They Came Out Swinging, But Unions Struck Out

They went in with such high hopes. And maybe they were too hopeful, but no one thought it would end up like this.

Labor unions looked at the 2007 legislative session as a grand opportunity. Democrats, historically the favored party of unions, had won a large enough majority to override any veto by the governor.

Health insurance had just been mandated for all citizens in neighboring Massachusetts – leading to fresh aspirations that a new government plan could happen here also.

And a bevy of ideas for expanding workers compensation poured quickly into the Labor and Public Employees Committee and flew out the other end with flying colors.

Back then, things were looking good for the organized labor. But now that the legislature’s work is all but done for the summer, we know better: It was a trying session for the unions.

The Democrats, all 45 in the House and 24 in the Senate, opted not to override any vetoes of the popular governor. But on labor’s most important issues, it didn’t even come to that. The idea to provide affordable health care to every citizen in the state fell below education and energy prices as a priority, and of close to 20 ideas for improving workers compensation benefits, almost none passed.

Moving Targets
Does this add up to an erosion of respect for the unions at the State Capitol?

Lori J. Pelletier, who handles much of the lobbying for Connecticut AFL-CIO’s, doesn’t think so. She thinks most legislators want to do something to improve the stakes for workers, but aren’t sure of the best way to go about it.

“Many legislators have gotten significantly more informed, which is an accomplishment,” she said.

That isn’t to say Pelletier is pleased with how the session played out. She said perception of a single-payer healthcare system was tainted by the insurance industry, which howled about possible job losses, and the media, which was happy to explain the price tag of such a plan, but – in her view – failed to point out the savings that could be had.

“As much as I thought we moved the ball down the field, I think the goal posts were moved beforehand,” she said.

Others took similar views.

“I think you can look at health care as a mixed bag,” said Jennifer Berigan, who lobbies on behalf Municipal Employees Union Independent.

“I think the issue was addressed. It was placed on the agenda, and that’s a positive. Did everyone get what they wanted? No. But it’s a complex issue.”

There was little success on workers compensation proposals either, which were defeated so soundly that Connecticut Business & Industry Association lobbyist Joseph Brennan applauded the way “the Speaker reached out to our manufacturing and small business groups, and listened to their concerns,” in his write-up of the session.

An effort to secure compensation to treat scars that aren’t visible when one is clothed, for instance, failed despite stories like that of a waitress whose body was badly burned when a pot of hot coffee was dumped down her uniform, and a corrections officer who was bit on the arm by an inmate.

“We did not go as far as we thought we were going to on disfigurement,” Pelletier acknowledged.

Last Gasp
There is a glimmer of hope for something to be salvaged. One of the only pieces of legislation that the General Assembly may still address is contracting reform, which has been a serious point of contention between the governor and Democrats in the past, but on which a compromise may have been struck this year.

Getting that passed has been a priority for Berigan’s municipal workers, and she’s still holding out hope.

“It’s our understanding that there is still a chance,” she said last week.

Either way, it will be a long wait for workers until next session. You can only watch Michael Moore’s “Sicko” so many times.