Politics & Government
More State Employees Receive Layoff Notices; Unions Seek Tax Hikes: Report
For the fourth straight day, state employees received layoff notices and some union leaders are seeking tax hikes to save jobs.
HARTFORD, CT - In what is becoming a daily occurrence more layoff notices were sent to state employees Thursday.
The state Judicial Branch issued 126 layoff notices. They go into effect on June 24, according to media reports. The layoffs must take place before July 1, which is the beginning of the new fiscal year.
Connecticut is facing a $922 million budget deficit and the layoff and elimination of 2,500 state employee positions is needed to balance the budget, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has said.
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Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers called the layoffs the “most difficult action” they’ve had to take and said they “are truly sorry that these actions are being taken now,” Fox 61 reports. Some courthouses and offices may close, Fox reports.
On Tuesday, 71 Department of Social Service employees were issued layoff notices along with 24 Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services employees, and four Department of Economic and Community Development staff members, NBC Connecticut reports.
Find out what's happening in Greater Hartfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On Wednesday, 34 Department of Social Service employees received layoff notices, NBC Connecticut reports.
Monday’s layoffs included 106 state Department of Children and Families employees and 59 Department of Mental Health and Addiction Service staff members, NBC reports.
- Related stories: Malloy's New Budget Proposal: Layoffs, Cuts and Closures
- More Layoff Notices Sent to State Employees: Report
State employee union leaders are not sitting back while the jobs are being eliminated. Union leaders are urging lawmakers to consider raising taxes, especially on the state’s wealthiest residents in an effort to preserve jobs and vital services, Connecticut News Junkie reports.
“Laying off public workers and slashing vital public services is a recipe for economic disaster,” Council 4 AFSCME Executive Director Sal Luciano said in one of the ads, according to CT News Junkie.
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