Dozens Pedal for Palestine

 

 Dozens of New Haveners cycled and spoke to draw public attention to the catastrophic destruction of life and civilian infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank regions of Palestine. The cyclists navigated a 7 mile route through the streets of New Haven. Speakers at 6 stops along the way highlighted the effects on Palestinian civil society in the areas of education, water sovereignty, press freedom and safety, health care, food sovereignty, and access to the sea. At each of the stops, professionals spoke on the effects of apartheid and genocide in their areas of expertise.

The cycling event was organized by Jewish Voice for Peace New Haven.

 

In her remarks, Jewish Voice for Peace member Ellen Rubin said: “Gaza is now the global epicenter of child/family suffering: It has the highest number of orphans, amputees and trauma victims on Earth Over 700 attacks on Health facilities have left more than 96% of Gaza’s hospitals destroyed or damaged

*Healthcare and aid workers have been targeted, killed, detained w/o charge, tortured & even murdered while in prisons”

Tagan Engel and Jamilah Rasheed are two longtime New Haven food and land justice activists who work everyday to protect the fundamental rights of every single human being to have food, clean water, and self determination. They together asked “Can you imagine if 4 times the population of New Haven were literally dying from starvation right now, and all the people in bordering towns had nothing to eat or drink for days on end - all while food and water could easily be brought in from Milford, Cheshire and Branford if the occupying government would allow it?”

The Narrative Project founder and CEO Mercy Quaye spoke to the need for activists to continue speaking truth to counter the silence and misinformation that is so prevalent in American mainstream media in reporting about Palestine.

We call on our members of Congress to sign on to H.R.3565, known as the Stop Arming Israel bill. To date, the legislation has 49 co-sponsors, but none in Connecticut. All of our members must support this critical legislation.

CCAG Demands Health Access be Protected for All

 

If Congress does not act by November 1 to extend enhanced premium tax credits, one third of the people buying insurance on Connecticut's Access Health CT exchange will be forced off, unable to afford health insurance.

At a Hartford press conference with Connecticut Citizens Action Group about HR1, Sen. Richard said the bill, is "Trumpian - cruel and stupid. Cruel in denying people care, and stupid, in making everyone and the system less effective."

"Our entire healthcare system is collapsing under its own weight," said Health Care Advocate Kathleen Holt. When the number of uninsured skyrockets, we will all pay more - and they will resort to emergency rooms for care.

Most of the people whose rates will skyrocket have no idea this is coming, or what is causing it.

"Who can afford these increases?" CCAG's Tom Swan asked. "The very rich people who also got Trump's tax cuts.”

"The cruelty in this bill doesn't just happen in December," he added. "Many of the changes to Medicaid don't go into effect until after the 2026 midterms.

"The Republicans and Donald Trump don't care if people go without care and die....Senator Blumenthal called this policy stupid; I think it's evil. The cruelty is the point. We will do everything in our power to protect access to care for all people."

Medical costs are responsible for most bankruptcies and for people losing their homes, Blumenthal said. "Healthcare costs are rising astronomically, aggravated by the cruel and stupid policies coming out of Washington DC."

CCAG and allies are calling on Governor Lamont and lawmakers to convene a special session of the Legislatione and reject the cruel Trump budget cuts.

Food Service Workers Picket for a Fair Contract and No Strikebreakers on CT State University Campuses

NEW HAVEN, CT—September 17, 2025—Union members and allies rallied on Southern Connecticut State University’s campus to demand a fair contract for Sodexo workers at CT State University campuses. In addition, workers called on university leadership to advocate for a peaceful resolution and forbid all strike-breaking tactics from CT State University campuses.  

At the rally Nicholas McDonald, a food service worker at SCSU, emphasized the hardship he and his co-workers are facing. ““I’ve been talking to my coworkers. We’re all talking about how times are hard and we need a fair contract,” he said. “We’re in this fight and we’re not going to back down, because this is about survival.”

Joshua Stanley, Secretary Treasurer of Local 217, framed the struggle within a broader national conversation about economic inequality. “It is food service workers like those at CCSU and SCSU who are saying enough is enough, we need a fair contract now.” He urged Sodexo to consider the quality of life for its workers.

A huge inflated Scabby the Rat caught students' attention and some took photos after learning about the contract fight of the food service workers who make their meals. Three huge billboards with photos of all the workers were headlined, “We Don't Want to Strike But We Will.”

After rallying in front of Connecticut Hall with union allies, New Haven Rising and elected officials the picket moved across campus for a second rally.

Two hundred and eighty UNITE HERE Local 217 food service workers at SCSU, CCSU, and WCSU have been negotiating a new contract with their employer, Sodexo, since March. The $9 billion multinational company is refusing to meet the workers’ demands of a real living wage and negotiations for a fair contract have stalled.

As a result of these stalled negotiations, hundreds of Local 217 food service workers picketed Sodexo on CCSU’s campus in August to demand a fair contract. Workers and allies sent nearly 1,700 letters to university leadership calling on them to support the workers’ demands for a fair contract. And democratic leaders from around the state reached out to university leadership urging resolution of the labor dispute.

Instead of encouraging a peaceful resolution to the labor dispute on campus, after the August picket university leadership publicly endorsed the company’s “contingency plans” in the event that the company forces the workers out on strike. Endorsing strikebreaking tactics such as the use of replacement workers and meal tickets for outside venues and food trucks encourage a disruptive and wasteful labor conflict instead of resolving it.  

 
Democratic elected officials from around the state have already urged the company to work towards a fair contract and encouraged the university leadership to support the workers.

Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz attended the picket at SCSU saying “UNITE HERE has always stood up for workers’ rights, dignity, better wages and benefits at the University of New Haven, the Omni Hotel, the Hyatt and more—and from picket lines to rallies, we’ve fought alongside them.”

The went on to say, “ We support the members of UNITE HERE Local 217, who provide quality food service to our university campuses and ask Sodexo to step up and negotiate in good faith. These workers have kept our campuses running during challenging times, ensured students and faculty had access to food and now are simply asking for living wages that catch up with inflation. Let’s get this deal done.” 

Senate President Pro Temp;ore Martin Looney also joined the picket at SCSU. Standing firm for the rights of the workers he said, “Public universities must never endorse strike-breaking tactics that will protract a dispute that would damage the academic community and divide our campuses. Especially when the dispute is between a multibillion-dollar company and workers who pay taxes that fund the universities and live in the university communities,”  

“The universities need to be clear with Sodexo that the only solution to end this labor crisis is to bargain a fair contract with Local 217.” Looney saaid.

Nick McDonald, a food service worker at Southern said, “I’ve been talking to my coworkers. We're all talking about how times are hard and we need a fair contract. We’re in this fight and we’re not going to back down, because this is about survival.”  

“We are sending two messages today,” said Stanley. “First, we want to get this done, but if the company is not ready to do that, we are setting strike votes. Second, public university leadership in Connecticut must take positions in line with the Democratic Party and basic respect for workers by saying no scabs on campus. Saying yes to plans for strikebreakers is not only going against moral principles, it makes a prolonged labor conflict more likely.”  

As negotiations remain at a deadlock, the food service workers are not backing down. They continue to rally for a contract that provides a living wage and better working conditions, asserting their fight is about survival and economic justice.

SCSU food service employees are scheduled to vote on whether to authorize a strike on September 24, 2025.

AFT President Visits New Haven Schools Amid Trump Funding Threats

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers came to New Haven to visit The Sound School and Truman School, showcasing nation-leading career and technical education initiatives under threat of being defunded by President Trump and House Republicans. Their fiscal 2026 budget bill plans to cut $12 billion out of federal education funding as the administration plans to abolish the education department.

The leader of the 1.8-million-member union visited the Pre K-8 Truman School that receives significant support from federal Title I grants which assist students from low income families. In Loles Gomez's fifth grade class Weingarten joined in a bilingual game of musical chairs.

The school features teacher-led lessons with online platforms and iPads, Chromebooks, and interactive projectors, bilingual programs and wraparound services, including a school-based medical clinic and donation closet with clothing for families in need.

Weingarten’s second stop highlighted the work of The Sound School, an interdistrict aquaculture and agriculture science and technology education center (ASTE) designed specifically for aquaculture and marine trades. The Sound School is the first full-time ASTE center in the state focused on these fields, and is a hands-on, career-oriented high school, blending college-prep with strong vocational training.

Leslie Blatteau, president of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, and State Senator and AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel highlighted the threatened programs, which help students thrive and secure jobs and further study in teaching, medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, sports and alternative medicine, nutrition, culinary arts, hospitality and more.

“There’s a lot of struggle going on right now and we still are so very much committed to the work of our public school educators and union members and to the promise of public education in this city and this state,” Blatteau said.

“NHFT is proud to recognize all of our members who consistently go above and beyond for New Haven students, families, and community as we fight for the world class public schools that our students deserve.,” she added.

90 Organizations call for Stronger Trust Act

 

In response to the ramped up seizing and detention of immigrants without due process, 90 labor, community and faith organizations have called upon the Governor and Legislative leaders to hold a special session and strenthen protections to the Trust Act. Excerpts follow:

“We write on behalf of 90 Connecticut organizations committed to immigrant rights, civil rights, human rights, gender rights, workers rights, and racial justice to express urgency and demand that Governor Lamont and Legislative Leadership take action to protect our immigrant communities during the upcoming special session.”

“Armed and masked ICE agents are terrorizing our communities — abducting parents in front of their children, targeting workers, and tearing students from their futures. These actions violate the dignity, safety, and basic rights of our neighbors. This is a campaign of fear, and it has no place in our state.

“Our Call to Action

Immediate and urgent action is needed to prevent our state and local resources from being used to advance the federal government's cruel mass deportation agenda.

● Protect the Personal Information of our immigrant community and all CT residents.

● Prohibit ICE arrests at courthouses, including travel to and from the courthouse, and empower judges to enforce this rule. Provide the option for remote appearances.

● Preserve HUSKY Medicaid for undocumented children and pregnant individuals:

● Make our Communities Safer:

○ Prohibit Connecticut’s National Guard from participating in federal immigration enforcement and prevent out-of-state militias from conducting immigration-related operations within the state.

○ Prevent Local Law Enforcement from Assisting ICE:

“Safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP are being cut to subsidize the tripling of the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and tax breaks to the ultra wealthy. As a result, all working families will struggle more than ever to make ends meet, including undocumented immigrant families. We cannot let Connecticut be complicit. Connecticut must be a safe and welcoming place for all of us, regardless of immigration status.
“We will remember who was silent and complicit in fascism and who stood on the right side of history to confront it.”