LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) is a broad coalition of unions who represent workers in a wide variety of State agencies, serving Connecticut citizens in many areas that affect all our daily lives; public health, social services, education, public safety, environmental protection, criminal justice, transportation, corrections, and services for the blind, and developmentally disabled.
SEBAC’s legislative priorities are intended to advance our goals of protecting public services and creating a robust public sector that serves the needs of all residents of Connecticut and advances racial, social, and economic justice.
Fully Fund and Expand the State Contracting Standards Board (SB 473). Ensure clean contracting and prevent counterproductive privatization by fully funding the State Contracting Standards Board and enhance its capacity by funding five new positions: Chief Procurement Officer, Staff Attorney, Accounts Examiner, Research Analyst and Trainer.
Improve Staffing with Automatic Refills and Continuous Recruitment (HB 5445). This bill would allow us to restore public services by making it faster to hire. Instead of having to approve and then post a job - which takes time - continuous recruitment would keep a job post active and allow people to continuously apply so that they can be continuously hired. This bill would also require that a vacant position be filled immediately after it is identified as a vacancy. There should not be a 6-8 month process to refill a position. It should automatically be approved and the process started. This would ensure that the State refills all positions that are lost due to retirements or quits during this biennium.
Training Fund (SB 419). Establish a training fund for career development within State service. This will help the State staff hard-to-fill positions internally. It will also assist employees in lower paid positions with upward mobility.
Zero Tolerance Policy and Ombudsperson for Racial Justice (SB 420). Require each state employer to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for using managerial authority for discrimination or retaliation against those who complain of discrimination. Create an ombudsperson who answers to a labor management committee and reports directly to the governor and the General Assembly. Is accountable for ensuring consistent measurable progress towards eliminating systemic racism in state government.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES SPECIFIC TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Mental Health Counseling. Students are seeking out mental health services, and colleges are not able to keep up with the demand. The CSCU System falls short of the IACS recommended ratio of one licensed counselor for every 1,500 students at every public college and university campus.
Unemployment Benefits for Adjuncts (HB 5030). Part-time employees in higher education are often denied unemployment benefits because a representative looks back at previous employment records to determine if there is a "reasonable assurance" of rehire. Our legislation will require higher ed employers to tell the Department of Labor which employees have an assurance of rehire, so those who do not can apply for unemployment benefits.
State College and University Consolidation (HB 5300). Protect access to public higher education by requring legislative approval for the merger or closing of institutions within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities.
Protecting UConn Health. The pandemic has underscored the importance of having a public academic health system that seeks to provide care regardless of insurance type. We are monitoring legislation to ensure that UConn Health remains a public institution, and not handed over to large corporations through privatization.
Faculty Voting Positions on the CSCU BOR & UCONN BOT (HB 5031). Currently, the chair and vice chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the BOR serve as ex-officio members of the BOR. This legislation will allow them a vote. Similar legislation will allow faculty members a vote on the UCONN Board of Trustees.
Food and Housing Insecurity (HB 5033 & HB 5136). A significant percentage of college students worry about having enough food to eat. Some students do not have a permanent home. We support the legislation that will help alleviate these challenges for our students.
