Candelora: Union Dues, Not Tax Dollars, Should Pay Union Activities

State Representative Vincent J. Candelora of East Haven, North Branford and Wallingford joined fellow Republican lawmakers today calling for the more than 900 state employees who also serve as union stewards to be compensated for union activities through union monies, not at the expense of taxpayers. The union stewards cost taxpayers an estimated $93 million per year.

“Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent. Connecticut taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize unaccountable union activities,” said Candelora.

Steward salaries range from $20, 107 to $201,698 with an average of $62,618 and currently there is no standard mechanism tracking how much time union steward state employee spends on union activities on state time. Contractually, there are no limits on how much time the stewards, employed in every corner of the state government, can devote to union activities.

“With no limits on how much time can be spent on union activities, taxpayers are left unprotected with no recourse against union stewards who would abuse their state employee positions. This system as it stands has no built in regulations for accountability nor is it know exactly how much additional costs are incurred to the state,” said Candelora.

Republicans gave anecdotal examples of testimony by union stewards spending large amounts of time in the union halls or lobbying legislators and away from their state responsibilities, virtually absent from their state workplace.

Candelora added, “At a time when Governor Malloy is asking residents to ante-up to $3 billion in new taxes in order to fill the budget hole, taxpayers cannot afford to subsidize union activities.”

Governor Malloy’s recent budget proposal called for $1 billion give-backs from state employees per year. Republicans proposed this union funding of union steward activities as potential savings from state employee costs in addition to the Governor’s $1 billion savings proposal.

Union contracts currently go into effect without the approval of the legislature. Malloy, in rolling out his budget proposal, said he supports plans to increase accountability on these contracts and work with the legislature.

“With a standard system of accountability and transparency, overall productivity would increase, giving the people of Connecticut the quality of service they deserve and expect from their state government,” Candelora said.