Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says he is hoping for success in the high-stakes concession talks with state employee unions because the alternative would be "nasty and ugly.''
Malloy is seeking $1 billion per year in savings from the unions, which represent about 45,000 state employees, in order to help close the state's projected budget deficit of $3.3 billion for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
But Malloy reiterated Friday that he is preparing an alternative budget in case the ongoing talks break down. The lack of a deal could lead to the layoff of thousands of state employees and deep cuts to "safety net'' programs for the poor.
"I hope we don't have to go there,'' Malloy told reporters after the meeting of the State Bond Commission. "It would be nasty and ugly.''
Malloy was responding in part to a story in Friday's Hartford Courant that provided details of a questionnaire circulated by a state union about the concessions. The questionnaire, dated March 16, by the Administrative and Residual Employees Union outlined 11 possible concessions, including a two-year wage freeze and raising the retirement age to 65 for new employees who are hired after July 1. Employees were asked which concession "would be so objectionable that you would vote against any concession agreement'' offered by Malloy's administration.
The level of detail mentioned in the questionnaire - including whether employees would agree to pay $60 more per month for their health care - made some insiders predict that the 11 potential concessions are clearly still on the table in the closed-door talks.
When asked if he was satisfied with the progress of the ongoing discussions, Malloy responded, "They're not over, so I'm satisfied.''
The union questionnaire opened a window into the secretive talks, which have been conducted over the past three weeks. The talks have been so secret that the two sides have refused to release the times, dates, or locations of the sessions.