Talks between Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s administration and state employee union leaders have broken down, with union officials saying the governor’s early retirement proposal would decimate state services, The Associated Press reports.
Representatives for the Republican governor and the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition met privately Wednesday night.
The union coalition said Rell’s representatives abruptly left the meeting. SEBAC believes Rell needs union approval before offering an early retirement program to save an estimated $65 million.
Rell’s office said the governor is extremely disappointed SEBAC “summarily rejected any consideration of an early retirement plan” and the union leaders would not consider other cost-saving measures.
SEBAC said Rell has ignored the cost-savings ideas they’ve proposed.
