The State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) has issued the following statement:

Union leaders in SEBAC have been concerned by an overall lack of progress at the negotiating table for a number of months. This situation, and the possibility for win-win scenarios in pension and healthcare, suggest that a common approach by all SEBAC unions can help local negotiating committees achieve their goals – fair collective bargaining agreements that benefit both our public sector members and the public they serve.

The idea is that through common interaction with the Lamont Administration we can agree on a pattern with respect to general wage increases, steps and related issues, and other cross unit issues that the State as an employer must offer at every bargaining table. The parties can simultaneously explore positive issues in the pension and healthcare agreement, but the unions will not consider any changes that reduce benefits or otherwise negatively impact members.

Local negotiating committees are aware and supportive of this initiative and will be continuously updated about progress in the discussions. They will continue to play their democratic roles with respect to all aspects of seeking agreements which they would be proud to recommend for ratification including, if necessary, pursuing binding arbitration. If the initiative fails to produce such agreements, or negatively interferes with local negotiations, the Coalition will end discussions immediately and reserve all their rights with respect to the negotiation and, if necessary, arbitration of new agreements.