The CT General Assembly was called into Special Session Tuesday (12/8/15) to address the projected budgetary shortfalls for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The Special Session was closed Tuesday night when a budget mitigation bill was passed in both chambers. The bill, which includes $350 million in spending cuts and other adjustments, would balance the 2016 budget. In addition to the line item reductions listed, the Governor has discretion to make additional cuts up to $90 million. The mitigation bill also has $190 million in reductions for FY2017.
Prior to the Special Session, there were proposals to implement a state employee Retirement Incentive Plan, however these proposals were not included in the bill.
There were several attempts to hinder State Employee collective bargaining rights during this brief session. At the onset of the Special Session there were a few anti-union amendments introduced which would have directly impacted State Employee bargaining. Fortunately, these amendments did not gain any ground but we fully expect the same anti-union issues will be revived when the General Assembly's regular session begins in February 2016.
The anti-union amendments unfriendly to state employees considered by the Legislature would have:
- Required the Legislature to affirmatively vote in favor of all state collective bargaining contracts, thus ending the current practice in which the legislature need not take action to approve third-party arbitrated awards or mutually agreed upon contractual terms;
- Would require each individual union to negotiate healthcare plans with the State, and (most egregiously);
- Would have stripped State Employees rights to negotiate pension plan changes beginning July 1, 2022.
These are some of the eye-opening tactics the A&R Union is facing. Together, with our affiliate, AFT-CT, as well as our brothers and sisters of the CT AFL-CIO, we will be monitoring activities of the Legislature. An informed membership is a strong membership.
Think Wisconsin- stay informed!
Jennifer Berrigan, our lobbyist representing State Employee interests via AFT- CT, provided a summary of this special session.