Hartford Municipal Unions Announce Over $8 Million in Savings

Lori J. Pelletier, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, and Hartford municipal union leaders made the following statements in response to Mayor Bronin’s claim that Hartford workers have only made $1.5 million in concessions:

Lori J. Pelletier, President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO:

“It’s disingenuous and deeply disappointing to continually hear Mayor Bronin diminish the contributions Hartford’s frontline public service workers have made to close the city’s budget deficit. While he claims union members have only sacrificed $1.5 million in concessions, the real number exceeds $8 million in year one and continue for several years into the future. These are sacrifices made by dedicated working people. In addition, some local unions are still negotiating to realize further concessions with the Mayor, which will help the city realize millions more in savings. Instead of attempting to villainize workers, the Mayor should thank them for the substantial concessions they have already made and continue to make to help the city.”

Vincent Fusco, President of the Hartford Firefighters Association/IAFF Local 760:

“I would like to clarify the total amount of money the Mayor is claiming we saved the city. In the first year of our contract, Mayor Bronin is correct in saying we save the city $1.5 million, but that’s only six months out of the year. The Mayor is also correct in saying that in each additional year of the contract, we save the city over $3 million. Those were painful cuts for Hartford’s fire fighters and those savings are realized each year of the four year contract.

“What the Mayor is leaving out of the conversation is the money the Board of Education is saving and all the savings still to come from the other city unions currently in negotiations that will further help to close the gap.”

Andrea Johnson, President of the Hartford Federation of Teachers/AFT Local 1018:

“Because of Hartford’s fiscal situation, the teachers in Hartford agreed to make painful concessions that will help close the city’s deficit. But reading recent media reports, it’s clear Mayor Bronin is ignoring the large hit teachers in this city took to help shore up Hartford’s finances.

“On wages alone, we saved the city nearly $4 million this year. Paraeducators added another $611,000 in wages this fiscal year. Without including figures from the concessions the teachers and paraeducators made on healthcare, Hartford’s municipal unions have already saved the city more than $8 million in the first year. Once the savings are calculated from the changes in our health care, we will substantially exceed that figure.

“Before it’s all over, Hartford’s public service workers will have already saved the city well over $8 million in year one and when all bargaining units have concluded negotiations, they will have easily exceed the promised $12 million in savings, not to mention additional dollars in the next two to four years.”

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