In This Together CT

Leaders and members of the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) were at the Capitol today for the governor’s budget address as Connecticut begins its 2010 legislative session. Governor Rell addressed the General Assembly to deliver her proposals for closing the budget deficit. While her proposals avoided additional devastating spending cuts which have already cost our state nearly 50,000 jobs, they did little to address the underlying problems facing Connecticut. (more…)

Leaders of the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) met with representatives from Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Administration today to once again offer assistance with the growing budget deficit. In response, her representatives agreed to continue meeting in order to identify creative programs and policies that could increase government efficiency, save taxpayer dollars, and help rebuild Connecticut’s economy. (more…)

Leaders of the unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) have scheduled a first meeting with representatives of Governor M. Jodi Rell’s Administration on January 28 to explore “win-win” solutions for Connecticut’s lagging economy. Despite press reports over the past six weeks, the purpose of the discussion, as spelled out in the 2009 cost savings agreement between SEBAC and the Administration, is not to negotiate additional concessions. (more…)

State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) leaders and members are reacting to the comments of several gubernatorial candidates regarding concessions State workers agreed to last year. Any serious candidate for governor would not consider three quarters of a billion dollars in labor cost savings for State taxpayers over a three-year period a “joke.” (more…)

Members and leaders of unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) are reacting to Governor M. Jodi Rell’s lukewarm response to questions on her Administration’s improvements to the unemployment claims filing system. Residents have experienced extremely long waits at call centers and the Department of Labor’s (DOL) online filing system has not been able to handle the increased volume of electronic claimants. Cutbacks by the Rell Administration have resulted in fewer call center staff and less resources to cope with the nearly 160,000 unemployed workers in Connecticut. (more…)

Leaders and members of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) criticized Governor M. Jodi Rell today for her lack of action in bringing the Connecticut Contracting Standards Board to its full membership. The governor has failed to make all of her appointments to the Board, holding up its members’ ability to meet and carry out their statutorily mandated mission to ensure open and transparent contracting processes, which would save taxpayer dollars and improve delivery of public services. (more…)

Governor M. Jodi Rell vetoed both of the legislature’s deficit bills yesterday, calling them “feeble” attempts to solve the state’s budget shortfall. She called instead for lawmakers to grant her the authority to make additional cuts to vital services, between 10% and 15% of any appropriation if the deficit is between 3% and 5%, while at the same time refusing to agree to any new revenue generation.

Giving the governor more power to make harmful cuts to public services when people are struggling in a down economy would be unconscionable. (more…)

Leaders of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) today affirmed they are ready and willing to meet with the Rell Administration to discuss real solutions to the continuing economic crisis.

At the same time, SEBAC emphasized that they will not be returning to the bargaining table to negotiate additional concessions. At the beginning of the year, SEBAC and its thousands of members were responsible for providing Connecticut taxpayers with nearly $1 billion in savings to preserve critical public services. (more…)

At a press conference on the steps of the State Capitol today, members of the unions in the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) joined business, labor, education and advocacy groups to decry Governor M. Jodi Rell’s latest round of proposed cuts. The conference was organized by District 1199/SEIU, a member of the coalition. (more…)

State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) representatives today responded to the Governor’s latest budget mitigation plan with frustration over her continued cuts to vital public services. Yesterday, Governor Rell announced a $470 million proposal and called the General Assembly back into special session to vote on the plan before the end of the calendar year. (more…)