After months of negotiations, today, coalition leaders have opted to enter into arbitration to ensure that frontline essential state workers who risked their health and safety throughout COVID-19 receive a fair and honorable pandemic pay award. We will keep members updated as the arbitrator is selected and a date for the hearing is set. Arbitration is a normal part of the collective bargaining process in the public sector and assures that a neutral third party makes the decision when the bargaining parties have differences about the fairest outcome for all sides.

All frontline workers, public and private, deserve recognition of the sacrifices they and their families made to keep Connecticut running during the height of the pandemic. SEBAC leadership believes the arbitration is a necessary step toward achieving a just and fair settlement for our members.

Be sure to check the SEBAC website as well your own union’s website for updates on pandemic pay.