Worker Bee: Special Edition – The Buzz of Solidarity
Special Edition
The Buzz of Solidarity
In This Edition
- SB 8 Passes House and Senate – All Eyes on the Governor
- Call to Action: Picket at the Governor’s Residence June 16th
- Pratt & Whitney Machinists Approve New Contract and Return to Work
- CT AFL-CIO Lobby Day Builds Support for Unemployment Insurance for Strikers
- SEIU 1199NE Nursing-Home and Group-Home Workers Avert Strike
- MDA-UAW Members at Electric Boat Ratify Tentative Agreement
- Backus Hospital Nurses Ratify New Contract After Picket
- UNITE HERE Local 217 Rallies Hospitality Workers in Hartford
- Ironworkers Win Unanimous Union Vote at Jescraft
- Firefighter Cancer Bill Signed into Law
SB 8 Passes House and Senate – All Eyes on the Governor
Senate Bill 8—the bill to provide Unemployment Insurance for striking workers—has officially passed both chambers of the Connecticut General Assembly. This is a huge victory for working people, but Governor Lamont has threatened a veto.
Call to Action: Picket at the Governor’s Residence – June 16
We can't let this win get stalled at the finish line. Join us to picket the Governor’s residence to demand he sign SB 8 into law.
Location: 990 Prospect Ave, Hartford
Date and Time: Monday, June 16th at 6:00 PM
Show the Governor that Connecticut stands with workers, not wealthy CEOs and powerful corporations. Bring your coworkers, friends, family, and community members. RSVP here!
Pratt & Whitney Machinists Approve New Contract and Return to Work
Machinists represented by IAMAW Locals 700 & 1746 ratified a new 4-year agreement on May 27 after a three-week strike—their first since 2001. The deal includes stronger job-security language, 6% wage increases in the first year, and pension/401(k) improvements. Workers returned to the job on May 29th, demonstrating the power of persistence and solidarity.
Lobby Day Buzz: UI for Striking Workers
More than 250 union activists turned out to the State Capitol on May 7 and again on May 20 to push lawmakers to pass SB 8, allowing workers to access Unemployment Insurance after 14 days on strike. The bill passed the Senate on May 28 and the House on May 30—a huge win. But the fight’s not over. Despite deep support in the General Assembly, amongst union members, Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, and many statewide elected officials, Governor Lamont has vowed to veto this vital pro-worker legislation. The Connecticut AFL-CIO will be joined by our members in a picket outside the Governor's Mansion in Hartford on Monday, June 16th at 6:00 PM.
1199NE Nursing-Home and Group-Home Caregivers Avert Strike
Strike notices covering 7,000 caregivers at 51 facilities were set for May 19th, then extended to May 27th. An agreement was reached that delivers immediate wage bumps, a pathway toward $30/hour, and improvements to staffing and pensions.
UAW Local 571 at Electric Boat Ratifies Agreement
Facing a midnight strike deadline on May 19th, 2,400 marine drafters reached a tentative deal that members ratified on May 27th. The 5-year agreement includes historic raises and retirement improvements, securing stability for skilled design professionals.
Backus Hospital Nurses Ratify New Contract After Picket
After more than a year of bargaining and a powerful informational picket on May 15th, nurses at Backus Hospital—members of AFT Connecticut—have ratified a new agreement. The deal addresses long-standing issues around staffing and safety and provides needed wage improvements. Another victory powered by collective action!
UNITE HERE Local 217 Brings the Heat to Hartford
Hospitality workers with UNITE HERE 217 rallied outside the State Capitol on May 5th, calling for living wages and supporting SB 8, the Unemployment Insurance for Striking Workers bill. With contracts expiring this summer at several hotels, the pressure is rising for the contracted companies that the several colleges use for hospitality services to answer the call for a contract that is sustainable for all the workers in the various units.
Ironworkers Organize Jescraft—100% YES!
Every worker at Jescraft in Oxford voted unanimously on May 14th to join the Ironworkers Union. They returned to work after being on strike since early April, on May 27 after entering negotiations—a testament to their strength of unity.
Firefighter Cancer Relief Expansion Now Law
Governor Lamont signed SB 1426 on May 9, expanding protections for firefighters by adding skin cancer to the list of covered illnesses and guaranteeing statewide access to the Firefighters Cancer Relief Program.
Prepared by the Connecticut AFL-CIO, 2025. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without attribution.