Good news — Rep. Gary Turco (D-27th, Newington) is on our side. Here's his response to my message (which I also included for reference). Note he responded to my call for action with one of his own.
In solidarity,
Chris DeFrancesco
VP for Communication
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rep. Turco, Gary <Gary.Turco@cga.ct.gov>
Date: Mon, Apr 4, 2022, 12:22 PM
Subject: RE: Please support the SEBAC contracts
To: chrisndefran@gmail.com <chrisndefran@gmail.com>
Dear Chris,
Thank you for contacting me about this issue and thank you for all that you've done for this state during this pandemic. I was glad after reviewing this agreement that so many of your colleagues were supportive of it and look forward to casting my vote in the affirmative.
While this is a landmark agreement and will be a tremendous benefit to our state, not everyone will see it that way. It makes it all the more important that you defend this agreement to your family, friends, and neighbors, especially as it generates a lot of backlash. Your continued advocacy will not only help the passage of this agreement but will protect future agreements as well.
Thank you again for your advocacy and your service to this state. If there's ever anything I can be of assistance with, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask.
Best,
Gary
Gary Turco
State Representative
Proudly Serving the 27th District
Vice Chairman of Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
Assistant Majority Leader
860-240-8585
Gary.Turco@cga.ct.gov
From: Chris DeFrancesco <info@sg.actionnetwork.org>
Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 5:04 PM
To: Rep. Turco, Gary <Gary.Turco@cga.ct.gov>
Subject: Please support the SEBAC contracts
State Representative Gary Turco,
I am writing to ask you to do the right thing and vote to approve the state employee contracts negotiated in good faith with the Lamont administration and our employers.
A vote to support these contracts is a vote to protect public services by (1) investing in the workforce that delivers them to our community and (2) addressing potential and already existing staffing crises.
The SEBAC agreement that will go before you this month approves the 35 bargaining unit contracts that cover approximately 43,000 state workers - including me. At UConn Health, I have the privilege of helping tell the stories about the outstanding health care professionals, researchers, educators, and support staff that enable the state's public academic medical center to carry out it essential public missions. I invite you see some examples of those stories at https://today.uconn.edu/author/cnd07002/.
Surely you are aware, the SEBAC agreement is good for our district, not just for the many state employees who live here, but also for the many residents who benefit from or rely on state services.
You have a record of reliably supporting working families, and I am confident you will stand with us again this time. Thank you for taking the time to read this and please call or email me to discuss further or ask me more about this. I appreciate your service to our district.
Chris DeFrancesco
255 Beacon St., Newington
860-306-4858
UConn Health communications specialist
University Health Professionals Local 3837 VP for communication