Contracts for 45,000 State Workers Filed with the General Assembly

After a year and a half of tough negotiations,  32 bargaining units representing nearly 45,000 state employees have tentative agreements for successor contracts that their union members have overwhelmingly ratified. The agreements have been filed with the General Assembly for legislative approval, and state workers are urging their representatives to vote in favor in order to reinvest in “The Connecticut Difference.” 

“As recruitment and retention challenges have intensified across the public safety sector, our members have remained unwavering in their commitment. Each day, our members answer the call to serve—standing ready at a moment’s notice to protect the lives, property, and well-being of every resident and visitor in Connecticut,” said Dan Starvish, President IAFF Local S-15, State of CT Fire Fighters, “This contract represents a meaningful investment and while it marks important progress, it is not the end of the work. Addressing ongoing recruitment and retention challenges remains essential to ensuring the long-term strength and effectiveness of Connecticut’s public safety workforce.”

“Every day, state workers keep Connecticut running, protecting the public’s safety, caring for vulnerable residents, supporting students and families, maintaining our roads and infrastructure, and delivering the essential services our communities rely on,” said Jody Barr, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 4, “Protecting our state’s excellent public services begins with supporting the selfless public servants who provide them.”

“Every day state employees show up to keep our roads maintained, schools resourced, and communities and environment safe, even while chaos in Washington unfolds,” said Travis Woodward, Department of Transportation Supervising Engineer and President of CSEA SEIU Local 2001, “These contracts represent a reasonable step towards the recruitment, retention and reinvestment needs of our public services.”

"When my father immigrated to the United States at the age of 21, he enrolled in night school at Kaynor Tech in their electrical classes, a program taught by state employees like me, so that he would have a career that could support his growing family,” said Makenzi Hurtado, president of the State Vocational Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 4200A, “Now 45 years later, our public services still create opportunities for workers to support their families. Fair and honorable contracts like these ensure this important work can continue."