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Connecticut Workers to Receive Up to $125 Million in Layoff Settlement

More than 2,700 Connecticut public employees are about to receive justice after a 12-year fight as the Legislature is set to approve an out-of-court settlement for up to an estimated $125 million in back pay and additional leave time. The settlement stems from Gov. John Rowland’s decision in 2003 to fire 2,300 unionized workers and force an additional 400 to take lower paying jobs.
Connecticut Workers to Receive Up to $125 Million in Layoff Settlement
By Kevin Zapf Hanes ·
Connecticut Workers to Receive Up to $125 Million in Layoff Settlement

More than 2,700 Connecticut public employees are about to receive justice after a 12-year fight as the Legislature is set to approve an out-of-court settlement for up to an estimated $125 million in back pay and additional leave time.

The settlement stems from Gov. John Rowland’s decision in 2003 to fire 2,300 unionized workers and force an additional 400 to take lower paying jobs. Under the guise of fiscal savings, the three-term governor attempted to break the unions by targeting only bargaining unit members for layoff. AFSCME Council 4 members didn’t back down, working in concert with the 16 unions that comprise the State Employees Bargaining Agency Coalition to take the state to court and fight the injustice.

The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in 2013 that the state violated the employee’s First Amendment right to freedom of association by discriminatorily laying off only union members. They concluded that the state employees were fired because of their union membership.

“Rowland’s disrespect for the Constitution and the laws he swore to uphold devastated our communities and deprived Connecticut citizens of vital public services,” said Sal Luciano, Council 4 executive director and also an AFSCME International vice president. “We stood with other unions to fight back and seek justice, and we won.”

The long fight was worth it, said AFSCME Local 562 member Merisa Williams, a state clerical employee who, like many layoff victims, was out of work for six months.  “It sends a clear message to elected officials across the country that when you target workers – unions and their families – we will not be bullied and we will not give up until we get justice for all workers,” she said.

The settlement, estimated to be worth between $100 million and $125 million, is pending approval by the state legislature. A breakdown of how much each effected worker will receive is still to be determined. “Council 4 members will keep the pressure on the state legislature to ensure that all the 2,700 people receive their just due,” Executive Director Luciano said.

 

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