Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut

LEGISLATIVE ALERT – March 8, 2006

The Labor and Public Employees Committee on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 sent (JF) the following bill to the Planning and Development Committee.

SUPPORT

S.B. No. 16 (RAISED) LABOR AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. 'AN ACT PROTECTING MUNICIPAL RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS', to prohibit municipalities from eliminating or diminishing retiree health insurance benefits.

I have attached the list of the Planning and Developement Committee Members along with their phone numbers. Please call the committee members and ask them to support and vote S.B. 16 out of committee. I have also attached the Talking Points for the Bill. Please inform me of any response you receive from a legislator. You can contact me at GSkeets@aol.com or cell phone (203) 592-1288. Gary Keating Director Legislative/Political Affairs UPFFA

Talking Points:

Several private sector industries have attempted to reduce or eliminate the benefits of

individuals after they have left employment. This practice is also starting to be seen in

some municipalities in the State. The Waterbury retired fire fighters brought suit and won

a partial victory in the Connecticut Supreme Court. However, it is widely believed that

without legislative intervention, similar attacks upon retirees will continue. That is why

legislation safeguarding retiree health benefits is crucial.

Proposed Change

• Seeking to modify state law to not allow the reduction or elimination benefits of an

individual post retirement.

Supporting Facts

• Affects the most vulnerable of our society at a time when they need the medical

benefits the most.

• Retirees have limited options to see adjudication via the court system which is a

cost prohibitive item for an individual on a fixed income.

• These benefits were part of a negotiated “total inclusive” package

o A deal is a deal, why allow 1 party to back out of a deal years after it

was mutually agreed to.

• This bill would allow the municipalities to reduce costs by maintaining their ability

to competitively bid medical benefits while providing the same level of coverage.

• In many cases, these retirees gave something else up along the way to ensure their

retirement would be safe. A deal is a deal. Retirees should be able to count on

their municipalities to uphold a mutually agreed upon deal.

Committee Members:

Planning and Development Committee

Name Position Party

S02 -

Coleman,

Eric D.

Co-

Chair

Bloomfield,Hartford,Windsor 860-240-5302 D

109 -

Wallace,

Lewis J.

Co-

Chair

Danbury 1-800-842-8267 D

S05 - Harris,

Jonathan

Vice

Chair

West Hartford,Bloomfield,Burlington 860-240-0558 D

059 -

Jarmoc,

Steve

Vice

Chair

Endfield 1-800-842-8267 D

S34 -

Fasano,

Leonard

Ranking

Member

East haven,North Haven,Wallingford (800) 842-1421 R

066 - Miner,

Craig A.

Ranking

Member

Bethelem,Litchfield,Morris,

Warren,Woodbury 1-800-842-1423 R

014 - Aman,

Bill

Member South Windsor 1-800-842-1423 R

011 - Christ,

Michael A.

Member East Hartford 1-800-842-1902 D

094 - Dyson,

William R.

Member New Haven 1-800-842-8267 D

132 - Drew,

Thomas

Member Fairfield 1-800-842-8267 D

146 - Fox,

Gerald

Member Stamford 1-800-842-8267 D

104 -

Gentile,

Linda

Member Ansonia,Derby 1-800-842-8267 D

127 -

Hennessy,

John

Member Bridgeport 1-800-842-8267 D

008 - Lewis,

Joan A.

Member Columbia,Coventry,Vernon 1-800-842-8267 D

122 - Miller,

Lawrence G.

Member Shelton,Stratford 1-800-842-1423 R

141 - Ryan,

John J.

Member Darien,Rowayton 1-800-842-1423 R

043 - Urban,

Diana S.

Member North Stonington,Stonington 1-800-842-1423 R

063 - Wilber,

George M.

Member

Barkhamstead,Canaan,ColebrookHa

rtland,Norfolk,North

Canaan,Winchester

1-800-842-8267 D