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Latest Unemployment Information Letter

Please click on the following to download the latest Unemployment Information:

http://eccaff.nj.aft.org/files/u_i_letter.pdf

Voting rights came at a high price in the South. Fannie Lou Hamer, a black activist not commonly known, worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to register black voters, regardless of the dangers.

2016 Tax Tips

This document also tells you where to find how much you paid in dues for 2016.

Marian Wright Edelman, president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, has been a champion of children all of her life. She believes that children need a strong, effective and independent voice since they cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves.

Two Year Budget Assumes $1.56 Billion From Labor

Governor Malloy gave his budget address to the General Assembly today. Not surprisingly, his proposed budget is balanced on the backs of state employees. His two year proposal reflects $700 million in "savings" from state employees in 2018 and an additional $860 million in "savings" in 2019. While his speech provided no details of where these "savings" would come from, his reference to revisiting the SEBAC contract makes clear his intentions. To put this in perspective, according to OPM Secretary Ben Barnes, in the first year, "savings" of $700 million could require a 10 percent reduction in the state workforce, or about 4,200 state employees.

Frustrated? Contact your legislator and make your voice be heard.

Meet legislators at the Regional Legislative Meetings sponsored by AFT (link).

Text of the Governor's speech (link)
Office of Legislative Management Budget Summary (link)
PowerPoint of Governor's recommended budget (link)

posted 2/8/2017

Regional Legislative Meetings

Lobbying isn't restricted to the lobbies of the capitol building.

AFT Connecticut sponsors regional legislative meetings throughout the state. These meetings provide the opportunity for members to meet with legislators to discuss issues important to them. Several regional meetings are scheduled in March and April. We urge you to attend a session. These are the people in Hartford voting on your future. Let them here your voice. Please attend one of these important meetings in your region.

List of 2017 Regional Legislative Meetings

For more information or to sign up contact Teri Merisotis at 860-257-9782 or tmerisotis@aftct.org

Posted 2/8/17

Special Notes in American History: Emmett Till: Teenage Martyr

Everyone recognizes the names of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. They are always associated with the start of the Civil Rights Movement. Their sparks ignited a revolution. But before their names were known, there were thousands of others, most of whom will remain anonymous to the history writers. One of those names is Emmett Till.

A&R member Charles Krich in the Spotlight

CHRO Attorney Charles Krich is the AFT-CT "spotlighted" employee for his work to protect and uphold civil rights in Connecticut. Attorney Krich has been serving the State and protecting the rights of Connecticut residents since 1981 and is another A&R member we are proud to have honored. Read the spotlight and view Charlie's youtube statements about his efforts.

Pension Funding Agreement Adopted by Legislature

THANKS TO ALL MEMBERS WHO CONTACTED THEIR LEGISLATORS
(Lobbying works!)

The pension funding agreement reached between the Office of Labor Relations (OLR) and the SEBAC unions was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly on Wednesday 2/1/17. The vote was very close. The House voted 76-72, while the Senate was tied at 17-17, with Lt. Governor Wyman casting the deciding vote. A&R President John DiSette and Vice President Mike Myles were at the Capitol lobbying on the Union's behalf throughout the day and got to witness some of the drama. Most notable was the recommendation to increase state employee pension contributions by 4 percentage points. This effort was led by Len Fasano and Themis Klarides (Senate Republican leader and House Republican leader). The State will now avoid Governor Malloy's "fiscal cliff" by normalizing pension amortization costs over the coming years. This will ensure that future pension obligations can be met and the pension system remains stable. The pension funding agreement does not increase employee pension contributions.

One crisis avoided, now we turn to the $1.5 billion budget deficits of FY18 and FY19. The Governor will give his budget address on Wednesday Feb. 8th. This will set the framework for legislative action during the rest of the session (which ends June 7th).