Gov. Ned Lamont is hoping a friendly approach will entice state employees to sacrifice yet another pay raise.
concessions
Posted inPolitics
Despite no leverage, candidates promise labor concessions
While all of Connecticut’s gubernatorial candidates say they want more concessions from unionized state employees, the reality is the next governor will have little leverage to force negotiations until his third year in office. So, how do you cut a state budget dominated by personnel expenses if you can’t eliminate personnel?
Posted inPolitics
GOP quick to define a reticent Wyman as Malloy’s ‘enabler’
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman passed on trying to spin reporters Monday night after her tie-breaking vote in the Senate to ratify a state-employees concessions deal that Republicans are certain to exploit as a wedge issue in the 2018 campaigns for governor and General Assembly. The GOP was quick to tag her as “Dan Malloy’s chief enabler,” a taste of what Wyman can expect if she runs.
Posted inMoney, Politics
After day of drama, Senate Democrats unite to back concessions
On a tie-breaking vote by Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, the Senate gave final approval Monday to a state-employee concessions deal after Democratic leaders mollified three dissenting colleagues with a promise to make a good-faith effort for fiscal reforms.
Posted inMoney, Politics
With 3 still hedging, Senate to vote on concessions today
The trio of Democratic state senators moved as a tight knot through the State Capitol and Legislative Office Building, their mood seeming light when a reporter tried to press them on what comes next should they vote today to reject a state-employee concessions deal worth $1.57 billion to Connecticut’s overdue two-year budget. Yes, they can kill the deal, but then what?
Posted inMoney
AG opinion strikes middle ground on cutting wages, benefits
A formal opinion released Thursday by Attorney General George Jepsen warns of legal peril in rewriting state-employee contracts through legislation, but notes the free hand legislators have after contracts expire and the flexibility the courts have granted in some cases in the event of extreme fiscal emergencies.
Posted inMoney, Politics
State employees overwhelmingly ratify concessions
Unionized state employees have voted by a wide margin to ratify the concession deal negotiated by the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, shifting the focus to a closely divided General Assembly, where Republicans say they will attempt to reject an agreement worth an estimated $1.57 billion over two years. More than 80 percent of the votes cast favored ratification.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Concession deal sets today’s crisis against tomorrow’s
If Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and state-employee unions strike a tentative concessions deal this week, the governor and legislators face a crucial balancing test — setting today’s dire budget crisis against bigger problems that await tomorrow.
Posted inMoney, Politics
For Malloy, re-election is off the table but other tough tests loom
Within minutes of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s announcement Thursday that he wouldn’t seek a third term, speculation began over whether it would weaken his position with legislators, employee unions and other interest groups.
Posted inHealth, Money
State worker union launches TV ad to fight layoffs
Two days after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy threatened to lay off 4,200 unionized state workers unless concessions are granted, Connecticut’s largest healthcare workers union launched a television ad urging viewers to keep its members on the job.
Posted inPolitics
Navy praises CT-Sikorsky deal as it haggles over helicopter’s cost
WASHINGTON — The Navy lauded Connecticut’s effort to help Lockheed Martin cut the cost of the CH53K King Stallion, a new heavy-lift helicopter for the Marines, but the Navy and the company still are negotiating over the contract for the huge new helicopter.
Posted inMoney, Politics
State union negotiator resists Malloy bid to reopen benefits pact
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has formally asked to reopen a major benefits contract with state employees, but his request has been met with a qualified “no” from labor’s chief negotiator.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Labor in the crosshairs as budget crunch worsens
Connecticut’s labor leaders insist the writing is on the wall. Barring a dramatic new development, they say, state employees will be asked to grant wage and benefit concessions for the third time in seven years. But that doesn’t mean workers are ready to endorse more givebacks.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Some Democrats ready to talk about state worker concessions
Republican state legislators no longer are the only ones talking about an immediate need for new concessions from state employees. The top Democrat on the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, Sen. Beth Bye of West Hartford, confirms that Democrats on her panel have discussed the possibility of worker furloughs to mitigate recent cuts to hospitals and to services for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled.
Posted inMoney, Politics
House GOP renews pitch for more state employee concessions
While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Democratic legislative leaders negotiate the next state budget behind closed doors, Republican legislators tried late Wednesday to refocus attention on their plan to seek concessions from state employees.