Council 4: The Latest News in 2006

 

Council 4 Improves Life for State Veterans

David Mitchell of Bolton, CT won a custom made Orange County Chopper at Council 4’s third annual Picnic for Veterans, held May 27, 2006 at the state Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, CT. John King, a veteran of World War II and at 92, the oldest veteran at Rocky Hill, selected the winning ticket and handed it to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who announced the name of the winner, a former state employee.

Council 4 Helps ‘My Sisters Place’

Council 4, Connecticut’s largest AFL-CIO union, has donated $3,200 to My Sister’s Place in Hartford, CT. Founded in 1982, My Sisters’ Place annually serves over 600 women and children by providing housing, food, and other basic needs.

2006 CT Race in the Park Against Breast Cancer

Council 4 is proud to serve as a Sapphire Sponsor of the CT Race in the Park on May 13, 2006 at Walnut Hill Park in New Britain, CT. Proceeds from the event benefit the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative.

Medal of Valor To Local 1565’s Ed Arasimowicz

Congratulations to Correction Officer Edward Arasimowicz of Local 1565 of Council 4, who received the prestigious Medal of Valor from Corrections USA.

Feeling the Heat

House Republican leadership gave up on bringing to a vote their destructive budget resolution for fiscal year 2007.

In Memoriam: Al Casale (No Link)

Council 4 mourns the passing of longtime labor leader Albert Casale, who died May 4 in Southington. A former staff member of Council 4, Al was Chairman of the AFL-CIO Community Services Committee and an officer of the United Labor Agency. He also served as President of the Meriden Central Labor Council. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, 306 Industrial Park Road, Suit 108, Middletown, CT 06457.

Council 4 Members Mark Workers Memorial Day

April 28 is Workers Memorial Day, a national day of remembrance in honor of workers who were killed or injured on the job. Council 4 members in New Britain, East Lyme, Bristol and elsewhere took time out to reflect on the meaning of Workers’ Memorial Day.

State Employee Contracts Approved by Legislature

The General Assembly's Appropriations Committee on April 19, 2006 approved the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between Council 4's NP-3 Clerical Bargaining Unit and the State of Connecticut. The Committee has also approved new CBAs affecting members of Council 4's P-2, Judicial and Higher Education units.

Council 4 Lobby Day At The Capitol

Hundreds of Council 4 members packed the legislative hallways in Hartford for the union’s first-ever Lobby Day.

Council 4 Honors Nappier, Prague

State Treasurer Denise Nappier and State Senator Edith Prague received top honors for their work as elected officials during the 9th Annual Council 4 Conference held April 7-9 in Hartford, CT.

Stop the Bush-Bashing of Connecticut

President Bush’s new budget proposal cuts more than half a billion dollars from Connecticut programs, leaving the state weaker, less educated and less secure -- while threatening our jobs.

Privatization Equals Corruption, Continued

Council 4 is continuing its fight against corrupt privatization with the posting of highway and street billboards in Hartford, Bridgeport New Haven and Norwalk, proclaiming Privatization Equals Corruption. Governor Rell, meanwhile, vetoed clean contracting legislation for the third time.

P-2 and NP-3 Bargaining Units Reach Tentative Accords

Council 4’s P-2 (Human & Social Services) and NP-3 (Administrative-Clerical) bargaining units each reached tentative agreement with the State on three-year contracts effective July 1, 2006. Click here for the P-2 update and here for the NP-3 update.

Contracting Reform Passes Legislature

The General Assembly has passed H.B. No. 5684, An Act Concerning Reform of the State Contracting Process, by a margin of 76-61 in the House 76-61 and 25-10 in the Senate. Gov. Rell is threatening to veto the anti-corruption bill, however.

Meriden Housing Authority Workers Protest Layoffs

Members of Local 1303-244, representing the Meriden Housing Authority, rallied before the Authority's Board of Commissioners meeting to protest the layoffs of nearly 80 percent of the bargaining unit.

Anthem Lawsuit Decision Disappoints Council 4

Council 4 expressed its disappointment over a decision by Superior Court Judge Barbara J. Sheedy granting the Anthem insurance company’s motion to strike the union’s complaint regarding the distribution of proceeds from the Anthem-Blue Cross Blue Shield demutualization in 2001.

Council 4 Donates Computers, Printers To State Vets

As part of its continuing commitment to assist state war veterans, Council 4 donated two laptop computers and accompanying printers to the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill. The ceremony took place Jan. 27, 2006.

Federal Judge Rules Against Rowland Motion To Dismiss

SEBAC, the coalition of state employee unions, reacted favorably to a federal judge’s decision on Jan. 18 denying the efforts of former Governor Rowland, former OPM Director Marc Ryan, and the Rell administration to dismiss a federal lawsuit pending against them. 

AFSCME Ad Campaign Targets GOP Moderates

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) launched a new television advertising campaign to urge Republican moderates in Congress to vote against the budget reconciliation bill, which would slash health care for seniors and deny nursing home care to thousands.

AFL-CIO Pushes ‘Fair Share’ Health Care

Working families, their unions and community allies are joining with the AFL-CIO in launching a major health care campaign in 31 states, including Connecticut, to ensure the largest corporations, such as Wal-Mart, stop shifting health care insurance costs onto workers, taxpayers and other businesses.

In Bristol, Union Power = New Contract

Members of Local 2267 of Council 4, representing non-certified school employees in Bristol, voted 260-19 in favor of a new contract with the Board of Education. The contract came after a great grass roots mobilization effort led by Local 2267 members.

Council 4 Annual Conference: April 7-9, 2006 in Hartford

The 9th Annual Council 4 Conference will take place April 7-9, 2006 at the newly renovated and unionized Hartford Hilton Hotel in downtown Hartford, CT.