Governor Malloy Supports a Voice on the Job for Public Safety Commissioned Officers

[Omaha Steve]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2011
CONTACT: Matt O'Connor, Communications Director, [phone]

GOVERNOR MALLOY SUPPORTS A VOICE ON THE JOB FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

Board of Labor Relations again upholds union vote by State Police
lieutenants and captains in its third decision since 2007; Malloy
Administration pledges to drop former governor's legal appeals

HARTFORD-State Police commissioned officers are applauding Governor
Dannel Malloy's embrace of their 2006 union election, which was
reaffirmed last week by the State Board of Labor Relations (SBLR). The
board released its latest decision on Wednesday, following a costly
and protracted legal process pursued by the Rell Administration that
culminated in a Connecticut Supreme Court ruling last June. The
governor's office responded by accepting the board's conclusion that
lieutenants and captains in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) are
entitled to speak with a united voice.

"The labor board's latest decision certainly came as welcome news, but
not a surprise," said Ed Gould, a State Police lieutenant with 24
years experience on the job. "Governor Malloy's decision to finally
end the previous administration's years of costly appeals is what we
really appreciate," said Lt. Gould, the President of the council
representing DPS commissioned officers in CSEA/SEIU Local 2001.

Lt. Gould's comments refer to former Governor M. Jodi Rell's refusal
over a five-year period to recognize the free choice of State Police
lieutenants and captains to join a union. The labor board certified
their unanimous vote in July 2006, and upheld their collective
bargaining rights twice the following year. The Rell Administration
hired outside counsel in 2008 to wage a taxpayer-funded legal fight
that led all the way to the state's highest court in 2010.

"The labor board's latest decision is a welcome relief after all these
years of fighting for recognition," said Robert Krzys, Legal Counsel
for CSEA/SEIU Local 2001. "More importantly, the governor's decision
not to carry on his predecessor's appeals is consistent with his
position as a candidate. We're absolutely thrilled to finally start
negotiations and look forward to working with incoming Commissioner
Bradford," Krzys said.

Krzys' comments refer to Governor Malloy's support for recognizing the
efforts of these public safety professionals on the eve of the Supreme
Court hearing a year ago. Then an exploratory candidate, Governor
Malloy said in February 2010, "I stand firmly with our State Police
captains and lieutenants, and call on Gov. Rell and her administration
to cease this wasteful and misguided mission to deny these workers a
voice."

CSEA/SEIU Local 2001 represents 25,000 active and retired public
sector workers across Connecticut, and is an affiliate of the Service
Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's second largest
public employees union. Visit www.seiu2001.org online for more
information about its members' advocacy in gaining dignity and respect
for public service workers in state, municipal, and education agencies
across Connecticut.

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State Board of Labor Relations February 9 Decision:
http://bit.ly/fWtdHW

Web version of advisory:
http://bit.ly/fWtdHW