Gov. Lamont Gives Raises To Non-Union State Managers: Report

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont this week handed out 7.5 percent raises to more than 1,700 non-union state government managers, the same amount that the state government's unionized workers have received in recent years, reported the Connecticut Mirror.

The move is designed to help retain current, and attract new, managers, because the state reportedly is finding it difficult to keep the non-union managerial ranks full.

Those management positions do not have the same protections and benefits as union jobs, so some qualified employees are avoiding seeking promotions to manager, as a result.

The total cost of the raises is $13.3 million, the Hartford Courant reported.

State House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora was critical of Lamont's move, because he said it falls under the same pattern of government largess that has helped put Connecticut in an economic bind.

"Unfortunately, our state is mired in a vicious circle that's fueled by people at the capitol whose baseline position is to give state employee unions everything they want," Candelora said. "That attitude has contributed to a structural gulf between non-union managers and the unionized employees that serve under them and, given the pay imbalance the governor is trying to address with the raises he's implementing, it's no wonder that it's been hard to get people into those management jobs when they come with smaller salaries."

Lamont and Melissa McCaw, director of the state Office of Policy and Management, argue that the raises are necessary, in part because the state expects a large wave of managerial retirements before new pension requirements take effect next year.

Candelora said he understands the state's problem of retaining and attracting managers, but he said part of that problem is due to the constant raises given to unionized workers.

"I understand what the governor is attempting to do yet I wonder how these raises will affect not only current contract talks with union negotiators for rank-and-file workers who want more pay, but also the work of a new task force charged with studying this issue and reporting back to the legislature," Candelora said.

Read the Connecticut Mirror story; read the Hartford Courant story.