CSEA Connections (Blog)

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We launched this current events section to provide frequent and timely news on issues impacting Connecticut's working families, as well as to share details on upcoming events and activities of interest to our Union members.

Why Should the Rich Benefit at the Expense of the Rest of Us?
Mainstream media coverage of the role Connecticut's regressive and unfair tax structure plays in delaying real economic recovery has been scant to none. As Co-Chair of our Union's Legislative Action Committee (LAC), I've urged members to speak out about this “ elephant in the room," and I'll be addressing the issue in posts here at the CSEA Connections page in the weeks and months ahead.

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Posted By: William Buhler on 9/1/2010 6:07:00 PM

comments (0) Leading for Quality Services ,  Political Action

Coming Together for the Sake of Woodbury's Future
Voters in Woodbury passed a municipal budget that would preserve vital public services our Union members provide to residents and local businesses. But town officials have resorted to heavy-handed tactics for a simple accounting matter, and refused to consider better choices than service shutdowns or job cuts. An article in this week's Voices News sheds light on short-sighted decisions to force painful layoffs that threaten the quality of life for all residents and businesses.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 8/18/2010 3:15:00 PM

comments (0) Chapter I74 Communications ,  Chapter I78 Communications ,  Chapter I81 Communications ,  Chapter I87 Communications ,  Council 760 Communications ,  Leading for Quality Services ,  Political Action

Debunking the Privatization Myth Twice in One Week
Our Union members' efforts to bring the true costs of outsourcing public services to light were vindicated this week with news coverage of their advocacy at the state and local levels. First, Sunday's Stamford Advocate reported that privatized bridge inspections in Connecticut have cost an additional $25 million since 2007. Then, yesterday's Norwich Bulletin revealed that taxpayers in a small rural district would lose $45,000.00 annually if school bus services were contracted-out.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 8/13/2010 6:45:00 PM

comments (0) Chapter I92 Communications ,  Clean Contracting ,  DOT Reform ,  Driving Up Standards ,  Leading for Quality Services ,  P-4 Communications

Union Members Getting Involved and "Getting Out The Vote"
For the first time in a generation, our Union members have an opportunity to elect a governor who will honor and value the contributions of active and retired public service workers. After a primary campaign season that has seen too many candidates demonize and scapegoat teaching assistants, bridge inspectors, and police officers, the next step on the road to electing a pro-worker governor for Connecticut happens tomorrow, Tuesday, August 10.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 8/9/2010 10:02:00 AM

comments (0) Leading for Quality Services ,  Retirement Security ,  Political Action

Real Retirement Security vs. Wall Street Uncertainty
With an editorial in Friday's edition, the Hartford Courant joined other news media that have taken seriously a discredited report promoting risky retirement savings accounts over safer defined benefit pension plans. Council 400 member Carol Thomas, informed by her experience on the state treasurer's Investment Advisory Council, quickly refuted some of the report's most egregious errors in a letter to the editor which, to their credit, the Courant published Monday.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/28/2010 6:04:00 PM

comments (0) Council 400 Communications ,  Retirement Security

Are Preston School Officials Beginning to Listen to the People?
Our Union members who provide safe, reliable transportation for Preston's children delivered petitions at Monday's school board meeting signed by over 300 hundred residents committed to keeping bus services local. With the help of dozens of outspoken parents and taxpayers, the Board of Education was persuaded to table further action on outsourcing bus services, effectively delaying any attempts to contract-out -- for now.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/21/2010 6:23:00 PM

comments (0) Chapter I92 Communications ,  Clean Contracting ,  Driving Up Standards ,  Leading for Quality Services

Retirees Organize "Good Works" for Vets in Need
Active members of our Union's retiree council are leading a community-based effort to provide peace of mind to Hartford area veterans suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Council 400 member Chet Morgan has launched a drive to raise the money needed to purchase furniture and household goods for vets through the non-profit Chrysalis Center, a regional provider of community support services.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/20/2010 5:36:00 PM

comments (0) Council 400 Communications ,  Good Works ,  In Our Communities

Urging Preston School Officials to Put the Brakes on Outsourcing
In spite of vocal support from local parents for keeping school bus services local, Preston's Board of Education has allowed a scheme to contract-out student transportation to speed ahead. That's why members of our Union launched a petition drive reinforcing an earlier town resolution opposed to outsourcing and demanding a public hearing before any final decisions to hand-over school bus services to outside companies are made.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/9/2010 5:44:00 PM

comments (0) Chapter I92 Communications ,  Clean Contracting ,  Driving Up Standards ,  Leading for Quality Services

Who Could be Against "Clean Contracting" of Transportation Projects?
Our Union members fought to pass Connecticut's landmark contract reform law in order to bring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility to a corrupt and costly system of outsourcing public projects. Monday's Stamford Advocate featured a lengthy article on our recent efforts to call attention to bridge inspection services that Department of Transportation (DOT) officials continue farming-out to private consultants without regard to their costs to taxpayers or risks to the traveling public.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/8/2010 7:14:00 PM

comments (0) Clean Contracting ,  DOT Reform ,  Leading for Quality Services

The Healing Begins in Hebron Public Schools
Education support staff that are the "engines" in Hebron's schools have demonstrated what can be accomplished when public service workers build positive partnerships to weather the economic storm. Union members, with the support of local parents and taxpayers, moved the Board of Education last week to redirect resources that will preserve vital services for students and prevent most non-certified employee layoffs planned in the new year's fiscal budget.

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Posted By: Matt OConnor on 7/6/2010 5:34:00 PM

comments (0) Chapter I24 Communications ,  Council 760 Communications ,  Healthcare Reform ,  Leading for Quality Services ,  Para Communications ,  Paraeducators Standards