Purple Is the Color of My Favorite Union

SEIU WORKERS ANNOUNCE ENDORSEMENT OF MALLOY AND WYMAN

Workers from the Service Employees International Union, Connecticut’s largest union, held a press conference today to endorse Dan Malloy for governor and Nancy Wyman for lieutenant governor.

Today workers from every SEIU Connecticut local joined Governor Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Wyman to express support for their re-election.  Workers from locals 1199 New England, Connecticut State Employees Association (CSEA), 32 BJ, Connecticut Employees Union Independent (CEIU) and the Congress of Community Colleges (4 C’s) represent the more than 65,000 workers that belong to SEIU in Connecticut.  Workers range from health care workers, child care workers, sanitation workers, security guards and state employees.  On June 20, 2014 workers voted to endorse Dan Malloy and Nancy Malloy for re-election.

A worker from every local spoke about why an endorsement to Team Malloy Wyman is important to their communities.  “Governor Malloy is a tireless advocate for workers like myself,” said Matt Anderson, a security guard who was part of a successful union drive which organized about 450 state contracted security guards. “He stood with us in our fight to win dignified wages and health benefits and is clearly the best choice for all working families in Connecticut”.  

Today’s speakers touted Governor Malloy’s accomplishments on behalf of Connecticut’s workers highlighting the minimum wage increase and paid sick day legislation.  Workers vowed to stand by Governor Malloy and work tirelessly for his re-election so Connecticut can continue moving forward.

“I will be knocking on doors, making phone calls and doing everything I can to support Governor Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Wyman because I believe deep in my heart that all working families in Connecticut will have a stronger, brighter future with them being re-elected,” home care worker Terrell Williams said.  “I’ve had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Governor Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Wyman and I can tell you that there is no team that is going to work harder for the working people of Connecticut than Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman.”

Dave Stevenson, a maintainer at Housatonic Community College, spoke on behalf of CEIU and Tim Riddle, a para-educator, represented CSEA.

CT State Budget: Funny/Not Funny

 Press release just received from State Democrats

TWO NUMBERS FOR VOTERS TO THINK ABOUT: $250,000 AND $20,000,000,000

Hartford, CT - Republican candidate Tom Foley has now failed twice to qualify for public financing - and his inability to competently complete a $250,000 endeavor doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his ability to manage a nearly $20,000,000,000 state budget.

Republican leaders are now decrying how hard it is to qualify. GOP Chairman Jerry Labriola called the Citizens’ Election Program a “labyrinth,” claiming that “You have to demonstrate extraordinary organizational skills.”

If a gubernatorial candidate can’t be organized enough to manage a $250,000 effort after two tries, how in the world is he going to manage almost $20,000,000,000? The $250,000 public financing effort is about one thousandth of one percent of Connecticut’s budget.

“Think about it - if you can’t competently submit paperwork for $250,000, then how are you going to handle a budget that’s $20,000,000,000? By percentage, if Tom Foley were traveling to the bottom of the sea, he would make it a third of a foot down. If he were traveling all the way to the moon, he wouldn’t make it half way up Mount Everest,” said Devon Puglia, spokesman for the Connecticut Democratic Party. “Voters need to consider this budgetary comparison carefully - this is a barometer of a candidate’s competence, and Tom Foley doesn’t seem to have a speck of it. The Foley campaign is dodging important questions because they approached this process recklessly. Now, questions abound as to not just whether he has the capacity to run this state, but whether he can even put together a competent campaign organization with about a thousandth of a percent of the size of Connecticut’s budget.”

UAW - Cool Union - Makes a Grand Endorsement

United Auto Workers Endorse Governor Dan Malloy
& Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman for Re-Election

Farmington, CT – Today, United Auto Workers (UAW Region 9A) announced its endorsement of Governor Dan Malloy and Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman for re-election.

“Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman are fighting to protect the rights of  union members by respecting the collective bargaining process and advancing all workers’ rights by passing legislation like paid sick leave. Since becoming Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman have been responsive to the needs of our members and working people across the state,” said Region 9A Director Julie Kushner. "They are the clear choice this election year and are the progressive advocates that Connecticut’s workers and middle class families need.”

UAW is a progressive union whose commitment to social justice is unprecedented and dates back to the Civil Rights movement. The UAW endorses candidates for public office who have a proven track record of improving the lives of working families, fighting for the right to collective bargaining without retaliation or interference, and advocating for health care and good jobs for everyone.

“We need a governor who will continue to stand up for working class families – that’s Dan Malloy. I have seen my friends, neighbors and colleagues suffer when factories have closed in the past, but Dan Malloy has worked to make sure that Connecticut is growing jobs,” said Shawn Tripp, President of UAW Local 405, whose members work at Triumph in West Hartford. “I’m proud that Connecticut is leading the nation when it comes to progressive issues like raising the minimum wage to $10.10 and making sure everyone has access to affordable health insurance. Governors like Wisconsin's Scott Walker have attacked union workers like me, so I truly appreciate having a governor like Dan Malloy who respects me and my efforts to build a better life.”

UAW Region 9A has approximately 9,200 active and retired members in Connecticut. In addition to manufacturing, UAW members work in technical and office professional positions, higher education, gaming and legal services.