On March 14, 2016, the governor, through the Office of Labor Relations, formally requested to meet with the coalition of state employees union leadership to discuss “concessions in the area of pension and healthcare benefits.” SEBAC leadership responded with the following:
“SEBAC Leadership is in receipt of your letter of March 14, 2016. We do not have the authority to enter into the discussions you suggest without the specific direction of our elected rank and file leadership. We would be happy to have a meeting with you and/or other appropriate representatives of the Administration about your view of the state’s fiscal situation and we will share our perspective as well. Let me know if you wish to have such a meeting.”
Is is clear that the governor’s proposal is to balance the budget at the state employees expense by reducing public employee services by laying off thousands of employees. But this will certainly hurt both our economy and our most vulnerable Connecticut residents.