In this week’s dead-tree edition of Seven Days we brought you a story about the tumultuous tenure of Vermont State Employees Association executive director Mark Mitchell.
In the past five weeks, six of the union’s 19 staffers have left — and several told Seven Days that Mitchell’s the reason. Meanwhile, the new boss’ defenders say Mitchell is doing exactly what he was hired to do: strengthen the 5200-member union and fight hard for state workers.
We first heard about the brouhaha when we got our mitts on this letter to the union’s board of trustees. It was penned by former VSEA senior field representative Lucinda Kirk, who recently left the union to work for the state. Check it out for yourself:
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Don’t let the door hit you on the way out Lucinda.
I vote for Mark! He has done more for the members at the VVH than anyone else has in the 14 yrs that I have been a state employee. I don’t want a union that has coffee with management or friendships with administration….you’re representing the members. If you had did your job you would have the members support and I have not caught any such conversations in any union meetings I’ve attended. It was the choice of each person to leave and leave at that. People quit jobs all the time and don’t go on a rampage against their former boss. If all the staff put even an ounce of the effort that they are using to attack Mark into representing the members we wouldn’t had a problem in the first place.
I’ve been a VSEA member for over seven years and I have never been more satisfied with it than now with it’s Executive Director Mark Mitchell. VSEA needs the change Director Mitchell is bringing. Ms. Kirk and others have left because they aren’t capable of seeing the member’s perspective while they are too busy vying for jobs in state management. It’s really quite arrogant that ‘they’ think ‘they’ know what’s best for the union and that the members don’t! The point is that the members have spoken and we want Director Mitchell to lead. I think Ms. Kirks refusal to listen to state employees will suit her well in State Management . No loss here.
A couple of eyebrow-raisers here. One — my gut reaction to this letter is definitely tempered by the fact that this employee left the union to go and work for the HR office. That such an option wouldn’t be repellant to a union staffer is stunning.
Two — These union staffers felt intimidated and that is understandable, but did they pursue any form of collective action? Did they consider a joint letter to the board before resigning? What about forming their own union?
The process of forming a staff union can lead to deep understanding between union members and the staff that work for them. It is possible to have conversations about the power of collective action, the importance of fighting for one’s rights while simultaneously not demonizing the boss, and the aspects of solidarity that can unite workers across multiple industries.
One wonders how a union can motivate its members to engage in collective action to fight for their rights when the staff are unwilling or unable to similarly organize themselves.
The staff in the VSEA has their own union and no grievances were filed…so
As a Vermont State Employee who works at the Veteran’s Home in bennington, I find Lucinda Kirk’ letter Maddening! Mark Mitchell should be praised for his hard work and accomplishments with VSEA and VVH. Gone are the days of having one tool in dealing with unfair treatment of workers. Lucinda was unable AND unwilling to adapt to the new duties required. Mark has great experience in dealing with issues and that includes organizing. In fact, recently the entire VSEA union voted to increase our dues to hire new organizers to do just that!! Mark has done more in the short time to support and defend us at the VVH than Lucinda EVER did when she was suppose to represent us. Has Lucinda visited us and asked us how we feel?? I’ll answer that and tell you no!! Now she has joined the State in Human Resources. If she ever truly believed the principles of her job at VSEA time will tell. To me, this is nothing more than a disgruntled employee who’s time had passed. I know at VVH we are glad that we have Mark’s leadership and experience. It has long been time for a new approach at VSEA. Our union had become stagnant and weak. By organizing members and bringing out mistreatment by the state to the public eyes we are able to finally have strength in numbers!! Lucinda don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord spit ya!
Oh look at this! Mitchell’s little wack-pack from down south….if it weren’t for field reps like Lucinda saving your butts for YEARS you wouldn’t be there to organize. Do you realize you almost lost your own jobs and the homes for our vets, who should be our most respected citizens. One of your co-workers PUNCHED a resident in the face and you have the nerve to question Lucinda Kirk’s integrity?? Here’s an idea- maybe she was disgraced by the piss poor care this home has provided for YEARS! I hope the door hits all of you on the way out- when your fearless leader is run out of VT and your all either RIF’d or fired. Karma has a way of coming back to you.
I’ve been a VSEA member for over 10 years and I am disgusted by the mess that Director Mitchell has caused the union. His lack of leadership and recklessness is an unwelcome departure from the VSEA I know. most of our work force operates just fine, it’s the smalls few that cause problems. Now we all look like the problem! I am looking to find a way to leave VSEA. I am not paying more of my hard earned money to support “organizers” who will do nothing for the membership. This is just more of the same but out of the mouth of a giant loud mouth cocky blow hard. Hate to tell ya, but ya’ll are being taken for ride.
Propaganda spread by the state management in order to continue understaffing the vets home. We were on the track slated to lose our funding before anyone went public. The reason we went to the community is because no one in the state management would listen to us. We were being mandated to do double shifts (something that was suggested by a rep like Lucinda) for over three years. And even with that we were short staffed. Our near closing came from a serious of citations stemming from incidents where management knowingly violated industry regulations Which they would not have done had they had appropriate staff. Who doesn’t care about the Vets? It’s not the caregivers! we had community support from all over the state. It’s the administration who is more concerned with money. Now, they realize we need more funding and legislators are backing us. Lucinda didn’t do that, Director Mitchell did. Now we have agency caregivers so at the end of a long day we are allowed to leave and go home to our families. Lucinda never saved my butt! Nobody at VSEA was saying anything when VVH spent almost $900000 in overtime (mostly forced and having nothing to do with Irene) or when 20% of work force were being put out on admin leave for minuscule accusations that members of the management team regularly do themselves and much worse. Nobody stood up for the members when the asst administrator was threatening us. Director Mitchell was the only one who stood up up for us and now the same persons in state management who are used to getting their way when our rights get trampled are the ones who are making a misinformation campaign to make director mitchell look bad. It’s a freaking temper tantrum! Too bad!
VVH was slated to lose it’s funding before anyone went public with the issues. For over three years employees were forced to work mandatory overtime to fill the shift holes from being understaffed. The citations that were recurring and unresolved were the reason for near closure. Those citations were management knowingly breaking industry regulations which they would not have done had they had proper staffing. The alleged punching incident was isolated and had nothing to do with the funding freeze we were already under. You shouldn’t speak to things which you clearly don’t know. Throughout all of it, there was never anything but support from the vets, family members of residents and the community for the excellent care that the vets receive. Had Mitchell not fought for us, we would have lost funding because management has been allowed to get away with incompetencies for years. Now we have legislative support and agency nurses so we can go home when we are supposed to. Lucinda Had nothing to do with that. I am very concerned that someone so bitter and unprofessional who clearly doesn’t respect the representation that VSEA members have chosen is going to be in human resources. I think that will be really destructive to our bargaining process. This whole production is just another temper tantrum from a privileged administration who are used to being allowed to bully state workers
1. Mt Co-Worker did not “Punch” a resident in the face. We’ll let the coutrs decide that one. But I am very confident he will be found not guilty.
2. We do not provide piss poor care. If you ask any of our veterans, the would tell you they receive the highest quality of care. Documentation needs to be improved by we are DOING what we are supposed to to take care of the Vets.
3. I never questioned her integrity, I questioned whether or not she was able to adapt to the new requirements of her job. You cant just rely on the contract when you have an emergent need that requires outside intervention when administration is not listening to you. Mark is doing this. He is also working with administration in making sure that the employees are also cooperating. We all met with administration thurs and assured them that the union would NEVER encourage a “sick out” as they had implied.
4.I am thankful that we have had field reps. They are a wonderful avenue to deal with contractual issues and help employees ensure they get treated fairly under the contract. But, as I said before we need more to ensure the union becomes strong again.
5. And since you got personal with me….May you have diarrhea and not get your pantyhose down on time Paul.
This exactly why I want out of VSEA. Not only are you immature enough to say something about diarrhea in your pantyhose, you are stupid enough to assign your name too it. How shameful to your residents. You drag the rest of hard working state employees down and are cause for stereotypes about who we are as professionals. I hope the Gov, ahem- your boss, is reading. It’s such a relief that “you think” your co- worker will be found not guilty. That would really put me at ease if my mother was there. Since we’ve cleared up the abusive patient care, maybe Lucinda will only have affairs between staff members on taxpayer time and over all insubordination to investigate. I bet she’ ll be bored. A couple to resident’s broken bones,you know, just that “alleged” sort of stuff. Meanwhile-readers, if you’ve got a potty mouth third grader at home, he can have a long and fruitful career at the VVH. And if he’s totally marginal or just about to be fired- he can join the ranks of the VSEA activists!
Really? A temper tantrum? A worker expressing her rights to a bully…. Isn’t that exactly what you are asking for? To not be bullied by the people above you. That is exactly what Kirk’s letter asks for. She says that VSEA staff fear for their families and livelihoods and are afraid to speak. So if I have this straight, you want the VSEA to fight for you against your terrible bosses but if the union staff have problems they can’t speak-up?? Total hypocrites!
Sorry you feel that way. I disagree.
Well then you shouldn’t speak to things you don’t know about! Have you ever worked for Director Mitchell? Cases like this give people who believe Scott walker the upper hand. I’ll assume you know who he is…
As a proud union member, I’m really concerned about the direction VSEA is going in. I know and have worked with several of the staffers that left and am worried that our union has lost a wealth of institutional knowledge and a great deal of political influence. I can appreciate that other members have had positive dealings with the new director but we need to take notice when so many of our staff leaves in such a short period of time. Some of the stories I’ve heard from VSEA board members and others in union leadership make me question whether Mr. Mitchell isn’t perhaps a worse employer than the very managers he’s severing the union’s relationships with. These employees that left were good labor people and if if they were mistreated, we as members need to get to the bottom of it. We have an obligation to treat VSEA staff how we would like to be treated in our own workplaces.
I have never worked for Director Mitchell but I have worked with him. I have been in meetings where top state officials have yelled at him until they were red in the face, pointed their finger in his face and banged their fists off tables. I never saw Director Mitchell respond in any other way than calm and professional. In contrast, I was at the annual meeting where I saw Ms. Kirk being disruptive and disrespectful towards members. She did not appear in any way as one who was afraid, but rather as someone who was bold and careless. I also think it’s relevant to note that she didn’t write this until after she resigned and took a new role with HR. This is why I believe this is a political temper tantrum, because it is so similar to the tantrums I have actually seen with my own eyes. The Board will investigate properly and I have a feeling that Ms.Kirks true motives will come to light as she carries out her new job duties. The only thing that gives unions a bad name are politicians and corporate heavyweights who spin things to make members turn on each other instead of standing together in solidarity. Scott Walker, really?
I have a friends who has some inside knowledge to VSEA and I called around this weekend. This story caught my eye only because I had ever heard good things about Lucinda. She helped a co-worker of mine through a very bad situation about 8 years ago. He always said, if you ever need union help, call her. So this is what I found out:
1) The person I talked to didn’t want to tell me much about how their friend knows this info because they to, fear retaliation from the new director.
2) the new director makes $120k a year plyus perks and vacation time!! More than any director or even high level state officials!!!! That’s $120 plus another dues increase from the members??? That is outragious!! Why doesn’t he take $40k out of his salery, then he can hire the organizer and still make twice what I make as a state employee.
3) The person in the story defending the director, Reese, gets 100% release time from his job!! Yes, that’s right – doesn’t go to work! I looked him up in the state system and he makes $75k. Almost twice my salery. If I were him, I’d be in my car going around the state everyday to meet members. Is it even within the contract for him to have 100% of time off? I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen either of these fellows at my worksite. Seems there only down at VVH. I have problems in my worksite, maybe not as bad but we can use the help of VSEA and I’ve only seen a field rep. To add insult to this, I was told vsea officials get hotel rooms in Benn and take VVH staff out ot dinner!! Which explains why no other state employees except 3 VVH staff have commented. So no, Mr. Rose, the membership has not spoken!! Only the three of you at 2 for 1 app night.
4) And the hightlight of my conversation – wait for it….wait. The director assigned horrible, bad, unprofessional Lucinda to be the VVH field rep before she resigned!!!!! You beloved director trusted Lucinda to handle VVH for vsea bc she was so respected. This is starting to smell really bad, and not from the Admin side for a change. The Admin’sw #1 priority is not disrupting vsea. If that were true, it would have happened under the pay freeze, RIF, Douglas years. The more ou pull the layers back, the more this sounds pretty corrupt. I don’t know who it is, but someones got some ‘splainin’ to do!!!
As you can see by my other post, it seems you have this backwards. This is a temper tandrum from the director because his employee changed teams. He got his pantyhose (just for you, Mr. Potty mouth above..) in a bunch because he is under attack and treats his staff bad. that’s why they all left at once. These employees where there for years, I’ve never heard bad things about them. They certaintly didnt end up in this paper 10 months into their job. How much do you make a year, Rachael? Close to $120k??? you think its right to ask more of our dues money after I just got back my 3%? I’m in shock!!! Help, I think I’m having a heart attack. I need a nurse, but not the “probably non guilty we’ll let the cts decide” kind! And we hould all run for john reeses job. I’ll take his salery and not work. Just defend the director in the paper so I can keep my sweet gig. Come on- this isn’t right. If it were, the whole membership should be on here…or at least some of them. All i see is 3 vvh staff. there are 5000 other members?!? Where are they?? Where are the union officials making these dcisions? I want some answers from them, they are in charge of this mess.
I personally sent a letter to the Director when he first came on board imploring him to help with the CRISIS situation that was ongoing and daily at my worksite. I said what I was hearing from my coworkers, we were being treated worse than poorly, our rights to dignity, safety and to even be allowed to leave the building at the end of shifts were being violated on a daily basis and many of us no longer believed the union could or would help us. As a PROUD VSEA member, it made me very sad to think they were right. So what was I to do? I could keep complaining about it to people who weren’t listening and slip into a helpless depression, I could leave my job having done nothing to better the situation, or I could stand up for my coworkers and myself and personally get involved. This is what we are trying to do. The VSEA staff fight for us daily, but now we need to grow (hence the growing pains) and learn how to fight for ourselves. To be empowered as a STRONG union with many members who support eachother even though we often have differences. We went to our leadership and they ignored us, we went to the community and they supported us beyond belief. Guess what? Now we are moving forward! Things are slowly but surely getting better. Yes Director Mitchell came and helped tremendously with that, so did Gretchen our field rep and Many other wonderful VSEA staff. But we had to be the ones out there fighting for ourselves. VSEA just wants to empower it’s members so we can have a say in our working conditions. This personnell matter bothers me because as I said before, she didn’t give this letter to the board until after she crossed over to the other side and then she releases it to the press. And for what purpose? To stay with VSEA and improve her working conditions? No, she’s already gotten another comfy job. Seems to me the only thing that’s come out of it is disunity between members. Not the union way! We are a team a brother and sisterhood that’s meant to stand together but all I hear are people slamming VVH VSEA members personally when the reality is we are a very dedicated and caring bunch of healthcare workers and loyal VSEA members. So on that note, I would love to buy you dinner! I don’t know where they have a 2for1 app night, but if you know of any organic restaurants, I’ll buy!