In New Haven today, CEA joined Connecticut labor leaders representing thousands of teachers, construction workers, hospitality employees, carpenters, and others standing shoulder to shoulder with Governor Ned Lamont ahead of the August 11 Democratic primary and November general election with a united message: Lamont is the candidate who has delivered for educators, students, families, and working people.
“It’s not about promises or ads. We looked at the receipts, my friends,” said CEA President Kate Dias. “All the candidates have receipts: voting records, positions they’ve taken, bills they’ve introduced and sponsored. We looked at everything. We’re a labor union and a democracy. So we brought the decision to our Board of Directors, who represent every single county across the state and who were elected to serve our members’ best interests. They asked themselves, ‘Who will answer our call? Who will make sure educators are always at the table?” And they voted with unanimous confidence to support our governor for a third term.”
“I’m proud to have earned the support of educators and so many hardworking union members across our state,” the governor said. “I’ve got their backs. Whether it was raising the minimum wage, creating Paid Family and Medical Leave, investing in infrastructure that created thousands of union jobs, or standing with striking workers on the picket line, we’re showing that when labor succeeds, Connecticut succeeds, Together we’ll keep fighting.”
The rally brought together leaders from CEA, the Connecticut AFL-CIO, the Connecticut State Building Trades Council, UNITE HERE Locals 34 and 217, Connecticut Carpenters Local 326, and unions across the state, alongside local and state elected officials who pointed out that over the past eight years, Governor Lamont has built one of the strongest pro-worker records of any governor in Connecticut history. Among other things, he has raised the minimum wage, delivered Paid Family and Medical Leave for working families, invested in infrastructure that put thousands of union members to work, and stood on the picket line with striking workers. It’s a record labor leaders say speaks louder than any campaign promise.
Wearing #RedForEd, CEA-PAC member and Danbury special education teacher Tracy Jenkins noted, “As a teacher, I’ve seen how Governor Lamont has fought to help us with funding for our students and our classrooms, and I’m here to support his re-election.”
Joining her at the rally, fellow CEA-PAC member Karen Pfeffer, who teaches at Winsted’s Gilbert School agreed. “We are thrilled that Governor Lamont is supportive of our local unions and has fought hard not only for Connecticut teachers but also our students.”
Governor Lamont is scheduled to speak at tomorrow’s CEA Summer Conference, where he will greet members as they break for lunch.
