In This Together CT

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…)

Leo Canty, 2nd Vice-President of AFT Connecticut, made the following statement today in response to the 2010-2011 budget package passed by the State Legislature late last evening. His comments reflect the view of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), where he serves as a representative:

“Our coalition of state public service workers long ago recognized Connecticut’s economic crisis required bold, progressive solutions. Our members did their part by agreeing to provide more than $700 million in savings. (more…)

The leadership of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) today acknowledged Governor M. Jodi Rell’s proposal to increase the income tax on households reporting over a million dollars in earnings, but said that it is only a “half measure.” In fact, some parts of the Governor’s latest proposal to reach a budget compromise will only make a bad situation worse. Her plan includes an additional $520 million in cuts to vital services, eliminates the millionaire’s inheritance tax, and reduces sales taxes, even those on luxury items.

“We’ve maintained all along during these budget negotiations that Connecticut’s crisis cannot be solved through cuts to vital public services,” said Sal Luciano, Executive Director of Council 4 AFSCME. “Our members stepped up this year and agreed to significant givebacks to help balance the budget. It’s too bad the Governor is still sheltering billionaires by cutting their inheritance taxes” Luciano continued.

Connecticut is one of the last states in the nation without a budget, and is the only state in the region that has not faced its revenue problem head-on. Residents have shown consistently over the last few months that they are worried about maintaining important services like Family Resource Centers, AIDS/HIV programs, and making higher education funding available during this recession.

“Our members who work in Connecticut’s community colleges are hearing over and over that students and parents are worried. They are worried that the Student Loan program won’t be there to help them with the rising cost of a higher education” said Steve Cohen, the President of 4Cs/SEIU Local 1973. “That’s not government bloat, as the Governor calls it. It’s a vital service. And the only way to pay for it is to ask the wealthy and corporations to help out” Cohen continued. “How does tossing the estate tax bring in needed funds?” he asked rhetorically.

Legislative leaders were scheduled to go into Special Session on Thursday, which has been postponed until next week to review the Governor’s proposal. Each new month without a budget brings a new Executive Order from the Governor’s Office and with it, more cuts in services to Connecticut’s vulnerable and middle class families.

Council 4 and 4Cs are two of the unions in SEBAC, which serves to unite approximately 50,000 Connecticut State public service workers to address issues of common concern. To learn more about the coalition’s campaign for a fair budget and a livable state with great public services visit www.InThisTogetherCT.org.

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Today, the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released new approval rating numbers for Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell. Now at a 65 percent approval rating, the Q-Poll notes that this is the first time in over five years that the Governor’s rating has dipped below 70 percent.

“I am not surprised that her approval numbers are beginning to drop,” said Ron McLellan, the President of CEUI/SEIU Local 511. “Until this economic crisis, Governor Rell could hide her allegiance to big corporations and Connecticut’s wealthiest citizens. But now, when the difficult decisions must be made, she has taken money from services that protect the middle-class and that support the most vulnerable among us — all so that the rich and big businesses don’t have to sacrifice.” (more…)

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) is praising yesterday’s vote by the Connecticut General Assembly to override Governor M. Jodi Rell’s veto of the Sustinet Plan healthcare bill.  This important legislation will bring much needed coverage to citizens of the state and will be a first step on the path toward economic stability for Connecticut’s struggling economy. (more…)

Today the Connecticut Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Connecticut’s state employee unions are entitled to a trial of their claims that former Governor John M. Rowland illegally fired 2,800 public service workers seven years ago. Rowland had requested immunity from charges he abused the power of his office to silence the voices of his critics when he fired thousands of members of the unions in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) beginning in November of 2002. (more…)

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) launched their 5th television ad in a series of increasingly pointed messages urging elected leaders to pass a budget that asks millionaires and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes instead of further punishing the middle-class and the state’s most vulnerable citizens. The most recent ad takes aim at the Governor for protecting the wealthy in a time of crisis.

“On the eve of June 30, the end of the state’s fiscal year, the Governor is still threatening to veto a workable budget that will help our state get out of this economic mess,” said Sharon Palmer, President of AFT Connecticut. “It is inexcusable that she is putting us all at risk to protect millionaires and others who should be part of the solution.” (more…)

Leaders of the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) issued a letter to Governor Rell Tuesday calling on her to make good on her comments that all Connecticut residents must “share” in the sacrifices necessary to get our economy back on track. Signed by the leaders of the thirteen unions that comprise SEBAC, the communication asks the Governor to consider increasing the tax rates for the wealthy as a key part of the budget solution.

“We respect your view that increasing the top tax rates on Connecticut’s wealthiest would be worse for the economy than the cuts you’ve proposed on Connecticut’s neediest and on the middle class,” reads the letter. “We also believe it’s dead wrong.” (more…)

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) released their fourth television ad today, which calls on Governor M. Jodi Rell to make sure that the state’s wealthiest residents and most profitable corporations do their part to ease the current economic crisis.

Last month, members of the thirteen unions that comprise SEBAC voted to accept wage freezes, furlough days and other givebacks to help the state balance its budget. The agreement returned $700 million to state coffers to help address the worsening budget situation. These working men and women voted in support of this agreement with the expectation that others would be called upon for “shared” sacrifice as well.  (more…)