After months of closed-door talks with the state employee unions
aimed at closing the $3.5 billion budget gap stalled after midnight
Tuesday,Governor Malloy issued layoffs notices to what he called
the first 4,742 state employees.
Governor Malloy stated that "state employees have not offered enough."
The move was a tough tactic for a Democratic Governor who was elected
with the support of labor and who had been landed during the budget
season for his concillatory stance and call for "shared sacrifice."
The $40.1 billion two-year budget Mr. Malloy signed into law last
week has a spending gap of $1 billion each year, which the govenor
said he expected would be filled with concessions from state workers.
If state workers failed to agree to sharp reductions in pay and
benefits, the governor would move to Plan B.
The 4,700 layoffs are just a starting point. Negotiations are
continuing.
Sheila McKinney
