Report on January 28, 2009 Discussions with Rell Administration

SEBAC Leadership met with representatives of the Rell Administration...

The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition

SEBAC Leadership met with representatives of the Rell Administration on January 28, 2009. This was our second meeting and we agreed to a series of meetings beginning on February 10th in an effort to reach a comprehensive agreement to be brought to the membership for ratification. We continued to stress that while we are willing to be part of a solution which protects public services and the economy, we are unwilling to be part of a solution which decimates public services and makes the economy worse.

The Administration suggested a retirement incentive program unconnected to protecting public services, job security, or any long-term agreement between the parties. SEBAC continues to believe that only a long-term comprehensive solution can protect the critical services people need, as well as the rights and security of our members.

The Governor delivers her budget address on February 4th, and it is clear that her administration labors under the illusion that public services can be responsibly reduced by layoffs or agency consolidations. SEBAC leaders will continue to stress that the demand for public services dramatically increases during a down economy, and that any solution premised on service reductions or phantom consolidations will only deny people services just when they need them the most, and further weaken the economy.

Instead, we need a long-term positive solution which provides the revenue needed to support the services people need and to rebuild our state.