State of theUnion Summer/Fall, 2014
The 2014 Legislative Session: Wins for Working Families
T “Picture This:” The View from Our State Convention
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undreds of delegates on May 17th came together for our 67th Annual AFT Connecticut Convention to conduct the business of our federation of more than 90 local unions. The theme of this year’s gathering, “Picture This: Becoming a Wisconsin,” helped guide union leaders as they weighed important decisions that will impact us all over the next year. An additional purpose was to remind us how organized labor in this country has brought tremendous positive change for working families. Today, we all benefit from the struggle and sacrifice of those who created and have sustained the movement over the past century. But as we saw in Wisconsin in 2011, gains (continued on page 4)
his year’s “short” session of the Connecticut General Assembly produced a long list of wins for working families. From attending “lobby days” to meet lawmakers, to testifying at public hearings, to calling and emailing their local representatives, members of our local unions responded to the call to action. Several important bills were passed and signed into law as a result of the collaboration among AFT Connecticut staff, our local unions, allied labor and community organizations, and state elected
officials. Additionally, our collective efforts helped launch a number of progressive public policy initiatives enacted during or shortly after the session adjourned in May.
New Legislation Highlights include: A bill passed with unanimous legislative support and signed into law by the governor will better protect Judicial Branch probation officers and their families (continued on page 6)
JPE Union Members Joined Governor Malloy and Legislative Allies for Signing of New Law Protecting Probation Offices from FOI Abuses Backing Candidates Who Will Prevent a “Wisconsin Moment”
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“Primary” Union Victories
Our “Connecticut Moment”
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