Legislature Graded on Equity Agenda

 

The State Capitol was filled this week with labor and community organizations pushing for bills in the Equity Agenda that will raise wages for tipped workers, extend healthcare to immigrant youth, fully fund higher education, protect Uber drivers, fund child care, protect against unjust evictions, expand paid sick days, and more.

They all came together for the Connecticut for All Democracy School held in the rotunda of the State Capitol. Grading the legislators, participants held up PASS or FAIL signs as speakers representing each constituency of the Equity Agenda explained why their bill was urgent to pass this session.

Led by professor Seth Freeman, president of SEIU 1973 that represents community college faculty, FAIL signs dominated, serving as a warning for legislators to act before the May 8 adjournment.

One exception was the victory of Personal Care Attendants in 1199 who won approval for funding to raise their wages to $24 an hour over six years. When this was announced cheers and PASS signs went up.

Many interrupted their lobbying efforts to take part in the Democracy School. Together their collective strength could be felt along with the resolve to continue the fight for all parts of the equity agenda.

When one state senator was approached to support the extension of just cause eviction protections to all renters he repeated the corporate landlord's line that they have to have the ability to remove bad tenants. In fact the law already exists for those over 65 and those with disabilities with no problem.

SB 143, supported by the CT Tenants Union, addresses the crisis created by mega landlords grabbing up properties with the intent of raising rents to get more profits.

Following the Democracy School, an extraordinary press conference was held by Connecticut Students for a Dream with dozens of high school students from Danbury, New Haven and Hartford who took time from their spring break to support expanding health coverage regardless of immigration status for young people up to age 18.

Currently coverage stops at age 15. One 17 year old courageously told her story of needing serious surgery because of the high cost of healthcare without coverage. Rep Jillian Gilcrest pledged to do all she can to get the bill passed this session and to continue next session to win health care for all ages, supporting the demand of Connecticut Students for a Dream and Husky for Immigrants,.

Earth Day: Housing and the Environment

Earth Day gatherings happen every April. But how did it start?

Hidden in the recent ballyhoo over the Oppenheimer film and the Cold War, were the grassroots movements during the 1950s.

The Civil Rights movement led the way. The We Charge Genocide petition presented to the United Nations in 1951 exposed to the world the lynching and the police brutality of African Americans in the USA.

The Ban The Bomb petitions and movement were also gaining speed. Peace groups circulated petitions on the streets.

Quietly stirring among environmental groups like the Audubon Society was concern over pesticide use. Some chemicals were having a deadly impact on birds.

It was Rachel Carson who brought the dangers of pesticide use to a broader audience. In her book Silent Spring, she helped readers understand that what was happening to some wildlife were due to chemicals that would also negatively impact them and their children.

Carson taught us to look for connections between land, water, wildlife, company profits, and people. One such connection being made by activists now is between housing and climate mitigation needs.

This is particularly true with the desperate need for affordable housing. At least 68% of Connecticut renters spend half their income on rent. This crisis leads to evictions and generates homelessness. Connecticut is the tenth least affordable housing state.

Climate change is manifesting itself in Connecticut with severe storms and flooding. Connecticut is particularly vulnerable with 61% of our population living along the ocean. The effect inland is shown by a flood in Naugatuck that cut off a multiracial working class housing complex from emergency services.

Housing and environmental activists are looking for corrective win-win solutions. They are discussing how to save passive open space that takes in carbon and also support affordable housing.

Three bills before the state legislature would move all land, air, water, climate justice and housing struggles forward.

The Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA) Senate Bill 193, would add to the State Constitution the fundamental rights to a clean and healthy environment for all residents.

Climate House Bill 5004 would reduce greenhouse gas emissions with investments in renewable energy and a green economy to mitigate climate change.

Senate Bill 143 would expand just cause eviction protections to all renters.

Most important is to be at Earth Day activities and raise these solutions.

UNH Workers Demand Decent Contract

 

On a sunny Monday afternoon, the University of New Haven campus echoed with the passionate voices of workers, organizers, and union supporters. Their demand? A fair union contract that addresses the critical issues: increased wages, comprehensive paid healthcare benefits, and robust job protection for all facilities workers.

This spirited rally marked the second time in recent months that these dedicated individuals came together to advocate for their rights. The negotiations involve not one, but two contracts, one with the university’s union facilities workers and another with Sodexo, the food service subcontractor whose workers are also represented by Local 217 Unite Here.

The union has been in discussions with the University of New Haven since last August when the facilities workers voted to join the union. However, despite six months of negotiations, their core demands remain unmet. Safety concerns persist, and the call for better pay reverberates among the dedicated workers.

Recently, the union faced setbacks during the contract negotiations process. The university challenged the union’s assertions about job security, leading to a tense situation. Remarkably, 94% of facility workers authorized a strike. Picket signs at the rally said, “We don't want to strike but we will.” and “Union busting is disgusting.”

Over 100 people gathered in front of the campus chanting, “No contract, no peace.” Their unwavering commitment to improved working conditions and benefits resonated throughout the crowd. Solidarity was visible, as they received support from local unions, the  Connecticut AFL-CIO, New Haven Rising, state representatives, and community members.

One critical issue raised during the rally is the university’s use of subcontractors to replace union facilities workers. “The workers had seen, over the past 14 years, the number of facilities workers go down from 52 to now 35 at the same time that the university has expanded by 50 percent,” said Local 217 director Josh Stanley

Rev. Scott Marks, director of New Haven Rising, told the union workers that if they are forced to strike for a decent contract, the community will be with them. “You’re talking about people’s lives, and we’re not going to stand down until we get what we need to take care of our families,” said Marks.

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As the sun started to set, the voices of these determined workers echoed across the University of New Haven campus, a testament to their resilience and unwavering pursuit of fairness and justice. 

$23 an Hour Approved for Home Care Workers

 

Over 12.000 home care workers were approved for a $23 minimum wage by the State House and the State Senate this week. The new union contract covers independent Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) who are members of SEIU 1199NE.

“Congratulations to all the union members of SEIU 1199NE for winning one of the best PCA contracts in the nation,” union president Rob Baril said on Monday. “Today’s victory to finalize this contract with the approval of the General Assembly provides a path for sustainable home care PCA services in Connecticut, supporting elderly and disabled individuals to live independently at home,” added Baril, acknowledging support from House and Senate leadership and the Governor.

Current minimum wage for Connecticut’s independent PCAs is $18.25 per hour. Hourly rates will rise to $23 by Jan 1, 2026, making Connecticut a national leader in the compensation provided to PCAs serving Medicaid recipients in similar home care programs.

During the pandemic these health care workers risked their lives, but it became known that due to low pay some were living in their cars, unable to afford rent.

“We’ve fought so hard to do our job and provide quality home care for our consumers and their families. I love this job because I feel that I’m making a big difference in someone’s quality of life. But I also need to survive. This contract shows the progress we can achieve when we stand together and fight for justice,” said Winsted PCA Mike Sundberg after the new contract was voted into law at Connecticut’s State Senate and the House of Representatives.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects “684,000 openings for home health and personal care aides” each year, one of the fastest growing job sectors nationally for the next decade, in service of the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

“I am so happy for my union sisters and brothers, and for the people we care for every day. Black, Latina and white working-class women make up the majority of the home care workforce, so this will be a boost for many women that are struggling to survive from paycheck to paycheck. We need to continue to raise standards for all nonprofit and long-term caregivers in Connecticut,” said New Haven PCA Amarilis Cruz.

CT Unions Join in Support of Sustainable Offshore Wind Energy

Labor leaders presented a pro-worker vision for generating sustainable offshore wind energy along the Southern New England coast as a virtual press conference, Friday, March 15, 2004. This effort unites organized labor, the environmental movement, coastal communities and elected officials.

“Every climate job should be a good job. We can't build our way out of the climate crisis with low-paying, exploitative jobs,” said Connecticut AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne.

The national significance of this commitment was highlighted by introductory remarks from Liz Schuler, President of the American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial organizations (AFL-CIO). Labor leaders from the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are supporting their state governors efforts to create a multi-state approach to develop the offshore wind energy industry. These labor leaders represent state AFL-CIOs and State Building Trades Councils with hundreds of thousands of union members.

Building trades unions were early supporters of the new offshore wind energy industry creating support at the state level in collaboration with environmental groups and representatives of coastal communities.

These new collaborative efforts include working to build the industry supply chain, create new job opportunities through apprenticeship and technical high school programs, and ensure that women and people of color are involved with these training programs and are employed in this growing industry.

Connecticut AFL-CIO president Ed Hawthorne provided an overview of organized labor's approach to this developing industry. He called for fighting climate change with a combination of environmental and economic job benefits that will help transition to a greener economy. He also called for a jut transition that will provide prevailing wages, project labor agreements, fight climate change and lift up communities.

The approach to fighting the climate crisis and creating jobs that benefit workers, their families and communities is part of the federal effort by the Biden administration to jump start offshore wind energy production along the U.S. Coastline. This includes manufacturing turbines and related components, assembling and maintaining wind farms, and connecting to onshore power grids.

The press conference illustrates the labor movement's commitment to provide a leading role in building a broad coalition united in fighting he climate crisis, creating good paying union jobs, benefiting women and communities of color, and strengthening coastal communities.