Governor Rell urged to implement policies that empower State public service workers to reduce fuel consumption, increase efficiency in face of rising fuel costs

HARTFORD—Connecticut's budget crisis and Governor M. Jodi Rell's recent order to curb gasoline consumption in State-owned vehicles is renewing attention on the economic benefits of telecommuting for the State workforce. Public service workers united in CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 have reached out to the Governor to work with them to implement policies in State agencies to lower taxpayers' fuel costs and take as many as 5,000 cars off Connecticut's congested roads and highways daily.

"You could implement telecommuting and at-home work assignments without legislation by directing your Office of Labor Relations and State agencies to enter into negotiations for such programs with interested State employee unions" CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 Executive Director Robert Rinker told the Governor in a letter mailed last week. The legislation he refers to is "An Act Concerning Improved Telecommuting Programs for the State's Workforce," which the Senate passed in the final week of the General Assembly's 2008 session, but which did not get called for a vote in the House.

Testifying in support of the bill at legislative hearings earlier this year, members of the union told lawmakers that Connecticut lagged far behind other states and the federal government in the number of its public service workers who are telecommuting. Despite passing a law directing the Department of Administrative Services to develop and implement policies for State employees more than ten years ago, less than half of one percent of the workforce was telecommuting when it was reviewed in 2005.

"It's not unusual for a co-worker to commute thirty miles into Hartford to pick up a State vehicle, and then drive back to the same part of the state where they live to do field work" Dawn McKay, an environmental analyst in the State Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Wildlife Division said. "Then at the end of the day, they drive back to Hartford to drop off the vehicle, get in their personal car, and drive back home again" she continued. "With the price of gas creeping up to $5.00 a gallon, allowing more public employees to telecommute is not just good for the environment; it's good for taxpayers!" she concluded.

In late-May, Governor Rell ordered the heads of all State agencies to do more to reduce fuel consumption in State-owned vehicles. Citing staggering increases in the price of gasoline, she reiterated conservation goals of ten percent by June 30, and twenty-five percent by June of next year. Members of the union are urging the Governor to set similar goals for expanding telecommuting options for the State's workforce.

CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents 25,000 active and retired public sector workers across Connecticut. Visit www.seiu2001.org online for more information about its members' efforts to lead for deliver quality, reliable, and cost-effective public services to Connecticut taxpayers.