R-213 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-213. House concurrent resolution congratulating the Vermont State Employees’ Association on its 80th anniversary.
(H.C.R.159)
Offered by: Representatives Oliver of Sheldon, Garofano of Essex, and Hooper of
Burlington Whereas, in 1944, a group of State of Vermont employees formed the Vermont State Employees’ Association (VSEA) to advocate before the General Assembly on behalf of
their colleagues, and Whereas, during the first quarter century of the organization’s existence, the VSEA,
bereft of any state employee collective bargaining rights, was unable to negotiate directly with State officials on any aspect of State employment, and Whereas, the first breakthrough on this challenge was the enactment of the State Employees Labor Relations Act, 1969 Acts and Resolves No. 113, Sec. 1, which authorized collective bargaining on working conditions but, with respect to wages and salary schedules, only “to the extent they are inconsistent with rates prevailing in commerce and industry for comparable work within the state,” and Whereas, the VSEA continued to advocate for full collective bargaining rights with respect to compensation, and, in 1977 Acts and Resolves No. 109, Sec. 5, the General Assembly established these rights for this fundamental employment element, and Whereas, over the decades, the VSEA has expanded the scope of its employee representation to include nine bargaining units that now encompass corrections, the Defender General, a housing authority unit, the Judiciary, a nonmanagement unit, the State’s Attorney’s office, the State deputy sheriffs, supervisory employees, and the Vermont State Colleges, and Whereas, the VSEA is governed through its Board of Trustees and, ultimately, the over
120-member VSEA Council, and it is organized into 14 regional chapters plus two specialized chapters, one for retirees and a second for the Vermont State Hospital, and Whereas, the nearly 6,000-member VSEA is a proudly independent organization focused exclusively on advocating and bargaining for the best interests and economic well-
being of Vermont State employees, and it vigorously pursues these objectives, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the Vermont State Employees’ Association on its 80th anniversary, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the VSEA.
VT LEG #374972 v.1