I recently had the opportunity to join SEBAC members in our interviews with the two gubernatorial candidates, Ned Lamont and Ryan Fazio. SEBAC is the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition, representing state employee unions from across Connecticut, including UHP.
While I have my own criticisms of Lamont, it’s clear that he has built a more supportive relationship with state employees than Fazio. Most notably, Lamont has consistently signed state budgets that included raises for state employees over the past eight years. Fazio has consistently voted against state budgets and state employee raises.
Lamont’s record supports his sentiment that state employees are valued and deserving of raises to keep up with the rising cost of living. I believe in the mission of public service, including a public hospital that raises the standard of care for private competitors across the state. For this reason, I’ll be supporting Ned Lamont for governor over Ryan Fazio. I hope you’ll join me in supporting Lamont while also joining me in holding him accountable for building a state where all people have equal opportunity to achieve a good quality of life.
—In Solidarity, Paul Banach
(Editor’s note: While UHP is an affiliate of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, which has endorsed Lamont in the governor’s race, UHP as a local does not endorse candidates or donate to campaigns. UHP encourages all members to exercise their right to vote in every election, to learn about each candidate and cast an informed vote consistent with their individual values.)