When Connecticut public defender attorneys (AFSCME Local 381) discovered in May their state attorney counterparts, the prosecutors, would receive wage increases to boost recruitment efforts in their ranks, they asked, “Why not us?”

Paraeducators are invaluable to the well-being and academic success of their students. They are the backbone of classrooms and critical to the overall functioning of their schools, yet the work they do is often overlooked. Recognizing paraeducators for the skills, compassion, and commitment they bring to students is important in elevating the profession and honoring them for their service. Four Council 4 paraeducators were highlighted this Fall by their school districts for going above and beyond in support of their students.

This past summer, Council 4 members working in our state’s correctional facilities endured a series of weekly consecutive staff assaults by inmates that left multiple members critically injured. This wave is a symptom of a worsening trend in staff assaults, which in Connecticut have almost doubled since the pandemic. This trend coincides with recent policy changes that have limited certain tools and mechanisms at the disposal of correctional staff to ensure the safety of each other and inmates who choose violence against other inmates.