERENT than what we are talking of for childcare!! And at that meeting there were some from the Richford/Highgate are who were on board with the union, so PLEASE, call, email, write your senators to say no union. The union has promised better wages, working conditions, etc., & I ask you to use your common sense as to HOW they can do that?? I am paid independently by my families in my daycare, I set the rules/rates/guidelines for them & they willingly agree to these terms when we enter into contract just as I willingly agree to abide by the state guidelines for operating a registered daycare; certainly NO union could/would do better than what we do already. What will happen is to be charged more for services as a union dues will be required REGARDLESS if one wants to join or not.
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Who did the backers talk to other than unions? I wasn't aware you could force anyone generally across a profession to join a union. I'm aware of certain work places doing it but I bet it would be illegal in some way.
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nhibbard, They can not force us to join the union. They are trying to get the bill passed that if they are allowed to unionize they can charge the non members a "fair share fee" which is equal to 85% of the union dues that members pay. Their reasoning is that with collective bargaining and the claims that we all will benefit from their lobbying. They feel it is fair to charge us. So as far as a larger childcare center with 10 employees. My staff will not like this and may leave the profession. My solution is to pay it for them and increase payment from the consumer (parents). Not much else I can do to keep them. As far as the increase the union is claiming they can get for subsidy. Shumlin is already doing that without the union. They have won this scam in 16 states already 6 of them have overturned it.
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That is not a "fare share" if you did not ask for them to work on your behalf. I get plenty of benefits in life from the work of others. Plenty of lawsuits are filed that affect me but I didn't have to pay a dime. This makes no sense. If people want to work as a group to get better wages for their profession, fine, but don't complain when everyone gets that benefit. There are thousands of small organizations working everyday to benefit society and seek donations. Why don't they seek funds by that route.
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why dont they ask shummy for the funds ?everyone else seems to get in
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In one state that has over 11,000 childcares. 4500 of them are union. the 4500 pay full union dues and the other 6500 daycares that do not want anything to do with the union has to pay about $690.00 each per year in "fair share fees". It will be legal here if our senators allow it. We need all the help we can. Write/call your senators.
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Today is the day:
Senator Don Collins has requested a open forum for Franklin County residents to discuss views on childcare provider unionization. Open forum means he wants representation on both sides. In other words, every body on our side counts! This includes parents in your program, neighbors, family members, your husband (wife), anyone who is a Franklin County resident.
When: February 11th at 6:30
Where: Highgate Elementary School Library
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I will be there representing the anti-union perspective and will try and convince State Senator Don Collins that we don't need the legislature to establish a union for childcare workers in the state. A union will not improve childcare in Vermont and will only make the cost of care go up in the state, which is exactly what parents don't need. The Govenror's proposed budget already allocates money for increased subsidy rates for which is something those behind this unionization effort have been asking for. Vermont is already the healthiest state in the country, and the legislature is working on ways to make healthcare more affordable for everyone. With the top 2 issues already being addressed in the legislature, there is absolutely no reason for a union to be formed. I hope I can convince our newly elected senator.
My wife and I have been on both sides of the fence regarding this topic. We have shelled out a significant portion of our annual income to send our two children to daycare so we could both work outside of the home and several years ago my wife left her job at a bank in Burlington to open up a registered daycare in our home. Neither of us believe a union would improve childcare in Vermont nor will it really improve working conditions for those in the industry.
Hope to see some of you in Highgate tonight!
Thanks,
Todd Baumeister
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Unions, "Bullies" same thing in my book on a lot of levels. What are they thinking, fair share..... I feel like we are in NYC and you own a business and pay us for protection. That is total BS... I am sorry you guys have to deal with this..
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Well said MK!! If you want some crazy reading, read the bill that is now in the senate, S-52. They want "exclusive representation" for childcare providers, along with other crazy "BS" for sure. Say a prayer for me tomorrow as I am supposed to testify to the Senate committee. Since I want NO part of a union, the union probably would not dole out the $100. or more to have me parade around the statehouse in their blue t-shirts like they do their "followers", NOR would I want to be funded by them, so I will do my testimony over the phone, which is probably better as I just got my time slot & they are giving us 5 minutes to make our statements & answer their questions !!
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My testimony has been given~ phew!!!! Today would be a great day for everyone to call & voice against a union forming in Vt for childcare providers, as this issue is in the senate committee & they are hearing some testimony today. Also, Wed. Feb 27, at the statehouse, the Senate Committee on Economic Development, (currently debating the union bill), are hosting an evening hearing from 6 - 8 pm. This is very important for providers, parents, anyone concerned to attend & voice opinions. The union reps will be there in droves so we need all the support we can get!! PLEASE try your best to attend!! But at the very least, call your Senators, Franklin County Don Collins or Norm McAllister, to stop the union bill. 802-828-2228 or email dcollins@leg.state.vt.us or nmcallister@leg.state.vt.us
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I am sure you did a great job!! I will email them today as well to say I am not in favor of it!
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Thanks, MK! I gave it my best, worked hard on my speech, re-working it lots & was very nervous, but I did it! Thankyou for your support!!
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So I sent an email to both Don and Norm. I received a response from both by this morning. Don thanked me and Norm flat out said he is against it!
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Thanks MK!!! Your support is greatly appreciated by many! There is an open forum on this Wed. Feb 27; anyone want to go???!!!!! We need lots of supporters so they hear us!!
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I thank you to Mary Kay. I had a sit down with Norm and Don. Norm is 100% against it. (red faced when talking about the union) Don is personaly against it but he wants to hear both sides of the story before making a final.
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In case anyone wants to go to the public hearing in Montpelier. Here is the details.
The bus will leave the downtown Burlington YMCA BY 4:30 and the Richmond Park and Ride BY 5:00. The YMCA is chartering this bus for us, and if we do not have enough providers riding to make it worthwhile, they will cancel it. Therefore, please let me know today if you are planning on riding the bus, and at what pick-up location we should expect you.
We will have t-shirts available at the event for sale ($10). If we are all wearing the same shirt, it will visually make a statement. We need as many people as possible to attend. PLEASE do your best to be there and to rally parents, partners, spouses, children, friends, siblings, etc to attend with you. I will also have free VICCP pins for all!
Of course you can also drive yourself. Upon arrival at the Statehouse, there will be signs directing you to Room 11, and officials present to direct you where you need to go. You may sign up to speak (for 2 minutes) if you wish. We encourage everyone to sign up, even if you only get up to state your name, town and that you are against this bill.
Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of everyone attending. The sheer volume of numbers speaks. We need to speak very loudly at this event. Please feel free to email me with any questions at all, and let me know today if you are riding the bus and at which pick-up location to expect you.
Thanks all and have a great day!!
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Update, please read and comment on the website below.
http://vtdigger.org/2013/02/27/child-care-workers-testify-in-force-about-unionization/ (http://vtdigger.org/2013/02/27/child-care-workers-testify-in-force-about-unionization/)
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Sen. McCormack's comments were of poor judgement; glad he doesn't represent Franklin County!!
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This morning the Senate Committee is voting on the childcare union bill, something I am strongly against. If you are a Vermonter of legal voting age, can you please spare less than two minutes?
Between 8:00 and 9:00 THIS MORNING, please call the Statehouse at 802-828-2228 and ask to leave a message for Senators: Doyle, Cummings, Baruth, Collins and Mullin. The message is "vote NO on childcare union." You might need to supply your name and town. Then please copy and post this message as your status.
It might take a few tries to get through, however please don't give up. It takes less than 2 minutes. It is Very quick. Very Easy. And Very Powerful.
Thanks for your support!
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Update: senate did not come to any agreement today. The discussion today was about how the bill would affect the STARS program that already exists. I think the union is trying to replace it. Not good. The senate vote is posponed to March 12th. If it gets posponed from then it will be timed out if not settled by the 15th. From now to then if you could call your senator everyday and tell them you are opposed to the unionizing childcare in VT. Thanks
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The bill was just voted on in the Senate Committee and was voted NO by 3-2. (Mullin, Collins & Doyle No, Cummings and Baruth yes).
More later, but for now, a WIN for us!!!
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This was a huge WIN for us for now; but now more work begins as the union will try to sneak this in with other bills just as they did last year. No worries with something just passing through as we have Elsa Bosma at the helm & she is one smart lady & stays on top of this issue informing all of us each step of the way, all the while raising her own young children & running her own home childcare business. More to come & a big thankyou to all those who have called in support of us saying NO UNION for childcare workers!!
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Right you are 3plusk Elsa has done an amazing job for all of us.
Please consider sending thank you emails to the Senators who voted against S.52 this morning.
Senator Doyle: Wdoyle@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Collins: Dcollins@leg.state.vt.us
Senator Mullin: Kmullin@leg.state.vt.us
Nothing fancy, just a quick acknowledgement and thanks!
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I sent mine yesterday before Elsa posted it was a good idea to do so!! Thought it was important as for the many calls, emails & testimony I gave the committee, I owed them a thankyou for listening & really hearing our voice!!
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Again we are asking for your support to call our state reps & say NO to the union trying to form for childcare workers!!! We have been told there is NEW language about forming a union for childcare workers in the HOME Health Care Union Bill that many senators support!! Please call or email senators ASAP & tell them to not support this Health Care Bill UNLESS the language for childcare union is deleted from the bill!! Thankyou!!
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The sneeky Union won. They snuck it into a misc. education bill at the last minute today. All I have to say is good luck parents dealing with half the home daycares closing and/or the cost of childcare going through the roof.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9c61tfapyiembw2/Misc%20Education%20bill.pdf (https://www.dropbox.com/s/9c61tfapyiembw2/Misc%20Education%20bill.pdf)
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I just want to clarify something. I am not against union in the normal way between an employer and employee. But, this is not that type of union. I have never seen this type. This type of union will take dues from home daycares (self employed companies) and collectively bargain for subsidy rates for low income families. At most if any they will only raise it enough to get their dues paid. It has nothing to do with the care of the children. Nor does it have anything to do with the income in which the daycare owners make. Even still it is possible that the union could come in and mandate what these home daycares have to charge working parants and in return raise their dues. How do you think they had the money to put on all those lunchins on for the commitee down at the state house and pay all those supporters $100.00 per day to show up to lobby in t shirts (they fed them to). That money came from the parents across the country in states they have already won. Now our parents money are going to be sent to other states for the same process. I fail to see how the childcare industry are to benifit at all from this type of union. Shumlin dropped the ball on this one. He pushed for it. They say we have a choice to join. Ha ha. They are already talking, if you don't join there will be a diferent subsidy rate for you than if you where union or you would not be aloud subsidy families. (Good luck finding childcare in rural VT then), The other talk is "fair share fee" you have heard this with the teachers union I am sure. The other problem is if you do not join the union you will not be able to contact the state for anything. They control that. At this point this does not effect us being a larger center (we are exempt from this bill) but give them an inch and they will take a mile. Eventually they will have their claws in us. I am curious how our subsidy payment will be effected being exempt form this bill. We are about 20% subsidy.
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I'm surprised that in a time of tight budgets and jobless rates, there are still so many elected officials with such a myopic view when they hear stories from lobbyists. Unions can only increase costs, both financial and administrative. They will make the process more complex and burdensome when contract changes come up. As for the "fair share" fee, why should anyone expect that their work won't filter down to others who didn't bargain. If Staples offers something at a lower price, most other stores match it. I don't pay a fee to get that lower price. Whatever contract rate is reached, that is for everyone. If a daycare meets standards, they can charge the rate. Just a way for people who don't provide a direct service to further needlessly complicate a system.
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Page 19 of the link actually refers to a secret ballot. I love secrets when choosing group leaders. If the Board doesn't like you, you'll never know because the secret squirrels won't tell.
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Thanks Nhibbard for pointing this out. The union has made a mockery of our governmental process. The USA has always been a country in which the majority wins the vote. In this case we know only less than 20% of homes childcare want to be union. Yet the union can operate as the only negotiating entity on behalf of all the childcare in Vermont. I am out raged at the way this has turned out. We all need to take a look at our state government starting with the Governor then the senate. I am wondering where the senators that are against unionizing childcare are now. While this was going through the committee most of them where against it. They should be upset at how sneaky the union and their fellow senators were that were for the union. I am saying this is a joke how it has happened. We all need to do something about how this happened. Call/email your senators and let them know you are outraged.
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EVERYONE!!! Please call the Sgt. at Arms 802-282-2228 & leave a message for Sen. Jane Kitchel, chair of the Appropriations committee & where this current bill sits about the union & PLEASE ask her to oppose this bill & NOT let it out of committee!!! This call will take less than 2 minutes & EVERYONE's call is needed; whether you have children, grandchildren or not, we providers need your support; some of them do listen!! THANKS!!!!!
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We NEED your help!! The Senate Appropriations approved the Misc.Ed bill which included the Childcare Union Amendment bill!!! PLEASE call the Sgt. At Arms & clearly say NO to this bill!!! This call takes less than 2 minutes!! PLEASE read the following:
Consider the facts.
Of the 15 states that have unionized child care providers, only 6 have an active contract.
Only a tiny percent (less than 5%) of child care providers who pay dues or fees have obtained any form of health insurance.
All things negotiated by a union with the state are subject to legislative funding. This means that even if you negotiate a raise in subsidy rates or health insurance, you still can't get it until - or if - the legislature provides adequate funding for it.
When a union wins recognition through an executive order or a vote, it represents every provider in the bargaining unit, even those who do not want representation.
The unions have assessed fair share dues to non-members in every state in which they are legally permitted to do so. These fees are typically close to the same amount as full dues.
Since the first child care union was formed in 2005, unions have siphoned tens of millions of dollars from the child care assistance programs, even as many of those programs faced funding reductions.
Child care providers are independent contractors. We are small business owners - not state employees - and are therefore are not covered under the National Labor Relations Act. And, in most cases, we are not covered by any state labor laws which means we have no labor law protections and no way to decertify or break free from the unions once they are recognized.
As small business owners, we set our own rates, create our own working conditions, and determine what goes into our contracts with parents. We are in charge of our own success!
A large portion of union dues go out of state to the National Union and many of these dollars are not even used for child care unions.
All locals must follow bylaws and rules determined by the National Union whether or not those bylaws or rules support our profession.
Unions spend millions of dollars each year supporting political candidates you may not support.
One accomplishment the unions made in some states in which they reached a contract was increased subsidy rates. However, when subsidy rates are locked in, cuts to the program cannot be made by reducing rates; cutbacks must come from somewhere else. This has resulted in families losing their assistance after budget cuts.
Providers already have many organizations working on their behalf such as the National Association of Family Child Care (www.nafcc.org) and state-wide child care associations (Vermont Child Care Providers Assocation).
(Source: http://childcareunioninformation.weebly.com/facts.html)
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Relaying from "Vermonters For The Independence Of Child Care Professionals"
As I shared last night, the bill has passed out of Senate Appropriations.
It's do or die time.
This bill is scheduled to be debated and voted on by the whole senate on Wednesday and Thursday. Therefore, starting today, we need to get as many people as we can to flood the statehouse with phone calls every single day. These calls should come from anyone you know, not just childcare providers. Friends, family, spouses, childcare parents. Think about ways you can get others to call. Post to Facebook? Send out a broadcast email? Have your phone ready when parents pick up their children? Personally call friends and request their help? Post to a local Front Porch Forum? I cannot stress the importance of this task.
Calls take less than 2 minutes. Here is the link to find out who your Senator is by county.
1.Dial 802-828-2228 and ask to leave a message for Senator(s) _____________, _____________, etc.
2.Give name, town of residence and phone number.
3.Message is "Vote NO on childcare union amendment.
Remember, this needs to be done every single day this week by as many people as we can get. Thanks for your final push and I will keep you posted on any changes I hear of.
Elsa
We need all the help on this if anyone cares about the future of our economy. Childcare will be unaffordable for parents in these SMALL BUSINESSES. If you are a self employed carpenter, plumber, painter, tax accountant, any small business you can think of. This bill will be a gateway for any of these small business industries to be forced into unionizing beyond their choice. Tom
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Today is the day they start. please make it a point to call them today. Thanks
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You might want to wish Bill Doyle a Happy 87th if you call him.
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Please ALL that read this, call your senators today to say NO to the amended childcare bill that was attached to the Misc. Ed bill!! Call 802-828-2228 leave this message with the Sgt. at Arms; takes less than 2 min!!Thanks!! Below is a good article that appeared in Vt. Digger.
Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Bill Stritzler, managing director of Smuggler’s Notch Resort. He is past chair of the Vermont Business Roundtable, and he has been actively involved in promoting quality early childhood education.
Early childhood programs nationwide have been challenged with poor funding and low standards, while more and more research shows the benefits to young children and society in the long run. In Vermont, there has been recognition of the need to improve quality standards and add funding, most recently through pre-K and home visiting legislation.
The Vermont Legislature is debating an unusual bill that could undermine the work on quality improvement by allowing home-based child-care providers to collectively bargain quality incentives against the state.
It may be in the interest of the businesses to collectively bargain for the highest possible payments for the lowest possible quality standards, but it is certainly not in the best interest of the children we wish to benefit from early childhood education.
Vermont has adopted a program called Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS), which is a five-level voluntary quality rating system to provide financial incentives to increase quality of child-care programs. STARS is professionally administered by the Department for Children and Families, and it allows home-based providers to earn up to a 40 percent premium on state payments to their businesses.
Collective bargaining has historically played an important role in our society by allowing employees to join together to bargain for higher wages and better working conditions. But this legislative proposal is very different because it would be businesses bargaining – not employees – and they would bargain for their own quality incentives, and not for wages and benefits.
It may be in the interest of the businesses to collectively bargain for the highest possible payments for the lowest possible quality standards, but it is certainly not in the best interest of the children we wish to benefit from early childhood education.
The bill would allow collective bargaining of the financial incentives the state pays to providers at each of the five STARS quality levels resulting in a shift of payments for high quality to lower quality providers.
The incentives established by the state to promote high quality child care should be determined by the professionals at DCF and not by professional collective bargaining negotiators.
Vermont’s STARS program has gone a long way towards improving the quality of care that our young children receive. Let’s hope the Legislature doesn’t take a step backwards and allow the state’s quality incentives to be the subject of collective bargaining. That’s not in the best interest of our children; shouldn’t that be our most important concern?
Posted in Opinion | Tagged Bill Stritzler, child-care union, ep Ahead Recognition System (STARS)
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YES!!! It is not over yet but this certainly is good news for us!! Thankyou to all whom have called; YOU really do make a difference!!
This morning the Senate took up H.521, the Misc. Ed bill with the union amendment. The amendment was voted as NOT being germane. This means (in my terms anyway) that it is not relevant enough to the underlying bill. In other words, they could not attach a gas tax bill onto a bill related to childcare regulations because they are not relevant to each other. This is FABULOUS news for us!
However, I must stress that we are not letting our guard down until the legislature adjourns for the session. The AFT has multiple tricks up their sleeves and will not just go away this easily. We expect they will attempt to attach the language somewhere else, but every step of the way it gets harder for them to do. I promise to keep you posted as I learn of updates from our team at the statehouse.
This was sent to us by Elsa Bosma, an amazing woman who has led us in our struggle for NO UNION for childcare providers.
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Not much reprieve as the union language has been attached to yet another bill!! We received word it apparently it is attached to the Deputy State's Attorney bill!! These union reps are earning their pay BUT we need to stop them!! Please call the Sgt. at Arms tomorrow & say NO to the union language!!
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Who is the Sgt and what's the number? What bill is it attached to? What is the wording in the new bill?
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The # to call is 802-828-2228; our email said it was attached to the Deputy State's Attorney's bill; that's all the info we got as it wasn't expected to be attached to anything so quickly~ it went down in the am attached to the Misc. Ed bill as it wasn't"germane" to that bill. Apparently the clerks who take the calls did not know it was attached to another bill as they told some people it went down in the am. All the calls we get really help so thankyou!!
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A bill allowing deputy state’s attorneys to vote on joining a union is unlikely to pass this legislative session.
Last week, Sen. Dick Sears, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested that the bill lie, citing concerns that his committee doesn’t know enough about pay and working conditions for all attorneys employed by the state.
“We have so many attorneys working in state government, it seems to me. We’d have to take a real good look at that,” said Sears on the floor, before requesting an indefinite postponement of the bill, which the full Senate approved.
But Steve Howard, who lobbies for the state employees’ union, said he expected that legislation will at least clear the Senate this session. After meeting with the Senate Economic Development Committee, the union clarified minor questions from lawmakers, according to Howard.
“A few more senators have just some clarifying questions that we have to sort out, and then we should be OK,” said Howard. He believes the Senate will take up the legislation again this week, but does not expect the House to take it up before adjournment, which Speaker Shap Smith has targeted for Saturday.
The deputy state’s attorney unionization bill is among several labor bills in action this session. Others include legislation regarding “agency” or so-called “fair share fees” and efforts to unionize home health care and child-care workers.
Although this debate has centered heavily on inadequate pay for deputy state’s attorneys, Howard argues there are other issues at stake.
“For the deputies that I’ve spoken to, this is about going forward into the future, knowing that there is an entity here, that’s watching out for them, so that they don’t fall through the cracks again,” he said.
Sen. Philip Baruth, D-Chittenden, explained to his colleagues when he introduced the bill that the public sector deputy prosecutor jobs have suffered from “brain drain.”
Current pay levels for deputy state’s attorneys are “abysmal,” he said. Deputy state’s attorneys make far less than assistant attorneys general and often don’t receive pay raises.
Baruth said the Senate Economic Development Committee heard about a young deputy state’s attorney who works as a waiter in southern Vermont on weekends to make ends meet. She makes more waiting tables than as a deputy state’s attorney, Baruth said.
“What we’re trying to do is address a brain drain in the deputy state’s attorneys. … Often they leave the position because they can’t afford to exist on the salary they’re being paid,” Baruth said.
Posted in News Briefs | Tagged Deputy state's attorneys, legislature, Senate, unionization.
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We Won!
The legislature has just voted to adjourn for the session, and thankfully we get a few months reprieve before we are back at it again. But for tonight, relish in this victory and be proud of the work you did to protect your independence. I thought this quote was especially fitting tonight:
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
I don't necessarily enjoy this journey, but I thank you for being on this journey with me. - Elsa Bosma
Passing the good news on. Thanks Elsa for all you have done. Tom Feerick
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YAY!!! So happy for all my friends who work in this field!