News

Carrying Out Our 2020 Legislative Priorities

The Connecticut General Assembly convenes Feb. 5, 2020 and adjourns May 6, 2020.

Council 4 Members Dedicated to Protecting A Vital Lifeline

It’s hard to imagine nearly 700,000 Americans going hungry, but that’s the anticipated impact of a harsh rule change imposed by the Trump administration for the Supplemental Nutrition Assista

Unions Are A Riding Popular Wave, Attracting Millennials

Labor unions are continuing to gain momentum, with the latest proof coming from a new Gallup poll, which shows that 64 percent of Americans approve of unions, a near 50-year high.

More and more people, regardless of political party, view unions as essential to levelling the playing field, providing economic security and unrigging a system that’s for too long favored the wealthy and powerful.

Labor Board Ruling Favors Vernon Professionals, Local 818

What do you do when your employer reneges on a promised bonus?

You hope that you have a union to represent you. And if you do, you ask that union to fight on your behalf.

That’s what happened in Vernon, where members of AFSCME Local 818-018, the Town Professionals Union, worked with Council 4 to secure a ruling that will ultimately get them the $500 bonus to which they are legally entitled.

Candidates Say Yes to Union Rights

The 19 presidential candidates who participated in the AFSCME Public Service Forum on Saturday disagreed on a range of topics, but they all agreed on one issue – our country needs a federal law that expands and protects collective bargaining rights for all public service workers.

Ferguson Library Employees Beat Back Retirement Attack

Pensions and retirement security are under attack across the country. But when the Ferguson Library in Stamford tried to slash benefits during recent contract negotiations, the members of AFSCME Local 1303-317 fought back.

Their solidarity and patience paid off as library management ultimately backed off on the retirement and health care takeaways, and reached a settlement with the 44-member union.

Mobilizing for the 2019 Municipal Elections

2019 State Legislative Review

The General Assembly adjourned its regular 2019 legislative session June 5, providing Council 4 and the labor movement with an opportunity to reflect on significant accomplishments:

Union Coalition Effort Leads To Enactment of PTSD Bill

Sgt. Charles Paris of the Bridgeport Police Department and Patrolman Blain Rogozinski of the New Britain Police Department have witnessed the psychological and emotional toll that is too often the by-product of working in law enforcement. 

“We’ve lost two officers in the last two years who committed suicide,” said Paris, president of AFSCME Local 1159.

“Nobody should go through what we see on a daily basis,” said Rogozinski, the president of AFSCME Local 1165.

Agreement Reached On State Pension Reamortization

July 18, 2019 -- SEBAC and the Lamont Administration have completed their discussions on pension re-amortization in accordance with the recently passed biennial budget and have reached an agreement. It keeps the parties’ commitment to make no change in pension benefits.