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One state union is working hard to get its members to vote yes on a concessions package to balance the state budget. WNPR's Jeff Cohen reports.
Last time around, the state workers in the union called AFSCME voted against the concessions package proposed by Governor Dannel Malloy. This time, the union's leaders are working harder to get out the "yes" vote. One way they're going about it is an eight minute video on You Tube.
"Some members may say they're going to vote no. Well, I understand that. But at the same time, how can you fight without a job? If you don't vote yes, you don't have a voice."
Ewart Cumberbatch works for the state Department of Social Services. He says that younger state workers face a particularly hard road.
"The job market is bad, you're just coming out of college you don't have that much experience. What about the people that have 20 years ahead of you? You can't compete with those people."
Christine Stuart is editor-in-chief of CTNewsjunkie.com. She she sees AFSCME taking a different approach this time around. She says the union is...
"Going out and talking to their members, going to the job sites of their members and having conversations with people. I think what they learned the first time was that people aren't gonna always read the literature and they're not necessarily going to go to the informational meeting."
Stuart says there still is a strong opposition movement among state workers who either don't like the concessions package or the process itself. After all, state union leaders did change the rules of the game after the first vote failed.
But the AFSCME video makes the case that state workers simply have too much to lose.
"How can you say no to guaranteeing your medical future? How can you say no to guaranteeing four years of no layoffs? Save that fire, save that fight for the future. Let's keep our job right now, let's keep our benefits, let's continue providing essential services to the people of the State of Connecticut."
The unions will vote next week.
For WNPR, I'm Jeff Cohen.
