The state has helped broker an agreement that will allow hundreds of employees at 23 highway service plazas the opportunity to unionize, Gov. Ned Lamont announced Thursday.
The agreement with SEIU Local 32BJ, a service employees union, covers employees at the service plazas along Interstates 95 and 395 and Route 15. The 23 plazas are franchises operated by Applegreen CT.
If a majority of workers vote in favor of unionizing, they will begin collective bargaining over wages, benefits, scheduling and safety measures, according to Lamont.
In addition, the state Office of the Attorney General and the state Department of Labor reached a $1.5 million settlement with Project Service, the overall operator of the state’s service plazas, resolving allegations that its subcontractors failed to pay standard wages as required by law.
Project Service will reimburse workers and certify that all subcontractors comply with wage laws going forward.
“This agreement not only reflects our strong commitment to workers’ rights, but also ensures their voice is heard and that they are fairly compensated for their work,” Lamont said in a statement.
Attorney General William Tong called the agreement a long-overdue victory for workers who were “unfairly underpaid in violation of state law.” He said the resolution followed years of investigation and legal action by his office.
Project Service CEO Trevor Moore said the settlement “clarifies the application of standard wage law” and allows the company to continue investing in plaza upgrades, including expanded truck parking and new dining options.
