The Connecticut House of Representatives has voted to approve a $1.9 billion state employee union contract. It passed on a party line vote of 104 to 44.
The three year contract negotiated by Governor Ned Lamont includes a $3,500 one time bonus and a 2.5% general wage hike for each of the three years.
Democrats were led in the floor debate by state Representative Mike D’Agostino, chair of the state General Law Committee. The contract is already helping slow down retirements from state service, he said.
“We were looking at about 10,000 on July 1. We are now on pace to about 5,500 or so. So we’ve seen people stay to get those payments. The governor was right on that,” said D’Agostino.
The GOP had argued that the bonuses and wage increases would not prevent the retirement wave.
The agreement now goes to the Senate for approval.
