More so than at any time in its history, CSU-AAUP was a major player in the budget crisis this past spring. Our union maintained a constant presence in the Legislative Office Building (LBO), engaging legislators on why our students and institutions needed additional funding. CSU-AAUP members met (numerous times) with the governor, the legislative leadership, committee chairs, and their representatives making the case for the state universities. We mobilized members from all four campuses to fight for and win an additional $80 million dollars for the CSCU System.
CSU-AAUP was inside the LBO, but we were also outside it – joining our brothers and sisters in the 4Cs, Connecticut for All, and SEBAC in many actions (press conferences, Democracy Schools, rallies, and protests).
Our political fight is set to become more intense going forward as Governor Lamont and OPM remain steadfast in their desire to “right-size” our system and to off-load the costs of public higher education onto the backs of students.
CSU-AAUP members also joined with our coalition partners (Connecticut for All and SEBAC) and either submitted testimony or testified on the following bills and issues.
Appropriations Committee
• CSU-AAUP members testified on the Governor’s Proposed FY 2025 Budget Adjustments for Elementary and Secondary Education Agencies. Members argued that cutting $150 million from our Elementary and High Schools would damage public education in Connecticut, as well as reducing the Aspiring Educators Diversity scholarship program and eliminating funding for assistance to paraprofessionals (Feb 15, 2024, HB 5048).
• Large numbers of students and members from the CSUs testified in front of the Appropriations Committee urging it to amend and expand upon the Governor’s budget proposal for Public Higher Education in Connecticut. CSU-AAUP members argued that the Community Colleges, State Universities, UConn, and UConn Health all need additional funding (Feb 20, 2024).
• CSU-AAUP members testified in front of the Appropriations Committee in support of increased funding to expand eligibility for the Husky Medicaid program to all income eligible Connecticut residents, regardless of immigrant status, up to age 18 (Feb 21, 2024, HB 5048).
• CSU-AAUP testified in support of SB 50 which would create space under the spending cap so that our distressed municipalities would receive an increase in supplemental funding (Mar 15, 2024, SB 50).
Labor and Public Employees Committee
• CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony advocating for the expansion of Connecticut’s paid sick days. Emphasis was on the need of paid sick days for part-time faculty (Feb 22, 2024, SB 7).
Housing Committee
• CSU-AAUP testified in support of An Act Concerning the Collateral Consequences of a Criminal Record on Housing Opportunities. This bill protects people from discrimination because of their criminal record (Feb 27, 2024, HB 5242).
Education Committee
• CSU-AAUP members testified against An Act Concerning Education Funding. This bill would increase funding for Charter schools and certain magnet schools but it would not apply the same inflation elevator to neighborhood public schools (Feb 28, 2024, HB 5212).
Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
• CSU-AAUP members testified and submitted testimony in support of several bills that would move Connecticut toward a more just tax system. Members spoke in opposition to HB 5101, a bill increasing the use of school vouchers (Mar 6, 2024, SB 35, SB 36, HB 5101, HB 5113).
