Our state employees are facing unprecedented threats from political opponents determined to reduce their wages and benefits. This is not just a looming danger; it is an active and ongoing assault on the livelihoods of our hardworking members. Keith Phaneuf at the CT Mirror has recently published several stories outlining this threat, quotes below have been pulled from these articles. 

Adding to this peril are the fiscal guardrails, policies that are irresponsibly siphoning billions of dollars away from critical services. These controls, purportedly designed to ensure financial stability, are instead starving essential programs of much-needed funding. The impact is felt across all councils, including the state division, undermining the effectiveness of our public services and the well-being of our communities. Rep. Laura Devlin has emphasized, “We need these fiscal controls to prevent wasteful spending,” but in reality, these measures have locked away funds that could otherwise be invested in improving state services and infrastructure.

Our response to these dual threats must be robust and unified. It is imperative that our members are prepared to engage fully in the upcoming elections. Electing pro-worker and pro-union candidates is crucial to safeguarding our wages, benefits, and working conditions. Voting is not just a right but a critical tool in defending our interests and securing a better future for all state employees.

But our efforts cannot stop at the ballot box. Once the elections are over, we must remain vigilant and active throughout the legislative session. It is essential to make it clear to our elected officials that investment in state workers is synonymous with investment in our state and its communities. Republican Rep. Vin Candelora has criticized the investment in state workers, claiming, “Taxpayers can’t afford to keep funding these generous state employee benefits,” but we know that the prosperity and well-being of our entire state depend on our public workforce.

House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford, has stated, “State employees benefit from their pensions becoming more solvent as debt is paid down. And at the front end [of the budget process], they’re eating at the trough first.” This rhetoric aims to pit taxpayers against state employees by suggesting that our members are unduly benefiting from the state's financial management.

Furthermore, some legislators want to revise the budget controls, saving less and making more available for core programs. Others argue for changing collective bargaining rules and clamping down on pay hikes. “The only thing that isn’t really shackled by this [fiscal guardrails system] is collective bargaining,” said Sen. Eric Berthel of Watertown, ranking Senate Republican on the Appropriations Committee. Both Candelora and Berthel have called for reforms to collective bargaining rules, a process that would likely entail legislative action and negotiations with state employee unions. “If we’re going to continue to make forward progress with our budgeting and being responsible, then I think everything truly should be looked at,” said Berthel. 

The threats from political opponents and fiscal guardrails are real and immediate. We must mobilize, vote, and advocate to ensure that our state employees are protected and valued. An investment in state workers is an investment in the prosperity and well-being of our entire state.