AFL-CIO Responds to General Assembly’s Fruitful Legislative Session for Working People

Sal Luciano, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, issued the following statement in response to the success the General Assembly had improving the lives of working people during the 2019 legislative session:

“This legislative session was productive and fruitful for the working people of Connecticut. Legislators from the majority party responded to the concerns they heard from working families in their districts during the 2018 campaign. They came together to hit the ground running in January and delivered on promises to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour and establish a paid family and medical leave program. They also brokered a historic bipartisan compromise to provide PTSD coverage to our first responders. Workers who had been left behind in recent years of budget austerity and anti-worker sentiment will benefit immensely from the hard work of our legislature and Governor Lamont.

“After years of grassroots organizing, Connecticut will finally catch up to our neighboring states who have already passed a $15 minimum wage and a paid family and medical leave program. This will help our state retain young, talented workers by providing them with fair wages and critical paid time off to raise a new family.

“We also applaud the legislature for the overwhelming bipartisan vote in support of offshore wind as a new source of renewable energy. This will not only benefit our communities with a healthier environment, it will create good-paying jobs for years to come.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Lamont and the legislature as they consider a special session to figure out the best way to repair our state’s crumbling infrastructure.”

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