At their second meeting in less than 24 hours, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Foley accused his Democratic opponent, Dan Malloy of pandering to a state employee union.
Foley, as promised, released a document Wednesday afternoon showing that Malloy promised a state employee union in a questionnaire that there would be no layoffs if he was governor. Foley promised the same last night during the televised debate.
In question number four of the Administrative and Residual Employees union questionnaire asks: “Will you support state employee layoffs after the Gubernatorial Agreement ends July 2011?”
Malloy checked the “No” box and wrote: “We’ve been very clear that we have no interest in laying off state employees.”
Foley accused Malloy of having to “sell his soul to the unions.”
Malloy’s campaign consultant Roy Occhiogrosso said Malloy feels the unemployment rate of 9.4 percent is high enough in the state and has no interest in laying people off.
He said it’s a statement Foley has made too.
“We can cut state government through attrition,” Foley said Tuesday during the televised debate. “State workers have nothing to fear with me being governor.”
Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism!
Occhiogrosso suggested that maybe state workers are worried Foley would do to the state what he did to the Bibb Co., in Macon, Georgia “where he laid off 2,000 workers” and “made the town disappear.”
Foley’s has denied he had any involvement with the layoffs at the Bibb Co.
More Labor News

Lamont Inks New Employment Law Backed By Unions
In a victory for state labor unions, Gov. Ned Lamont ignored a lobbying effort by business organizations and signed a bill Tuesday prohibiting employers from holding “captive audience” meetings to potentially discourage workers from unionizing.
Keep reading
States With The Largest Unionized Workforces
Where does Connecticut stand in the list of states with the most unionized employees?
Keep reading
Business Leaders Make Push To Veto Captive Audience Bill
Connecticut business leaders are leaning on Gov. Ned Lamont to veto a bill that would restrict what employers can say in the workplace. The bill, which has been a priority of labor unions for years, is being described by business owners as an unconstitutional attempt to restrict workplace communications and an infringement on employer free…
Keep reading
ANALYSIS | It’s A Wrap: The Winners and Losers of the 2022 Session
It was a short legislative session, but the House and the Senate were able to move a lot of business this year, including the passage of a $24-billion budget with around $600 million in tax cuts.
Keep reading
‘Captive Audience’ Bill Headed To Governor’s Desk
Legislation prohibiting Connecticut employers from holding “captive audience” meetings to discourage workers from organizing received final approval in the House late Friday despite Republican arguments it was preempted by federal law. The bill passed in a 88 to 56 vote, generally along party lines. Eight Democrats joined all but one Republican in voting against it.…
Keep reading
Health Care Workers Call for New Hires
After a record number of health care workers are expected to retire this year, health care staff called on Gov. Ned Lamont to commit to filling 1,000 vacant positions by August 1 of this year. A record 1,137 state workers who notified the state that they will retire this year comes at a moment of…
Keep reading