Hartford's Workers United for Quality Services

Hartford's Workers United for Quality Services

News and Updates on the City Budget Deficit

Members of Our Chapter 848 Bargaining Team Luigi Sartori, Liz Kavanah, Carmen Franceschi, and James Cheek Have Been Negotiating a New Contract Since March

When Hartford City managers announced a first round of lay-offs in late-2008, two of our members in Council 760's Chapter 848 were among those providing valuable public services who were cut. Our members began reaching out to other city workers and began delivering a powerful message; it is irresponsible to balance Hartford's city budget by cutting vital public services.

Since then, we have called on City leaders to work with us to ensure delivery of top-notch public services while identifying waste and inefficiencies that have worsened the current crisis. In November, we turned up the pressure and organized calls to City Council members to support a resolution that would have suspended and rescinded the Mayor's first round of workforce and service cuts.

Then in April, as projections for the City’s budget deficit over the next year reached $40 million, several municipal unions formed the new Hartford Public Services coalition. The goal is to work with elected officials, community leaders, and the private sector to help turn the local economy around while meeting the increased need for quality public services.

The Mayor and City Council have asked the Coalition's unions to produce significant cost-savings in order to help balance the budget for the next fiscal year. Because the process has been characterized by a lack of transparency in the past, we are working to create an open dialogue and have a candid conversation about real solutions.

On June 4, the Coalition presented a framework of a plan that would deliver savings to taxpayers, protect public services, and prevent job losses to the mayor's office. Then on June 16, our Chapter's bargaining team reached a tentative agreement with representatives of the Perez Administration for a new three-year contract.