Labor & Employment

This bill amends labor laws to limit workweeks to six days for most commercial and industrial employees, protecting them from dismissal for refusing to work seven days. It also revises unemployment rules to require medical documentation for individuals seeking part-time work due to chronic health conditions while claiming benefits. These changes directly affect workers in covered industries and employers who must comply with the new workweek limits and benefit eligibility standards. The provisions take effect October 1, 2026, as specified in Sections 4 and 1 of the bill.

This bill proposes the approval of a collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the Graduate Employee Union representing student workers. The agreement establishes wage increases and adjusts health insurance costs for graduate employees over a four-year period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030. Specifically, it mandates annual raises ranging from 3.85% to 4.5% for salaries and per-credit rates while also requiring graduate employees to pay a higher share of their health insurance premiums. Additionally, the deal includes increases for university fee credits and a larger funding pool for childcare assistance.

This resolution approves a four-year agreement between the State of Connecticut and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition covering approximately 42,000 state employees. The deal includes a 2.5% general wage increase and annual increments for most workers in fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with a wage re-opener clause for the final year. The agreement also incorporates specific provisions for salary adjustments, healthcare savings, and various fringe benefits costs totaling over $722 million across the four-year period.