Looking for more voices!
Posted on | June 9, 2010 | No Comments
by Carol Caldwell-Edmonds
On an early June evening, after a full day of work at UVM, yoga, and errands,a gathering of United Staff supporters met at my place to rehearse the song, “Voices in Union” and to record a demo that others can use to listen to, and learn from . I wrote this song, meaning I started singing to myself in the car, while commuting to a house we are renovating to move into in Belvidere, VT. Yes, I will commute all the way to UVM, just prefer country living. I wrote this song, inspired by the recent weeks during which the New Union Project/HUCTW helped US make new friends across campus. Thanks to you who had great insights and ideas about what union representation should be like for staff at UVM.
I had the sense that the United Staff movement was growing in a new way, as we were beginning to connect with people from more places around the UVM campus.We were all impressed by the sense of community and connectedness here, and I began to see things from a new perspective. I realized that I was not the only one who could see “a better way.” So, I recorded my little “car song” with my home equipment, created the sheet music and made the recording. At UVM I manage the Helpline and Computer Depot Clinic, you now know how and why I learned about computers and digital technology in the first place.
I hope that when you read the lyrics, which can be found on the website, that you get the same sense of awakening to a different view, and the desire to awaken those around us to realize that WE are always here, doing the most essential work of this university.
I hope that you will join US to move toward an organization that I am sure will emerge to be unlike any union you have known so far. If you would like to add your voice to one more track on our recording, then email US at union@unitedstaff.us
Thanks for listening and joining in the chorus, so to speak.
Medical benefits for retirees - disappearing?
Posted on | May 28, 2010 | No Comments
Remember when Fiats were on the road? Those cute little cars that were high maintenance and didn’t last long? Well they are not the only thing that is disappearing- medical benefits for retirees, from the”non-represented” staff, that is. Check out Tim Johnson’s recent post from the BFP. The reasons for needing representation just keep rolling in.
To quote Tim J.: “[Richard] Cate told the board they [benefits] could be changed by fiat, except for the unionized employees, so we’ll have more negotiations to look forward to than we thought. A UVM study committee will be pondering all this over the summer, with recommendations due by Aug. 1.”
Many of the definitions for the word fiat include, “decree; an arbitrary order; edict.” Is that how you want decisions about your retirement benefits or any other important work conditions determined by “arbitrary order”?
Thought about signing the petition recently…see the link on the right side of the website and join more than 210 staff. Representation - who needs it? WE DO!!!
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The Mission of United Staff
"The United Staff mission is to create a clerical, professional, and technical staff union at the University of Vermont. We envision a campus where staff voices are heard and valued through representation in decision making for the campus and for the future of staff."
