This fact sheet comes directly from:
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition:
The State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) serves to unite all
fifteen unions representing approximately 50,000 full and part-time Connecticut
state public service workers to address issues of common concern. The coalition
was recognized in 1986 by Public Act 86-411 to negotiate with the State on
healthcare and retirement security, which impact its individual unions’ active
members, as well as retirees.
Members of individual unions are covered by one of thirty four bargaining unit contracts, as well as the long-term healthcare and pension agreement most
recently negotiated by SEBAC in 1997. That agreement remains in effect until
2017. Over the past twenty five years, the coalition has worked diligently to
contain health care costs and has helped to save hundreds of millions in taxpayer
dollars while providing quality, affordable care through its work with the State on
the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee.
Coalition Structure
Each union and its individual bargaining units have internal ratification processes requiring votes to reach agreement on contract on issues related to wages, hours and working conditions excluding health care and pensions. Some of SEBAC’s
unions require lengthy voting timetables, and each union determines its leadership
decision authority.
While most of SEBAC’s decisions are made by consensus of the coalition, there
are formal procedures that determine how votes may be cast, and allocates them
based on the membership of individual unions. All agreements must be voted
upon and ratified under each individual union’s democratic rules.
Individual Members
Members of the coalition’s individual unions work in a wide variety of State
agencies, serving Connecticut’s citizens in many areas that affect all of our daily
lives; public health, social services, education, public safety, environmental
protection, criminal justice, transportation, corrections, and services for the blind,
and developmentally disabled.
Members of SEBAC’s unions share the same values as the public they serve,
because they are taxpayers and recipients of these same services, too. State public
service workers know the value of working together as a collective force, and
amplify their voice when joining forces on common issues. That’s why SEBAC
also carries its members’ message to legislators and decision-makers at the State
Capitol, and coordinates joint activities to advocate on broader issues
that are important to all of Connecticut’s working families.