Unite Here Workers Demand Fair Contracts

Dozens of unionized workers at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Hartford staged a show of force on May 29, marching into their employer’s office and declaring that the vast majority of the hotel’s workforce is prepared to strike if a favorable contract is not reached

Despite running hotels on publicly-owned land and receiving significant support from taxpayer-funded initiatives, the Waterford Group, which owns the Hartford Doubletree, is refusing to agree to a contract that provides similar raises as other union hotels and union food service entities across the state. The workers are demanding a fair contract.

After months of stalled contract negotiations, the members of Unite Here sent a delegation with elected allies to hotel management delivering photos of the workers who have committed to go on strike if they have to, totaling over 80% of the workforce.

In New Haven the week before, during graduation ceremonies at Yale University, clerical and technical workers and service and maintenance workers, members of Unite Here Locals 34 and 35, sent the same message.

Greeting family members of the graduates with postcards saying “Congratulations” on one side, and “We Can't Keep Up,” on the other side, they let the parents and graduates know that Yale University with its $44 billion endowment, is disregarding the workers who enable students to learn and live.

“Yale's endowment gains millions every day while we fight to keep up. We're united to win a great contract! “ says the union.

Many parents, family members and graduates offered supportive comments for the work that the union membes do to enable their education.

The University has been stalling although the contracts expire in January. Meanwhile grievances about layoffs and rising health costs are mounting.

Also in New Haven, all Unite Here CT locals are joining with dozens of other labor, community and immigrant organizations for a national day of action, “Health is Primary! Cuts Kill!” A vigil at Amistad Park, 104 Washington Ave on Friday June 5 at 6 pm will raise awareness of federal health care cuts and call on federal, state and local leaders to protect and expand affordable, accessible health care.

Brian Steinberg, Working Class Champion

 

December 15, 1941 — May 24, 2026

A memorial service will be held for Brian Steinberg on Friday, June 12 at 10am at the Pond House, 1555 Asylum Avenue, West Hartford.

Brian passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 24th, 2026 at the age of 84. Brian lived life loudly in a rhythm of movement and sound, fueled by his involvement in the popular music scene and politics. He was born in Hartford to an Italian mother and Jewish father. His early home life introduced him to politics at a young age. Brian’s father, Hyman, owned a popular West Hartford pizza restaurant called Dino’s, but Hyman’s passion was his involvement in the Communist Party — something he passed down to his son.

As a card-carrying Communist at the height of McCarthyism, Brian’s father was pursued by the US government and found himself on the front page of the paper. Though Hyman’s political affiliation cost the family their house, he maintained his beliefs and the experience only further instilled those values in his son. Brian went on to become a leader in the Communist Party and active member throughout his life.

Brian attended Weaver High School in Hartford and was very active in both student government and his school’s marching band. In his freshman year, Brian started playing tenor sax in an R&B band called the Downbeats. Brian’s brothers Bill and Jim were also members of the band and Hyman was their manager. The Downbeats were CT’s first integrated group and their widespread popularity inspired the state’s two music unions (one Black and one white) to integrate. Though their early gigs were mostly bar mitzvahs and high school dances, the Downbeats eventually gained so much popularity that their concerts brought them to venues across New England and helped finance Brian’s bachelor’s degree at UConn. The Downbeats played back-up for several notable artists when they came through Hartford such as Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Marvellets, The Four Tops, Chuck Berry, and Stevie Wonder.

At UConn, Brian maintained his political leanings and became one of the first left-wing students to run for and win a student government position. The FBI, which wasn’t happy that a Communist student was in power, came to investigate him. He later continued his activism in Mississippi in 1963 when several civil rights workers were killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Brian headed south, joining the movement to register voters. Brian attended the March on Washington in August, 1963 and was honored to hear Reverend Martin Luther King speak. Brian’s political involvement took a deeper dive into academia when he completed his master’s at the University of Wisconsin and his PhD at New York University in political science.

Brian met his wife Merrilee through his sister, Bobbie. Brian and Merrilee shared a love and passion for activism and the pursuit of social justice. Their 30 years together before her death were filled with rallies, political meetings, heated political conversations, and a close-knit group of friends and family. One notable year, their daughter Jane spent Thanksgiving with her grandparents because both Brian and Merrilee were in jail after being arrested at a protest. Merrilee was a labor organizer who rose quickly through the ranks of the union. When Merrilee was offered a top organizing job, Brian turned down a professorship offer at Rutgers University to stay at home with their young daughter, Jane. Brian went on to teach for 47 years at Westfield State University. He taught political science, and ran their award-winning Model United Nations club.

Brian was a beloved teacher in the Communist Party. He was a master of Marxism-Leninism which exposes capitalist exploitation, racism and war, and explains how to build unity to achieve equality and socialism. He dedicated himself to organizing in the multi-racial neighborhoods of Hartford, bringing the People's World to hundreds of families up to his last days. He opened new possibilities for those who wanted to make a better world and built Communist Party clubs throughout the area. His concept of neighborhood organizing with the People's World set a new standard throughout Connecticut and nationally.

Brian later met his partner, Sue Tenorio, through his work on the Hartford police civilian review board. Sue and Brian were together for 10 years before his death.

Brian is survived by his daughter Jane Steinberg and son-in-law Jordan Cahan, grandchildren Sydney and Dashiell Cahan, siblings Jim Steinberg, Bill Steinberg and his wife Karen, as well as his partner, Sue Tenorio. He also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews, and his dog Mookie. He is predeceased by his sister Bobbie Koplowitz and wife Merrilee Milstein.

May Brian’s lifelong fight for justice and equality be an inspiration to all that knew him and beyond.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the CT People’s World Committee, 37 Howe Street, New Haven, CT 06511

Connecticut Expands Access to Democracy

For years, Connecticut has remained one of only a handful of states that required voters to provide a specific excuse to vote mail-in. That reality never reflected how people actually live. Work schedules change. Childcare falls through. Health concerns arise. Transportation can be unreliable.

Now, after more than a decade of organizing, coalition building and testifying, in the midst of growing national attacks on voting rights, Connecticut residents are able to vote in person, by mail and before election day.

With the passage of mail-in voting, Connecticut is finally taking a long-overdue step toward making voting more accessible and reflective of real life. Voters will no longer need to justify why they are requesting an mail-in ballot.

House Bill 5001 waited until late in the legislative session to be called, a reminder of how uncertain even long-advocated-for reforms can be. But sustained advocacy made the difference. From community members showing up to testify, to coordinated advocacy days that brought voices directly to legislators, the momentum built steadily and ultimately carried the bill across the finish line.

This matters because access to democracy should not depend on whether someone can take time off work, arrange childcare, or navigate unnecessary barriers simply to cast a ballot.

And while this victory is significant, we also know the work is not finished. Voters will still need to apply for an mail-in ballot for each election, rather than being able to opt into a more streamlined system. Progress rarely happens overnight, but this moment marks an important shift toward a more accessible democracy in Connecticut.

In addition to allowing Connecticut voters to request a mail-in ballot without needing a specific excuse, House Bill 5001 provides safeguards against ICE agents at polling locations in the event that civil rights are violated.

The bill expands access to voting for people balancing work, caregiving, health needs, and other responsibilities. It modernizes Connecticut’s voting system to align with the majority of states, and helps reduce barriers that have historically impacted low-income voters, Black and brown communities, older adults, and people with disabilities.

Pro-Worker Agenda Won at Legislature

Years of workers organizing at the state legislature delivered one of the strongest pro-worker bills in recent Connecticut history this session. House Bill 5003, a sweeping labor omnibus package, passed with strong bipartisan support, marking a significant step forward for workers’ rights, workplace safety, and fair pay.

Labor Committee chair Sen Julie Kushner said she had been workong on the bill for years. “It took more than six hours of floor debate, but we got it done.” she added.

“This legislative session delivered real, meaningful progress for working people across Connecticut,” said Ed Hawthorne, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO. “From strengthening workplace protections to extending workers’ compensation benefits, many legislators stood up for the working people of this state.”

Summarizing the 75 sections of the bill, Sen Kushner said it “touches workers across nearly every sector of our economy. Teachers and health care workers who are assaulted on the job will now receive full wage replacement. General contractors will be jointly liable when their subcontractors cheat workers out of wages. Service workers have to be retained on the job when a new contracter comes in. Wage transparency gets stronger. And first responders will have access to tuition assistance and mortgage help so they can afford to live in the communities they serve. Should they lose their lives in service, their families will still have health coverage. “

The bill was signed into law at the offices of SEIU 32 BJ spotlighting service worker retention protections requiring incoming building service contractors to retain existing workers for 90 days. It also calls for a 15-day notice of a switch in employers.

“At 32BJ SEIU, we stand firmly behind the belief that every worker is deserving of just and dignified treatment. Worker Retention Laws protect workers from overnight job termination and unjust losses in their pay, insurance, and benefits.” said Connecticut leader Rochelle Palache.

“Despite the significant progress,” acknowleged Hawthorne, “we’re disappointed in the lack of higher education funding and the lack of truly meaningful worker protections in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” .

CCAG: Know the Facts, Shift the Narrative

Coalitiion building was a hallmark during this session of the Connecticut State Legislature as labor and community and immigrant rights groups allied to “Stand Up Connecticut” against the attacks from the Trump administration on working people.

The long term fight has been for economic and social justice in a state with one of the highest gaps between billionaires and everyone else and the need to tax the rich including the windfall delivered to billionaires by MAGA while cutting healthcare and all services.

The Connecticut For All coalition, CT AFL-CIO, the Immigrants Coalition and the Connecticut Tenants Union all mobilized with significant partial victories for people's needs. The following assessment of the session is from the Connecticut Citizens Action Group, addressing the priorities they mobilized around.

By CCAG

Wednesday night marked the last day of Connecticut’s legislative session for 2026. For many of us, this entire session has felt like emergency triage due to DOGE-damage and the Trump administration. Luckily, many Connecticut legislators and advocates, like you, stepped up to fight back. Connecticut started the year with a massive budget cut from the Federal government leaving families vulnerable to food insecurity, lack of medical care and then soon after skyrocketing prices due to the illegal war of aggression against Iran.  We saw some significant victories, and some disappointments. But the people of the Nutmeg state came together to send a strong message to Washington DC/Mara-Lago that Connecticut will not be held hostage and we will protect our communities.  First and foremost, we want to thank every person who protested, testified, wrote a letter, called their legislator, came to a lobby day or even just shared information this session. It is because of you we have new legislation reigning in the unchecked power of ICE, renewing community solar programs, the implementation of universal absentee voting and so much more.  This session, CCAG was focused on Democracy, Climate & Environment, Healthcare and Private Equity.  The legislature passed a budget which makes adjustments to the spending guardrails and volatility cap, acknowledging the need for us to spend more to meet this moment. We did not see all we wanted, particularly around progressive revenue and in protecting healthcare for more than 200,000 people slated to lose it due to harmful federal cuts - we continue these fights. Along with several legislative victories it did give us something else worth holding onto:  Proof that organized people can still bend power toward the public good. What we won together: Democracy and immigrant protections: SB 397 strengthens accountability for federal law enforcement, including ICE, by allowing residents to sue in state court for violations of their rights. It also protects sensitive places like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, requires federal agents to show identification, bans masks, and limits license plate reader surveillance. Voting rights: HB 5001 implements no-excuse absentee voting, following Connecticut voters' approval of the constitutional amendment in 2024. The bill also includes a ban on ICE at polling places, a major victory for democracy and voter protection. Healthcare: HB 5127 passed, restricting medical providers from promoting or helping patients sign up for medical credit cards that can trap people in high-interest debt. Key pieces of the healthcare affordability fight also moved forward through the budget, including extended subsidies, guardrail adjustments, and a feasibility study for a Connecticut Option. We again defeated Junk Insurance plans, which would  have placed small businesses at risk. Private equity accountability: Two bills addressing private equity passed both chambers this session. SB 125 requires greater transparency in nursing home ownership, helping expose who is actually profiting from care facilities. SB 196 limits hospital real estate investment trusts, or REIT,arrangements, a financial scheme that can separate hospitals from the land they sit on, drive up costs, and drain resources away from patient care. Together, these bills are important first steps toward stopping private equity and real estate investors from treating healthcare as another extraction site. Climate and environment: HB 5340 expands access to renewable power generation and solar energy, while HB 5334 strengthens protections for riparian areas, the vegetated land near rivers and streams that helps reduce flooding, prevent erosion, protect drinking water, and filter toxins. Economic justice: HB 5003 makes targeted investments in safer and more equitable workplaces, supporting workers, including first responders, veterans, nurses, teachers, and blue-collar workers. What still needs pressure: Connecticut has the resources to do better. We are one of the wealthiest states in the country. No one should go without food, healthcare, safe housing, clean water, or protection from a dangerous climate while billionaires receive massive federal tax cuts. Victories are not the end of the work. They are proof that pressure works. We will keep organizing, keep watching, and keep pushing for a state that meets this moment with the courage our communities deserve.