Cathy Osten

Sen. Osten Leads Senate in Approving Pay Raises for State Employees, Joining National Trend of Rewarding Workers in a Historically Tight Labor Market

HARTFORD – About 46,000 state employees – the lowest number of state employees per-capita since the 1950’s – will receive wage increases of 2.5% a year through 2024, and many will receive similar so-called “step” increases based on their seniority and job performance, under a labor contract given final approval today by the state Senate.

Certain eligible state employees will also receive additional payments ranging from $1,000 to $3,500 in an effort to get them to remain in state service at a time when Connecticut is facing massive numbers of retiring state employees.

The contract also saves taxpayers $16 million annually through the creation of a new, voluntary prescription drug discount program.

Today’s Senate vote, led by state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), comes as national news reports say workers are “in the driver’s seat ” in today’s economy.

“You can’t walk down a Main Street in Connecticut today without seeing signs in store windows looking to hire employees and paying good wages,” Sen. Osten said. “Private- sector companies are raising wages. Connecticut cities and towns are giving out raises and benefits to their municipal labor unions. Republican governors across America are handing out union raises. Meanwhile, Connecticut state employees are making 5% less than their private-sector counterparts. This is a fair contract, this is a much-needed contract, and it’s a contract I was happy to approve.”