The State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) stands 45,000 members strong across 35 bargaining units representing every Connecticut state agency. As of July 1st, current collective bargaining agreements (CBA) expire, leaving all of these workers to face an increase in personal healthcare costs while their wages remain stagnant.
Negotiation teams representing their colleagues have been working tirelessly at each of the 35 bargaining tables to reach agreement on successor contracts that address pay and other issues. However, after months of bargaining, our first unit has declared impasse. The Judicial Professionals Employees (JPE) Union, AFT Local 4200-B proposed a final offer matching that of the State Police Union (CSPU NP-1); 2.5% wage increase plus step with top step payments.
JPE represents over 1,300 members who work in 80 different job classes at nearly as many Judicial Branch locations across the state. Nearly half of the membership perform hazardous duty public safety functions; Adult and Juvenile Probation Officers and Juvenile Detention Staff. The remainder provide vital direct court and support services to state residents.
The counteroffer from the Lamont Administration’s representative to JPE was no wage increase, no step, and no top step payment. We would not expect a single one of our units to accept that offer.
State workers throughout SEBAC stand in solidarity with their siblings in JPE while they prepare for arbitration proceedings in late summer or early fall. An arbitration award would also still need approval from the General Assembly.
Our state workforce is the backbone of public safety, infrastructure, education and health—and the first line of defense when federal resources are held back. Yet with no contract in place, Lamont is asking workers to hold the line with one hand tied behind their backs. Our roads and bridges are crumbling while we scramble to recruit engineers and maintainers. Our public colleges are hemorrhaging from relentless budget cuts, forcing students to pay higher tuition. Our public safety professionals are stretched thin, asked to do more with less, even as the risks grow. And our healthcare workers—still carrying the scars of the pandemic—are being pushed past the point of exhaustion without the support they need to recover.
Governor Lamont must recognize this reality and empower his representatives to agree to fair and honorable contracts. State investment now is the key to truly safeguarding Connecticut residents and small businesses from painful yet needless cuts made by federal officials. The longer these contracts are delayed, the less our agencies will be able to retain critical talent, let alone recruit effectively to fill the thousands of vacancies that have been funded by state lawmakers. Connecticut’s workforce are our friends, family and neighbors. The work they do keeps our state moving each and every day. It’s time to stop the games and respect these hard-working people.
