Here is a statement from Jon Pepe, president of Local 391 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, whose union represents nearly 2,000 correctional employees in the northern Connecticut prisons in the Enfield and Somers area.
Pepe spoke up as part of an effort by leaders of the state's labor coalition to shore up support for the tentative labor concessions deal they have struck with the Malloy administration.
Pepe's local votes next week on the agreement, after two other correction officers' locals voted last week to reject it. A leader in one of the locals to reject it, Moises Padilla, blasted the agreement earlier Saturday in a statement that can be read by clicking here.
Here is Pepe's statement:
Connecticut 's correctional officers walk the toughest, most dangerous beat in Connecticut . That's why our local union supports the tentative agreement and we've urged our members to ratify it on June 22-23.
The tentative agreement not only keeps us working, it preserves our hazardous duty retirement, which is critical because of our shorter life spans as correctional officers. We're also making sure our members understand this agreement maintains access to quality health care at a time when too many Connecticut citizens are losing that access or have lost it altogether.