Voter Turnout Crucial to Secure Democratic Rights

Far from being a solution, the newly issued Republican Contract with Connecticut and the national Republican Commitment to America would be a huge step backward for working class families and communities.

The Contract with Connecticut endangers the quality of life for the majority in our state. It does not tax wealth, does not tax giant corporations, does not take the big steps needed to change the fact that we are the most economically and racially unequal state in the country.

Instead it calls for local control. It fuels attempts to limit public school curriculum and exclude teaching about racism.

Instead of making voting easier, it opens the door to more restrictions, even though Connecticut ranks fourth in restrictive voting measures.

It would undo the long sought police accountability legislation negotiated by Judiciary Chair Sen Gary Winfield, adopted by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor, that holds police accountable and increases safety for communities. Despite claims to the contrary, crime rates have gone down.

The national agenda jeopardizes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, requiring that these earned benefits be renewed every five years. It jeopardizes the right of workers to unionize by eliminating the National Labor Relations Board.

The Contract with America that Newt Gingrich and the Republicans put forward in 1994 turned out to be a nightmare for low and middle income families and a gift to billionaires and corporate America.. It slashed funding for people helping programs, gave big tax cuts to the super rich, and eliminated regulations on giant corporations.

It has taken many years of organizing, still underway, to reject the divisive “trickle down” agenda that only benefits the top few. Now, in an attempt to attract votes for the 2022 elections, the same false promises have reappeared.

The Contract with Connecticut would undo the progress toward equity being made in our state as a result of grass roots organizing for living wages, racial equity, climate justice, reproductive health for women, and to reverse Connecticut's upside down tax system.

This election is about preserving and expanding all democratic rights. The results will be determined by voter turnout on November 8.

As Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO president, said “We are up against MAGA Republicans who are poised to strip our rights. The time to rise up is now.”

Graduate Workers Demand Respect and a Union

Pouring rain did not stop over 1,000 graduate teachers and researchers and their allies as they marched from Yale president Peter Salovey's mansion to his office on Prospect St. chanting “What do We Want? - -Union When do We want it? -- Now.”

The graduate workers are demanding university neutrality at all levels as they sign up their co-workers for union recognition of Unite Here Local 33.

“I know to be a good teacher to my students, I need to be trained, supported and adequately paid for the work that I do on this campus,” said Abigail Fields of the French Department who led the speaking program.

Graduate workers from departments across the campus demanded respect for their work and neutrality, including from the sciences, humanities and languages, and the professional schools.

Several told how they are forced to live pay check to pay check without medical security, despite the importance of their work to the University's functioning.

“In 1994 the University told us we did not need a union, we did not need jobs, we were working for pin money,” said Barbara Vereen chief steward of Unite Here Local 34 which represents 4,000 clerical and technical workers, recalling their organizing drive.

“Look what we turned these jobs into today! The best jobs with the best benefits because Local 35 service and maintenance workers stood with us,” she said pledging solidarity with Local 33..

“You are a part of the entire U.S. Labor movement!” said Gwen Mills, secretary treasurer of Unite Here. “We are calling on Yale to publicly commit to remaining neutral on this union election.”

“I asked myself how New Haven could be a place for everyone to thrive while Yale only has a few people's interests at heart?” said Mills. “The answer I bring is solidarity.”

Among those who marched with Local 33 were many elected officials, representatives of other unions and community groups organized by New Haven Rising.

Graduate workers first sought union recognition in the 1990s. During the most recent attempt in 2016 the university claimed graduate teachers and researchers are students not workers, refusing to recognize a union.

U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro kicked off the march calling on the university to “recognize the graduate workers and their union,” while U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This is what democracy looks like.”

Healthcare Workers at Windham Hospital Gain Support

Support for healthcare workers at Windham Hospital continues to grow as the nurses and support staff demand affordable health coverage and livable wages.

This week US Senator Richard Blumenthal joined the healthcare workers at a press conference saying “hospitals should be putting patients above profits.”

“Since Hartford Health Care took over WCMH, there has been a dramatic shift from quality patient care to positive operating margins,” say the presidents of Windham Federation of Professional Nurses, AFT Local 5041 and WCMH United Employees, AFT Local 5099. “HHC’s “partnership” and acquisition has led to the loss of vital services such as our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and our Labor and Delivery Unit.”

In September, they went on a 48 hour strike for their demands. At this week's press conference with Blumenthal, Andrea Riley, a nurse and president of Local 5041, said "We’re seeing a shift from patient to profit healthcare and that’s something we’d like to reverse back."

A community petition in support of the 400 members of the two unions sums up the situation:

“Since December of 2021, the caregivers at Windham Community Memorial Hospital (WCMH) have been laser-focused on working together with hospital management to resolve our region’s patient care crisis. Rather than recognizing its workforce by agreeing to common-sense solutions, the chain’s lawyers have refused fair wage increases and pushed higher employee insurance costs.

“We are calling on our community to join us in standing up to this heartless health chain. Help us hold HHC’s executives accountable to their patients and to their employees.”

The situation at WCMH is not unique. Healthcare workers across the country have been forced to strike while the CEOs of 178 major health care companies have enjoyed a 31% increase in compensation since 2019..

In May, Blumenthal was one of 14 US Senators to join Bernie Sanders in co-sponsoring the Medicare for All Act of 2022 which would save $650 billion a year, improve the economy and eliminate all out-of-pocket health care costs according to the Congressional Budget Office.

“Health care should be a right for all, not a luxury for some,” said Blumenthal. “Our status quo is unacceptable. Regardless of age, income, or zip-code, access to quality, timely medical care should be guaranteed for all who need it.”

Stefanowski and Logan Named Worst Environmental Candidates in Nation

The League of Conservation Voters named Republican Governor candidate Bob Stefanowski and Republican candidate in the 5^th Congressional District George Logan as among the worst environmental candidates in the nation, while upholding Rep. Jahana Hayes as an environmental champion.

The Connecticut League of Conservation Voters (CTLCV) announced that Bob Stefanowski has been named to the LCV Victory Fund’s list of the worst candidates in the nation for our environment at the state and local level, one of just 12 candidates in the nation to receive the dishonor.

“A Stefanowski administration would force us into four years of defensive advocacy against environmental rollbacks and fighting new gas expansion,” said Lori Brown, CTLCV's Executive Director.

In comparison, the LCV said, “Our current Administration has wisely focused on making major investments in clean transportation and reducing pollution to improve air quality, protect clean water, and preserve open space for the benefit of all. Stefanowski would prefer to spend our state’s surplus on tax breaks for businesses instead of investing in clean infrastructure.”

LCV warned that, “Under a Stefanowski regime, Connecticut’s regional approach to many climate issues could be jeopardized, including offshore wind, clean transportation, and renewable energy.”

“Stefanowski is a fundamental threat to the future of Connecticut’s environment,” said Brown. “Voters have the opportunity to reject Bob Stefanowski as a poor choice to lead our state towards a sustainable economy that values our environment,” said Brown.

Also this week, the national LCV launched TV ads calling attention to climate champion Rep. Jahana Hayes’ opponent George Logan, a utility company executive. While serving in the state senate Logan voted for millions in tax breaks for big corporations including energy companies, and opposed clean energy policies that would lower energy costs for Connecticut families and improve energy security.

“We must elect environmental champions this fall like Rep. Jahana Hayes who supported the strongest climate action in U.S. history, the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower costs for families and create millions of jobs,” said LCV Victory Fund Regional Campaigns Director Eva Estrada. “There is no place in Congress for pro-polluter candidates like George Logan who are completely out of step with the vast majority of voters in this country who support the Inflation Reduction Act.”