Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s office released a list of seven agencies and 182 state employees who were notified they will lose their jobs July 1 if a $2 billion deal isn’t reached with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition.
These are just the first of the 4,742 notices expected to go out to both non-union and union workers. The list of 182 state employees includes 75 correction officers, 16 correctional counselors, three prison chaplains, 14 mental health assistants at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and three positions at the Public Defender Services office.
The process of notifying employees started Tuesday, but more notices are expected to go out daily over the coming weeks as state agencies heads inform their employees in person and as a last resort by certified mail.
Negotiators headed back to the bargaining table Thursday afternoon after a long day Wednesday. Union spokesmen stood by a Hartford union hall in case any deal was struck.
Both labor and Mark Ojakian, deputy secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, warned that not much should be read into the lack of news from the high stakes talks.
“We’re still talking,” Ojakian said as he left the Capitol.
Due to an agreed upon media blackout not much information, aside from speculation and rumor which is rampant at the Capitol, was available Thursday.
“Talks are still happening, but there’s nothing new to report,” Larry Dorman, spokesman for SEBAC, said Thursday.
Check back later for more on union negotiations.
