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Labor Leaders Release Report Responding to Fiscal Stability Commission’s Recommendations

David C. Dal Zin
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On Tuesday, labor leaders released a report responding point-by-point to the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth’s recommendations.

The report, entitled “A Freshman’s First Report – Arrogance and Lack of Courage Lead to a Missed Opportunity for Reform,” provides a full analysis on each of the Commission’s ten recommendations. In particular, the leaders took the Commission to task for harmful recommendations that include cutting taxes for the wealthy, eliminating certain collective bargaining rights for public service workers, weakening binding arbitration, cutting $1 billion out of the budget, recklessly outsourcing public services, and cutting teachers’ retirement benefits.

Labor advocates also criticized the Commission for a complete lack of any focus on income inequality, class, or race. 

The signers of the report include Connecticut AFL-CIO President Lori Pelletier, AFSCME Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano, AFT Connecticut President Jan Hochadel, UConn-AAUP Chapter President Dr. Thomas Bontly, and SEBAC Chief Negotiator Daniel Livingston.

The Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday on S.B. 445, which would require the Department of Economic and Community Development to conduct an analysis of the recommendations made by the Commission.

A joint hearing on the entire Commission’s recommendations will be held on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the House Chambers before the Appropriations, Commerce, Finance, and Planning and Development Committees.

Labor leaders will be available for comment on Wednesday before and during the joint public hearing.

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UPDATE: Due to weather, the joint hearing on the report of the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth has been postponed to 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

Report & Testimony: