COVID TELECOMMUTING
After the initial workplace disruption and ensuing chaos caused by covid19, things are finally settling down at most agencies.  Many employees have adjusted to a work-at-home situation for most days of the week, settling in to a productive routine and, in coordination with their managers and colleagues, getting the work of the state done.  We are still working to resolve some issues.  For example, many employees were initially categorized as "Intermittent", meaning that they had to report to the office to perform some "critical" function from within the agency building.  If you have been so designated, yet you have been able to perform the "critical" function remotely (or if the critical function is accomplished in some other fashion and your physical presence at the office is no longer required) then by all means please communicate directly with your management team and the reduced need for you to physically report to the agency.  Do this with your safety in mind, as well as the safety of your colleagues.  We are approaching the critical point in turning around this pandemic and continued social isolation is the key to stemming the increase of infection.  With the goal of defeating the virus, let's ensure we minimize social contact for just a bit longer.  If you do not need to physically report to the office, yet still are doing so needlessly, discuss this with your management team.

HEP – OPEN ENROLLMENT DELAYED
The Comptroller's Office announced that the Health Insurance Open Enrollment will be delayed until September 2020 and that the transition from UnitedHealthcare to Anthem will not begin until October 2020.

MEMBER CONTACT INFORMATION
The union has been reaching out to members via email during this crisis.  If you did not receive yesterday's email from A&R then please provide us with your email address and update your membership information by completing the online membership card

ANNUAL CONVENTION
The A&R Annual Convention has not been postponed.  It remains as scheduled: Thursday, April 16th at 6:00 pm, however it will be held at the union office and not at the Chowder Pot.  Our intent is to hold the convention in our parking lot where social distancing can be maintained.  Registration begins at 4:30.  All attendees must register by 6:00pm to participate in the Convention.  This will be a business only meeting with only 2 items on the agenda; as we anticipate a brief meeting, no meal will be provided.

April 7, 2020

CTA won another victory in our ongoing  battle against the District to ensure fair labor practices and good faith bargaining!

AFT is now offering an additional benefit of trauma counseling.

We’re very excited about this new benefit and hope you are too. If you have any questions about this or other benefit programs, please contact AFT National at aftplus@aft.org. Thank you.

Tina Weaver
President, FOSCEP Local 2382

AFT Vermont nurses and healtcare profesionals at UVM Mecial Center, Porter Medical Center, Brattleboro Medical Center and the Community Health Center of Burlington have asked the Governor to:

The COVID-19 crisis has made maintaining a healthy work-life balance more challenging than ever. Working from home can feel very stressful, especially if you have children or older relatives to provide care for. The Employee Assistance Program is available to help 24/7/365. Deer Oaks EAP Services can be reached by phone at 1-866-EAP-2400, on the web at www.deeroaks.com, or by email at eap@deeroaks.com.

Your union officers are here to help as well:

     President Paul Angelucci         pangelucci@svft.org    203-627-0710

     VP            vacant   

     EUR        Bob Riccitelli            briccitelli@svft.org        203-640-8147

     Treasurer Emily DelPiano       elozinak@svft.org         203-906-2863

     Secretary Tamara Connors    tconnors@svft.org         860-459-9161

Stay safe and be well, everybody.  And PLEASE don't hesitate to reach out!

Members, these are unprecedented times and we are all needing to adjust to the changes they require. We appreciate all your hard work and what you are doing to ensure that students in the Northside community continue to receive the quality education they're accustomed to via remote learning. 

We want to hear your thoughts. Please fill out this survey today. 

https://bit.ly/NAFTC19Survey

This is a running list of resources for our WFNHP members and all healthcare workers to help get through these trying times.

COVID19:  While we have been chasing this non-stop for 2 weeks, we just want to let you know where we are now.   Most agencies have this in hand but we still have a few issues scattered about that we are trying to address.  Specifically, DMV is a debacle, DSS is quite chaotic but shaping up but we thank the commissioner for taking some actions to improve the situation, and the DCF Commissioner has done great and worked well with us for which we are grateful, but we still have some problems with the regular suspect over there (David Barry).

We are continuing to monitor all that is happening and we are pushing the message that all agencies should shut down a building if more than one case of COVID19 is confirmed.

We are getting questions regarding the conclusion of the 14 days of LOPD, we are not sure what will come next but we will let everyone know as the situation evolves.

EFMLEA/EPSLA:  USDOL has released guidance for emergency FMLA and Emergency Paid Paid Leave.   These documents are very similar to what the Governor had directed with LOPD, however, these begin on April 1, 2020.  It is uncertain whether these guidelines will be utilized when the LOPD time has expired or whether the Governor will extend the 14 day LOPD timeframes.  Please review the EFMLEA/EPLA guidance if you need to access paid leave resulting from the coronavirus.

Workers Comp:  Also, we are being advised that if you contract the coronavirus and you believe you may have contracted it at work, to file a WC-30 immediately and state that you believe that you contracted it at work.  We do cannot predict how these will be adjudicated, however, we also don't know if there are any long-term effects from this virus.  This is a pre-cautionary measure to be taken within 30 days to protect your rights.  Workers Comp 30C Form

Scholarships:  Remember that the A&R Scholarship applications need to be received at the A&R office no later than 4:30pm on April 2.

A&R Convention and Elections:  Reminder to be on the lookout for your A&R election ballot in your mailbox.  Voting is open through 11:59 pm on 4/15/2020.  We are still holding our convention on 4/16/2020, however, due to the coronavirus outbreak, we are forced to change our venue.  For now, we plan to hold the convention at the A&R Office, if necessary, we could hold it in the parking lot as a pre-caution for social-distancing.  We will continue to monitor the situation and adjust plans as needed.

Finally, some sensible action as the Governor had to step in and close the DMV-Wethersfield Office for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.   There will be no employees allowed in the building while the state tries to clean and contain the virus which was clearly being passed through that building.  Thank you Governor Lamont for hearing us on this and taking action to overrule the Commissioner and shut that building down!!!

We have 2 agencies that remain questionable as to their COVID19 response: one is DSS and the other is DMV...DMV is a complete debacle, as if no one is at the helm, while the DSS response has seemed chaotic and scattered, but at least manageable.  DMV has at least communicated with us, the only agency that has not communicated with us throughout this process has been DSS.  We now have a confirmed COVID19 case in the DSS central office building.  A&R has already responded by requesting of Commissioner Gifford and HR Director Davis that the central office agency should be shutdown through at least the weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday), as per CDC guidelines, as the coronavirus should not survive 3 days in the environment.  We will continue this push for the health of the people in that building.  In the meantime, anyone who beleives they have been in contact should inquire to HR about an immediate 14 day quarantine, or get a note from their doctor directing them to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days.  These situations should qualify you for the LOPD coding....remember, even if you are quarantined, you should continue to telecommute if possible.

As the situation evolves we will update the membership via the website.

Our number one priority is workplace safety.