Governor vetoes strike support bill

Citing vague wording, Governor Ned Lamont on June 11 vetoed a bill supported by statehouse Democrats which would have set aside $3 million for the State Comptroller to distribute to striking low-income workers and their families.

“While the intention to provide assistance to low-income workers is commendable, there are significant concerns with the language as drafted,” Lamont wrote in his decision.

Republicans had deemed the legislation a case of Democrats “thumbing their nose at the state’s job creators,” and welcomed the veto.

Meanwhile Lamont’s own party expressed dismay at the decision.

“H.B. 5431 would have had a limited impact on employers and businesses and was designed to address an increase in an employer’s unemployment compensation costs by providing state funds to meet this need. We are determined to return with the original concept which will address the governor’s concern regarding “criteria for eligibility or the specific types of assistance that will be provided,” said Connecticut Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff in a joint statement.

“Our neighboring states of New York and New Jersey have passed legislation providing unemployment compensation to workers who have been on strike for two weeks or more; these bills were signed into law by Democratic governors. Workers do not strike casually or without justification; striking usually results only when employers have been intransigent or have refused to bargain in good faith. These workers often sustain hardships due to the painful decision to strike, which this bill sought to address and ease. “