From the 40-hour work week to the end of child labor, unions have made invaluable contributions to American life. But it hasn’t been easy. As we reflect on Labor Day, it’s worth remembering how often Connecticut Republicans have sought to impede the labor movement.
CT GOP: ‘No’ on Family Medical Leave
In 2019, Connecticut’s Democratic-led legislature passed a historic priority of the labor movement: a paid family medical leave program to ensure that workers can take time off when they or a family member is sick or to take care of a newborn baby. Senate Democrats made it their top priority that year. Republicans in the state Senate filibustered the bill for more than six hours then voted against the policy, according to the CT Mirror.
The program has been popular so the legislature acted last year to expand the initiative. Once again, family medical leave faced “heavy Republican opposition,” according to CT News Junkie.
CT GOP: ‘No’ on Paid Sick Days
Last year, the state legislature passed a bill to build on Connecticut’s groundbreaking paid sick leave policy from 2011 by requiring some employers with at least 50 employees to provide paid leave when their workers are sick. That was too much for Connecticut Republicans. According to the New Haven Independent, “Republicans lined up to oppose it.”
CT GOP: ‘No’ on Minimum Wage Adjustment
In 2019, the General Assembly passed a law that raised Connecticut’s minimum wage to $15 an hour then tied the wage to the Employment Cost Index to make sure it reflected wage growth. Legislative Democrats passed the bill but not before Republicans filibustered the proposal for six hours in the Senate and 11 hours in the House, according to the CT Mirror.
CT GOP: ‘Yes’ on Gutting Pensions for Public Safety Workers
This year, Connecticut Republicans proposed legislation that would have stripped overtime wages from the pensions of Connecticut public safety workers. The bill was overwhelmingly criticized by firefighters, corrections officers and others who said that they are required to work mandatory overtime due to the public safety nature of their jobs and understaffing. Although the bill had many Republican supporters and co-sponsors, the Democrats who run the Appropriations Committee prevented the proposal from advancing.
Happy Labor Day and if you enjoyed the long weekend – or any weekend for that matter – thank a union and Democrats because Connecticut Republicans are working hard to roll back progress.
