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Senate approves UConn graduate‑employee pact and statewide CBAC agreement after hours of debate
Summary
The Connecticut Senate on April 29 approved two collective bargaining deals — a contract between UConn and its graduate employees and a broad agreement covering the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition — after extended debate over tuition, budget impact and long‑term wage commitments.
The Connecticut Senate voted April 29 to approve two labor agreements: a resolution authorizing a collective bargaining contract between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the Graduate Employee Union and a separate resolution approving a tentative agreement between the state and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (CBAC).
Senator Austin, presenting the UConn resolution, said the university‑side contract covers graduate research assistants and related job classifications and stressed that the increases would be paid from university funds, grants and fees rather than the state general fund. She gave projected spending ranges for the UConn account tied to research assistant pay across FY27–FY30 and described provisions tying some pay to the number of research grants the university secures. "This contract is proposing approval of a collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the Graduate Employee Union," she said during remarks on the floor.
Opponents said the university pay increases could push tuition higher for some students. Senator Summers warned that without firm offsets, negotiated pay increases could be passed on to students and taxpayers. Senator Perillo argued that lawmakers must weigh affordability concerns for in‑state students when considering agreements that could affect tuition.
On the broader CBAC package — a multi‑unit, multi‑year agreement covering roughly 42,000 state employees — Senator Austin described annual general wage increases and a wage reopener for FY29 and said the package included a range of other compensation changes and a projected set of health‑care savings. Opponents, including Senator Summers and others, raised the long‑term fiscal picture, with one senator noting a multi‑year cost figure cited on the floor and questioning whether savings would materially offset multi‑billion dollar commitments. Several senators urged more granular votes on particular bargaining units rather than one sweeping package.
The Senate held roll‑call votes on both measures. The UConn graduate‑employee resolution was adopted; the CBAC resolution likewise passed after recorded voting. Supporters said the agreements sustain recruitment and retention across state institutions; critics warned of compounding long‑term budget pressures and urged closer legislative oversight of multi‑year bargaining commitments.
The Senate moved on to other business after the votes; budget writers and other committees will continue review of projected impacts as the fiscal process proceeds.
Outcome and next steps: Both resolutions were adopted by roll‑call votes on April 29; implementation and specific budget offsets will be reviewed as part of ongoing budget negotiations.
