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CSEA NEWSThe Voice of Connecticut’s Public Service Employees & Retirees

VOL. 46, NO. 11CSEA SEIU Local 2001November, 2013

Postmaster: Please forward address changes to:

CSEA, 760 CAPITOL AVE., HARTFORD, CT 06106

Visit Our Union’s Website at www.CSEA-CT.com

CSEA Enrolls Members In Health Care

CSEA’s Assister, Eva Bermudez enrolls Jim Atheneos of Plainfield during a CSEA enrollment event on October 26th. Atheneos is the husband of a CSEA Paraprofessional member. To date, CSEA has helped enroll more than 60 people and their families, including many CSEA members. If you are in need of health insurance, call CSEA’s health care hotline: 855-219-0490 to set up an appointment and see what options are available to you.

Also In This Edition: CSEA Turkey Drive

CSEA 2013 Candidate Endorsements

Transformation?

Federal Government Shutdown

Jepsen/Rowland File Appeal Petition At US Supreme Court

Paraprofessional Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Update

Collective Bargaining Update

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CSEA has long been an advocate for improving access to quality health care for our members; from our effort to make health insurance premiums affordable to state retirees in the 1980’s, to the fight to improve access standards for hospital services and for primary care and specialty services that continues today. CSEA was also deeply involved in negotiating the Health Enhancement Program in 2011, which changed the focus of the Health Plan to wellness and disease prevention. As we have always been on the cutting edge of health care improvements, it made sense for CSEA to take an active role in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). We saw this as a great opportunity to enroll members in certain bargaining units where circumstances had made it difficult to obtain health care coverage, reduce the number of uninsured and underinsured in the state and use this opportunity to engage, educate and build our union in the process.

The Plan: As we have previously reported in this paper, CSEA decided to apply for an “assister grant” from Access Health CT, and two members of CSEA’s staff went through a rigorous training to become certified “assisters” with Access Health CT. CSEA is now beginning a full court press to

energize, unite and help our members enroll in the new insurance options with a campaign that we nicknamed “Team Assister”, while at the same time taking a lead role in the Connecticut effort to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Team Assister quickly partnered with SEIU, our international union and key staff in the Public Services Division to develop a plan of attack. That plan started in late September with two full days of Member Leadership Development here at CSEA. Members and staff were trained in the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how to use implementation of the Act to engage all of the membership and build Union strength, now and into the future.

SEIU International has committed over $56,000 to the effort and Team Assister has secured an additional $40,000 from the Universal Health Care Foundation. With those funds we will be mobilizing a small army of members and canvassers to help enroll members in the health insurance plan that is right for them. This will be a huge effort encompassing all segments of the staff and benefitting all CSEA members.

By Robert Krzys, CSEA Legal Council

Continued on Page 7

November, 2013 CSEA NEWS

COUNCIL 400 DELEGATES: Thursday, November 21, 10:00 AM, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 Union Hall, 760 Capitol Ave., Hartford. Contact: Retiree Coordinator Hollis Block at (800) 894-9479.

CHAPTER 401 (Hartford area): Thursday, November 7, Noon. CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, 760 Capitol Ave. Speakers: Patricia Carr of the Funeral Directors Association MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND! Contact Chairperson Al Marotta at (860) 712-1300 or Tom at (860) 674-8221.

CHAPTER 402 (Danbury area): Wednesday, November 13, 10:00 AM, United Methodist Church, 5 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury. Speaker: Richard Blake, Vitas public safety community liaison Contact: President Dawn Gallagher at (203) 748-2018.

CHAPTER 403 (Norwich area): Tuesday, November 12, 1:30 PMRose City Senior Center, 8 Mahan Dr., Norwich. Speaker: Adrian Walker, Anthem Account Services Retiree Specialist Contact: President Carol Burgess at (860) 303-7267.

CHAPTER 404 (Waterbury area): Tuesday, November 12, 10:00 AM, Donuts/Coffee at 10:30. Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway (exit 17 off I-84), Waterbury. Speaker: James Ian, MetLife Representative on maintaining a comfortable retirement Contact: President Ron Chasse at (860) 945-0768.

CHAPTER 405 (New Haven area): Wed, November 13, 1:00 PM, Smart Living Center, 297 Boston Post Rd., Orange.Speakers: CSEA’s Hollis Block on CSEA Update, the power of retirees, and changes to our health care system. Contact: President Andy Gambardella at (203) 214-1828. CHAPTER 406 (Middletown area):Tuesday, November 12, 1:00 PM, American Legion Post 75, 58 Bernie O’Rourke Dr., Middletown. Speakers: Ruth Mayo of the Portland Food Bank Coffee Social, Door Prizes,and a brief Business Meeting will be held Contact: President Joe Formica at (860) 347-4532.

CHAPTER 407 (Bridgeport area): Wednesday, November 20, 12:30 PM Social St. Joseph’s of Stratford National Catholic Church, 1300 Stratford Rd., Stratford (on Rt. 113 toward Sikorsky Airport). Speaker: Kate Cusado of the Alzheimer’s Association Contact: President Carol Donofrio at (203) 888-2920.

CHAPTER 408 (Willimantic area): Wednesday, November 13, 1:00 PM, Baptist Church, 945 Storrs Rd, Storrs CT. Speaker: Don Hoyle on Global Warming We will have coffee at 1:00 and the meeting at 1:30. Contact: Christine Ashe at (860) 742-0667

CHAPTER 410 (Windsor Locks area):*****NEW DATE DUE TO HOLIDAY****Monday, November 4, 1:00 PM, Suffield Senior Center, 145 Bridge St, Suffield. Speaker: Chief Michael Manzi and Capt. Huntley of the Suffield Police Dept on senior safety and scams. Contact Amelia Smith 860-684-1848

CHAPTER 411 (Rocky Hill area): Thursday, November 14, 1:00 PM, William J. Pitkin Community Center, 30 Greenfield St., Wethersfield. Speaker: Adrian Walker, Anthem Account Services Retiree Specialist Contact: President Sebastian Puglisi at (860) 529-8336.

CHAPTER 412 (Putnam area): Tuesday, November 19, 1:30 PM, Congregational Church of Putnam, 175 Main St, PutnamSpeaker: Lynn James, Citizen’s National Bank, Identity Theft and Fraud prevention Contact: President Don Gladding at (860) 564-9092.

CHAPTER 414 (Torrington area): Monday, November 18, 10-11am Torrington UConn Campus Extension Building. University Drive,TorringtonSpeaker: CSEA Executive Director Bob Rinker Contact Karen Pineman 860-354-6727

CHAPTER 415 (Manchester area): Monday, November 25, 1:00 PM, Elks Lodge, 33 Bissell St. Manchester. Speaker: Adrian Walker, Anthem Account Services Retiree Specialist Contact: Dorothy Tomlinson at 860-647-1216

CHAPTER 416 (New London area): Tuesday, November 12, 12:00 PM, Waterford Public Library, Rope Ferry Rd Speaker: Dr. Alan Krasner, Endocrinologist on “What is Diabetes” Contact Jean Thorson at 860-444-2011

CHAPTER 417 (Plainville area): Wednesday, November 13, 1:00 PM, Church of Our Savior Episcopal Church, 115 West Main St., Plainville. Speaker: Larry Sutherand, Plainville Fire Marshall, Senior Fire Safety Issues Meeting starts at 1:00 P.M. with the speaker scheduled for 1:30 P.M Contact: President John Lessor at (860) 628-0021. CHAPTER 418 (4Cs): Tuesday, November 12, 10:00 AM, 4Cs office, 907 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford. Speaker: Joanna Penta from SilverscriptContact: President Bill Searle at (860) 745-3692.

FLORIDA CHAPTERSCHAPTER 421 (Central/Northern Area)SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, November 6, 2013Piccadilly Cafeteria, 1700 West International Speedway Blvd, Volusia Mall, Daytona Beach, FloridaAny Questions Call Pat Albert: 386-615-6805

CHAPTER 422 (Ocala Area)SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, February 25th, 2014

CHAPTER 423 (East Coast)SAVE THE DATE: Monday, February 10th, 2014 Holiday Inn, 2809 South Ocean Blvd, Highland Beach

CHAPTER 424 (Sarasota Area)SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, February 18th, 2014

CHAPTER 425 (Sun Coast)SAVE THE DATE: Friday, February 14th, 2014

CHAPTER 426 (Fort Myers Area)SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, February 20th, 2014

Chapter 427 (East Central Florida)SAVE THE DATE: Annual Meeting Is Scheduled for February 8th, 2014 at the Vero Beach Yacht Club.

SAVE THE DATE: DECEMBER LUNCHEONS

CHAPTER 401 (Hartford area): Thursday, December 5, 11:00am. Chowder Pot IV, 165 Brainard Rd, Hartford

CHAPTER 403 (Norwich area): Tuesday, December 10, 11:30amThe Spa at Norwich Inn, 607 West Thames St. (Rt. 32) Norwich

CHAPTER 405 (New Haven area): Wed, December 11, 12:00 NoonItalian American Club, Westwoods Ballroom, 85 Chase Lane, West Haven CHAPTER 406 (Middletown area): Tuesday, December 3, 11:30am,Baci Grill Restaurant, Rose Room, 134 Berlin Road, Cromwell

CHAPTER 408 (Willimantic area): Wednesday, December 11, 11:30amLakeview Restaurant, 50 Lake Street, Coventry CHAPTER 410 (Windsor Locks area): Monday, December 9, 11:00amChez Josef, 176 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam

CHAPTER 411 (Rocky Hill area): Thursday, December 12, 11:3am, Chowder Pot IV, 165 Brainard Rd, Hartford

CHAPTER 415 (Manchester area): Thursday, December 5, 12:00 Noon,Manchester Country Club, 305 South Main St. Manchester

CHAPTER 416 (New London area): Thursday, December 5, 12:00 Noon,Steak Loft, 27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic CT

CHAPTER 417 (Plainville area): Wednesday, December 11, 11:30am, Church of Our Savior, 115 West Main St., Plainville

November/December Meetings & Events


USPS # 224-100 ISSN # 0273-6055Published Monthly by

CONNECTICUT STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATIONLocal 2001, Service Employees International Union, CTW, CLC

Patrice Peterson.......................................................................... PresidentStephen Anderson.................................................... Secretary/TreasurerRobert D. Rinker........................................................ Executive DirectorBenjamin Phillips.......................................... Communications DirectorJason P. Webster...................................... Graphic/ Technical Assistance

INSERTION DEADLINE: 1st of prior month.

MAILING ADDRESS: CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, 760 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106; PHONES: (860) 951-6614, toll-free: (800) 894-9479, FAX: (860) 951-3526; INTERNET: www.csea-ct.com.

“CSEA NEWS” (USPS 224-100, ISSN 0273-6055) is published monthly for $2.80 per year members, $5.00 per year non-members, by CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, 760 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106-1263. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT. Postmaster: Send address changes to “CSEA NEWS,” 760 Capitol Ave., Hartford, CT 06106-1263.

CSEA NEWSThe Voice of Connecticut’s Public Service Employees & Retirees

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HARTFORD84WadsworthSt.Hartford,CT06106

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Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2013

Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013

CSEA Annual Turkey Drive

On Tuesday, November 26th, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 will be holding our annual Thanksgiving meal drive at our Union Hall in Hartford (760 Capitol Avenue). Each year we ask that Councils and Chapters donate to this good works event. On Tuesday, November 26 starting at 9AM we will gather to create food baskets to be distributed to our brothers and sisters in the Community.

Donations from councils, chapters and individuals can be made anytime in November, up to November 22, when the committee will determine the budget for the Turkey Drive.

Help us fill food baskets for Thanksgiving. How can you help? Please have your Council or Chapter donate money that we can use to purchase turkeys, stuffing, potatoes, corn, green beans, and other tasty treats for baskets.

Meals will be distributed in the following priority order:• Members of CSEA SEIU local 2001 that may be in need as

nominated by a Chapter or Council leaders.

• Our Connecticut SEIU Brothers and Sisters who are on a “Strike Line” and in need.

• Food share for distribution in the local community.

Checks can be made out to “CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 Turkey Drive” in care of Michael Nortz and plan to help us create and distribute baskets on Tuesday, November 26 from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Tuesday, November 26th

9am-2pm

CSEA Hartford Office 760 Capitol Ave


McCusker Scholarship Fund

Thank you for your Support!!

Date to Start

2/4/2013 Return Order

3/15/2013

Delivery Date

3/25/2013

Name: ______________________________Phone:_______________

Organization: McCusker Scholarship Fund Teacher:______________

Please Make Checks Payable to: McCusker Scholarship Fund

Any questions, contact Bernadette Conway at 860-951-6614

Name Phone Butter Braid Pastries - $12.00 Cookie Dough – $12.00 Total Items

Total $$

1 Mom’s order 2 3 Grandma’s order 4 5 Check with Aunts and Uncles? 6 7 Can Mom or Dad sell at work? 8 9 Any good family friends? 10 11 You can check with your siblings 12 13 Check with people at church 14 15 Did you ask your teacher? 16 17 Anybody else that you can think of? 18 Strw App Blue Cin Ras Cream Rolls Choc

/Chp M&M Oat DC SN Total Items

Total $$

Sales Tips: 1. Ask Family and Friends to

help you! 2. Make a list of potential

customers. Good customers are friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers.

3. Introduce yourself and your organization.

4. Smile, be polite and thank them for their order.

5. Do not sell door to door without adult supervision.

6. Collect money when taking order.

7. Bring a cooler for distribution of large orders! Easy to take to work!

About Butter Braid Pastries: Butter Braid pastries are light and flaky with over 20 layers of pastry dough. These hand-braided pastries are made with 100% real butter, the finest natural ingredients and filled with 6 delicious fillings. A tasty treat that’s so easy to prepare and enjoy!

About Classic Breaks: Classic Breaks cookie dough is frozen pre-portioned cookie dough that consumers love. Simply Break and Bake for a delicious warm snack. These cookies come in a 2 lb. sheet of dough divided into 32—1 oz. squares.

Allergy Information: Butter Braid pastry and Classic Breaks are produced in a plant that processes nuts. Check our web site for ingredient listings.

MCM Fundraising, Inc. CT, MA & RI Exclusive Fundraising Distributors

Butter Braid Pastries, Classic Breaks Cookie Dough, Lyman Orchards Pies

888-774-5889 * 860-654-1606 www.mcmfundraising.com

New!

Orders must be in by November 11th Delivery will be on November 25th

With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, our Union’s McCusker Trustees are once again organizing a pastry fund-raiser to benefit our Unions scholarship fund for 2013. We are once again selling delicious Lyman Orchards Butterbraids and cookie dough to help cover at least one of the $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to members’ children and grandchildren next year. There are 7 different pastries to choose from, including 5 cookie dough flavors, all listed

on the form below. Clip it out and use it to take orders from your friends, family and neighbors for the holiday. All orders and payments must be in by November 11th, and the orders will be delivered to our Union hall in Hartford on Monday, November 25th for pick-up, just in time for Thanksgiving! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Bernadette Conway at [email protected] or 860-951-6614, ext. 120.

Butterbraids Are Back

Enfield –

Jill Cofiell Krawiec –Town Council, District 1

William Edgar – Town Council, District 2

Ed Deni – Town Council, District 4

Gina Cekala – Town Council, Councilman-at-Large

Tom Arnone – Town Council, Councilman-at-Large

Cynthia Mangini – Town Council, Councilman-at-Large

Charles Ladd –Town Council, District 3

Enfield Board of Education Tim Neville Stacy Thurston Vincent Grady

Farmington –Ned Statchen – (CSEA member)Town Council, 2nd District

Manchester –Leo Diana – Board of Directors

Lisa O’Neill –Board of Directors

Manchester Continued– Jay Moran – Board of Directors

Steve Gates – Board of Directors

Paul Rubin – Board of Directors

Rudy Kissmann – Board of Directors

Warren Packer – (CSEA Member) Manchester Constable

Middletown –Dan Drew – Mayor

New Britain – Tim O’Brien – Mayor

New Haven –Toni Harp – Mayor

Rocky Hill Town Council –Kevin Clements (CSEA member)Alan R. Mordhorst

Stamford –David Martin – Mayor

This is the complete list of CSEA’s endorsed candidates for the 2013 election. CSEA does not endorse in every district or race state wide.

Endorsed Candidates


Federal Shutdown

Orders must be in by November 11th Delivery will be on November 25th

Reopened For Business:

What began as a fight over the insistence of Republicans in the House of Representatives to attach provisions designed to kill the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to any legislation allowing the government to function, ended the evening of October 16th with a mix of relief and frustration. The hundreds of thousands of federal workers who had been furloughed during the 16-day government shutdown were glad to return to

their jobs, freed from the anxiety of not knowing when they’d get another paycheck. The affordable care act is going into effect as planned, and the country has the ability to continue to pay its bills on time.

The 16 day shutdown carried a hefty price tag. The furloughed Federal workers were just part of a crisis that had ripple effects throughout the nation, taking a $24 billion dollar bite out of the United States’ economy (for comparison, Connecticut’s

budget for Fiscal Year 2012-13 was $20.4 billion). Federal contractors furloughed thousands of employees who will likely not receive back pay. Frozen government contracts and stalled business loans hurt businesses nationwide. Closed national parks hit the tourism industry. Thousands of families saw childcare and other services shuttered, and consumers, scared by the debate over raising the debt ceiling, started to cut back.

Governor Malloy issued the following statement as the congress was preparing to end the shutdown. “While I am pleased that an agreement to end the shutdown has been reached, the fact remains that this is no way to run a government. We simply cannot go from one manufactured crisis to the next, and that’s all this deal does -- put off the hard choices until a later date, so we can go through this nonsense again next year.”

“The decision in Washington by House Republicans to abdicate their responsibilities as elected officials in order to pursue a fringe ideological agenda has very real implications for states and for the families that live in them. The sad truth is that those most in need are the ones most directly impacted, as we saw in Connecticut when vital Head Start facilities in Bridgeport and across the state unnecessarily faced closure. Republicans in Washington need to

get the message - they are elected to govern, not to score political points on the backs of those they’re supposed to serve. I wish I could say that I am optimistic that a lesson has been learned, but the truth is I’m not.”

The agreement that was ultimately reached was almost exactly what President Obama had demanded from House Republicans for months; a clean continuing resolution with no strings attached. The Senate voted overwhelmingly to ratify the deal, 81 to 18, with more than half of Senate Republicans joining the united Senate Democrats in voting yes. The House followed, approving the measure 285 to 144. Eighty-seven Republicans joined the Democratic caucus in approving the measure and ending the shutdown.

Under the terms of the agreement, the federal government is funded through Jan. 15, when they might shut down again unless lawmakers resolve a continuing dispute over deep automatic spending cuts known sequestration. Also, enforcement of the debt limit has been put on hold until Feb. 7, setting up another showdown over the national debt in March, 2014.

ReOpened

Transformation?The first section on the first page of the 2011 SEBAC Agreement reads:

1. SAVINGSANDTRANSFORMATIONThe parties have explored and will continue to explore and, where appropriate, implement strategies to:

a. Harness the creativity and experience of front-line bargaining and non-bargaining unit state employees to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of state government;

b. Streamline and flatten organizational structures to concentrate on service delivery;

c. Examine and redress barriers to the most efficient use of in-house resources to address agency and cross-agency needs;

d. Discourage the use of outside contractors and consultants when internal capacity exists or can reasonably be developed; and

e. Make best efforts to ensure that vendors and service providers doing business with the state do so at reasonable rates of return and under terms that reflects the shared sacrifice being asked from all sectors of Connecticut society.

Governor Malloy came into office facing extreme budget deficits resulting from the Great Recession and years of mismanagement by the Rowland and Rell administrations. Rather than simply initiate draconian layoffs as Rowland would have done, Governor Malloy approached state employees to negotiate a concession agreement (SEBAC 2011), intended to save the state $1.6 billion dollars. The transformation language was an important part of that concession agreement. The thinking was that if union members were going to make real sacrifices to save jobs and help the state confront the worse budget crisis in a generation, we should get a contractual agreement from the Malloy administration to make substantial improvements to the way state government functions. CSEA members, especially our active and retired state members, care about state government. We are taxpayers in addition to our jobs as public servants and just like every citizen in Connecticut, we want state government to work both efficiently and effectively.

CSEA members put a great deal of stock in Governor Malloy. When Dan Malloy ran for Governor, he positioned himself as a friend to organized labor. He promised positive changes in state government and that front-line workers would be given a seat at the table. It was these promises that motivated

CSEA and other labor unions to turn out voters during the 2010 gubernatorial election. In the end, it was the activity of politically engaged union members who volunteered their limited time on Get Out The Vote (GOTV) efforts that helped Dan Malloy win the governorship with a slim victory of just 6,404 votes out of more than 1.2 million cast.

Unfortunately, many CSEA members now feel as though the change that was promised never materialized. Front-line workers will be the first to tell you that in many state agencies, things are as bad, or worse than they were under Governor Malloy’s predecessors. Workers regularly complain about the state’s inefficient and wasteful use of outside contractors who do work that should be done in-house by state employees.

CSEA, along with our partners in SEBAC, are working to kick start this dormant process because frankly, time is running out. In exactly one year, Connecticut will be in the midst of what is likely to be another very close and contentious gubernatorial election. There is limited time for the governor to accomplish real change and honor the commitments he made to front-line public employees, but that change has to start immediately. Real transformation needs to happen, and Governor Malloy is running out of time.


As expected, Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen has continued his misguided quest to deny justice to State Employees, siding with former Governor John Rowland in the effort. Jepsen, together with Rowland and former Secretary of OPM, Marc Ryan have now filed two separate petitions asking the United States Supreme Court to review the Second Circuit Court’s ruling on Rowland’s 2002 terminations of 2,800 State Employees. What’s remarkable about the appeal is that Jepsen has agreed to use taxpayer dollars to hire an outside attorney to defend Rowland and Ryan.

The 2nd Circuit Court’s decision was a huge victory for state employees, ruling that by singling out union members, instead of including managers and other unrepresented employees to achieve the desired savings, the Rowland Administration punished employees for exercising their fundamental right of free association, a right protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Effectively, the 2nd Circuit Court held that when a governor punishes people because of the group to which they belong – whether it’s a union or a political party, or a religion – he or she violates our Constitution’s most cherished provisions protecting free speech.

The Attorney General Jepsen describes the 2002 situation in his petition as such:

After 13 public employee unions refused to agree to concessions, Governor John G. Rowland exercised the State’s

sovereign and contractual power to control the size of its workforce and directed state agencies to eliminate approximately 2,800 positions held by bargaining unit members. Lacking a contractual or statutory basis to challenge the layoffs, the unions commenced a class action contending that the Governor’s use of his authority to reduce the size of the State’s workforce because the unions did not agree to collective bargaining agreement concessions violated their First Amendment rights to association.

The Attorney General’s petition asks one main question of the Supreme Court:

• Whether the Second Circuit erred in extending this Court’s political patronage decisions in Elrod v. Burns, 427 U.S. 347 (1976), and Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois, 497 U.S. 62 (1990), to encompass a governor’s directive to reduce the size of a state’s workforce by eliminating positions in collective bargaining units, thereby constitutionalizing a labor dispute between the State and its unionized workforce.

The cases cited in the Attorney General’s petition were used by the Second Circuit Court to justify its ruling that Governor Rowland violated the rights of State Employees. “Rutan v. Republican Party of Illinois” was

a Supreme Court decision that held that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution forbids a government entity from basing its decision to promote, transfer, recall, or hire low-level public employees based upon their party affiliation. “Elrod V. Burns” held that non-policy making public employees could not be dismissed from their jobs solely on the basis of political affiliation. Jepsen is asking the Supreme Court if the Second Circuit Court made a mistake applying these cases to labor unions because unions are somehow different than political parties and undeserving of the same protections from discrimination.

Additionally, former Governor Rowland and Secretary Ryan filed a separate petition by an outside attorney paid for by taxpayer dollars to the Supreme Court asking:

• Are a governor’s subjective motives for exercising a state’s inherent power and contractual right to reduce the size of its unionized workforce legally relevant when a court is asked to determine the constitutionality of that legislative act?

• Did the Second Circuit err in requiring strict scrutiny of a governor’s decision to reduce the size of a state’s unionized workforce by falsely analogizing that decision to firing state employees based on their political party affiliation?

When the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) filed its initial lawsuit, the case forced public officials to show that they laid off employees to achieve specific economic ends. It was found instead that many of the terminated state employees’ positions were

funded entirely by the federal government or regulated industries, meaning that those terminations saved no money for the state and were implemented to punish union members during contentious negotiations. What is fascinating is that Rowland/Ryan doesn’t seem to dispute that the layoffs were not about cost cutting for the state. Instead, they basically ask the Supreme Court to affirm that the former Governor, regardless of his motives, had the right to enact revenge on SEBAC unions for not bowing to his demands on the basis that labor unions are not the same as political parties and don’t have protections connected with their association; a position which is of course incorrect and abhorrent.

As the Supreme Court decides which cases it wants to hear, parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case. The Court usually is not under any obligation to hear these cases, and it usually only does so if the case could have national significance, might harmonize conflicting decisions in the federal Circuit courts, and/or could have precedential value. In fact, the Supreme Court only accepts 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases that it is asked to review each year. Under the Supreme Court’s rules, four of the nine Justices must vote to accept a case.

We anticipate the Supreme Court deciding whether to hear the case sometime during its current term (October 2013 through June 2014). If the Supreme Court agrees to hear the case, it would be decided sometime the following term.

Jepsen/Rowland File Appeal Petition At US Supreme Court

At the time of publication, CSEA had not yet received the complete list from the

Comptroller’s office. Our understanding is that the Comptrollers office is undergoing major work on their computer systems.

This section will return upon completion of that work.

Deaths ReportedCALL TOLL FREE 800-894-9479CSEA has eliminated the “Florida only” Toll Free number. You can now reach CSEA Toll Free from anywhere in the country by calling: 800-894-9479


Attention State Employees: Time to register on the new HEP online portal

If you are enrolled in the state’s Health Enhancement Program (HEP), it’s time for you to register on the new HEP online portal at www.cthep.com to gain access to important tools about maintaining your health and for information about 2013 HEP requirements, your compliance status, and other helpful resources.

If you have not already done so, please login to view the new resources that are available to you and to review your HEP compliance status.

Here are the benefits when you register at www.cthep.com:View your personal HEP compliance status and, if applicable, the compliance status of your spouse and dependents. Review an outline of HEP requirements for preventive care, Access recommendations for chronic care managementUtilize interactive self-learning

tools and personal progress trackers.

Communicate electronically with HEP nurses and representatives using the online message center To register for first-time use, you will need the last four digits of the employee’s social security number, your first and last name, date of birth, and home zip code. Employees, spouses, and age 18-and-over dependents must register individually - all using the last four digits of the employee’s social security number.

If you do not have access to the internet, have difficulty logging in, or have a question about the information on the portal, please contact Care Management Solutions via telephone at (877) 687-1448. HEP representatives will be available through the toll-free hotline Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CSEA Collective Bargaining Update

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for Paraprofessionals Update

Affordable Care ActContinued from Page 1

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• The collective bargaining program has been finalized for the muni/private sector side and the state side and is being implemented in the field.

• Michael Coogan has accepted a position with CSEA and filling the position vacated by the resignation of Eric Blanchet.

• CSEA staff are engaged in the Assister program, specifically, staff have been assigned to distribute and collect the “Affordable Care Survey” in 7 targeted chapters.

• For the Muncipal Division contracts that are up in 2014, staff are meeting with leaders and distributing contract surveys.

• Staff have been assigned to cover the units assigned to Lou Perillo who retired this past month.

After fighting for years to win Family and Medical Leave Act rights for paraprofessionals, it is frustrating that it has taken so long to finalize the needed regulations. However, Connecticut has a thorough regulatory review process, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

The Connecticut Department of Labor (DOL) completed the regulations in the spring, and, pursuant to Connecticut’s regulatory approval process, sent them to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for review. OPM has now approved the regulations. After the Governor’s office signs off on the regulations, they will be

sent back to the DOL to be published in the Connecticut Law Journal. Once published in the Connecticut Law Journal, the public will have 30 days to comment on the regulations. After the public comment period has closed and DOL has responded to each and every comment, DOL will send them to the Attorney General’s office. After the Attorney General’s office signs off on the regulations, they will be sent to the General Assembly’s Regulations Review Committee. The Regulations Review Committee must approve or reject the regulations within 60 days.

How will the plan benefit the Union and its members?

When the open enrollment period ends in March 2014, it is our goal that we will have helped enroll hundreds of our fellow CSEA members in affordable health coverage options that did not exist prior to October 1, 2013. Our In-reach program will touch our school bus drivers, many of whom will qualify for coverage under the Medicaid expansion provisions of the law that Connecticut as a State has embraced. Many family child care workers will also be able to get coverage through the Medicaid expansion, while others will qualify for subsidized health coverage in the Access Health CT Insurance Marketplace. Many Paraprofessionals will also be able purchase insurance through the Access Health CT Marketplace and find better dependent coverage.

Bargaining Units with health insurance coverage have already benefitted from the Affordable Care Act: There is now coverage requirement for children up to age 26. Lifetime caps on benefits have been eliminated and annual caps are scheduled to be eliminated. Preventive services must be made available for free in non-grandfathered plans and being a woman is no longer “a pre-existing condition.”

Most importantly, increased health coverage for lower income members and citizens will lead to a healthier state and a higher quality of life for thousands of our fellow citizens, and that is something that benefits all of us. We are extremely proud and excited to be part of this campaign.

CSEA WelcomesMichael Coogan

Michael J. Coogan is the most recent addition to the CSEA family as a Staff Representative. Michael comes to CSEA from Nevada where he served as the Public Division Director at SEIU Local 1107, a public/private sector local representing municipal employees and health care workers where he had overall responsibility for administration of the Public Sector and its staff of representatives and organizers. Prior to assuming that role, Michael served as the past President of his Local (IAFF L-1314) as well as the Vice-President of the State Association of

Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts (PFFM). He brings a wealth of experience as a lead negotiator and understands what it takes to represent the membership and we’re sure he will work hard on their behalf.

Life insurance. Nobody likes to think about it, much less talk about it. But if you want to help safeguard your family’s financial well being, you need to talk about it.

ING Employee Benefits is offering current State of Connecticut employeesour Premier Universal Life Insurance policy. This is life insurance that buildscash value1, and offers other benefits that you and your family can use right now.For more information, be sure to talk to a licensed insurance producer in yourfacility or department, or call 1-888-909-4274, extension 4.

Universal life insurance is one way you can be more prepared for the future.

Your future. Made easier.®

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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You can’t reduce yourlife’s value to a number...But you can help protect your family’s financial future with a number.

1 Universal Life Insurance builds cash values, changes in the current non-guaranteed interest rate, and changes in the current cost of insurance rates will affect cash value.However, the current nonguaranteed interest rate will never be less than the guaranteed rate shown in the policy.

Broker: Kronholm and McCollam Insurance

Issued by ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, a member of the ING family of companies. Administrative and Home Office: Minneapolis, MN

©2013 ING North America Insurance Corporation LG10735

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* Tenure discount is not available in MA. MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. © 2012 MetLife Auto & Home L0912280044[exp0815][All States] © 2012 PNTS 1204-1707

Call MetLife Auto & Home today for free quotes:1 800 GET-MET 8 (1-800-438-6388)

State of Connecticut employees:

Make the most of your workplace benefi ts from MetLife Auto & Home®.

Maximize your company’s benefi t program:• Save up to an additional 10% right away with the Welcome Discount for

NEW customers.

• Qualify for a group discount.

• Save more with our superior driver discount.

• Choose from a variety of convenient payment options.

• Receive extra savings if you’ve been with your company for a long time.*





EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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159360_03212013_v2_Layout 1 3/21/13 2:25 PM Page 1

* Tenure discount is not available in MA. MetLife Auto & Home is a brand of Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and its affiliates: Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Metropolitan General Insurance Company, Metropolitan Group Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Metropolitan Lloyds Insurance Company of Texas, all with administrative home offices in Warwick, RI. Coverage, rates and discounts are available in most states to those who qualify. © 2012 MetLife Auto & Home L0912280044[exp0815][All States] © 2012 PNTS 1204-1707

Call MetLife Auto & Home today for free quotes:1 800 GET-MET 8 (1-800-438-6388)

State of Connecticut employees:

Make the most of your workplace benefi ts from MetLife Auto & Home®.

Maximize your company’s benefi t program:• Save up to an additional 10% right away with the Welcome Discount for

NEW customers.

• Qualify for a group discount.

• Save more with our superior driver discount.

• Choose from a variety of convenient payment options.

• Receive extra savings if you’ve been with your company for a long time.*

s t r o nger csea news - csea seiu local 2001seiu2001.org/files/2013/03/nov-2013-csea-news1.pdf ·...

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