WETHERSFIELD -Ninety-five workers at Connecticut Department of Labor job centers and other agency offices were issued layoff notices Wednesday.
The move comes as federal funding, which pays for 700 of the department's 800 employees, has dropped due to decreasing unemployment figures according to the state Office of Policy and Management (OPM).
Connecticut’s unemployment rate is 5.7 percent, which is down from over 9 percent in 2010 and 2011. The federal government gave the state $28 million less than expected in funding this year, and that shortfall is expected to rise to $32 million next year, according to Nancy Steffens, the communications director for the Department of Labor.
With the loss of funds, the department plans to close job centers in Danielson, Bridgeport, Hamden, Hartford, New London and Waterbury; consolidate adjudications into three locations; consolidate field audits into six locations; reduce locations for appeals; and merge two call centers.
Workers expressed their disappointment with the decision inside the AFSCME Council 4 union hall in New Britain Wednesday.
Caroline Raynis, the chief union steward for a region that includes the New Britain and Meriden job centers, which will be closed under the plan, said New Britain has the fourth highest unemployment rate in the state.
Others voiced concerns the closure of job centers would will impact those communities that need to be connected to jobs.
"We're taking a major hit as far as services being delivered to the general public," said Xavier Gordin, a career development specialist at the Department of Labor and president of AFSCME Council 4 Local 269 in Bridgeport.
Gordon said currently it takes nearly three hours to file an initial unemployment claim over the phone. By consolidating the call centers, he anticipates it wold take longer.
"We will definitely not be able to serve the public as quickly," Gordon said.
Council 4 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is representing a majority of the 95 employees impacted by the layoffs.
Salvatore Luciano, president of AFSCME Council 4, said the elimination of 95 Dept. of Labor jobs, mostly "clerical" and on the "front-line" ones, poses a problem for the state of Connecticut.
"We're clearly concerned about those 95 people but also concerned about the Connecticut Department of Labor and their ability to function," said Salvatore Luciano, executive director of Council 4 AFSCME.
Luciano said unemployed individuals may be able to get benefits, “but after these layoffs it won’t be anytime soon.”
The state's labor contract requires six week's notice for layoffs, which will be effective October 1.
In addition, many employees whose positions have been eliminated may have “bumping” rights, either within the Department of Labor or, in some cases, across the state government. Also, some of the workers may be able to fill vacant jobs, Department of Labor Commissioner Sharon Palmer said.As a result, additional layoff notices may be provided in the coming weeks.
“It is extraordinarily difficult to have to reduce staff, especially given the enormous contributions of these Department of Labor employees in getting Connecticut residents back to work during our long struggle to bring down unemployment in the state,” said Ben Barnes, Office of Personal Management secretary. “We are all fully committed to helping these valuable employees find new positions in state government or elsewhere, as soon as possible.”
Gov. Dan Malloy said state officials reviewed whether the funding reduction could be appealed, but it doesn't appear possible.
"The federal dollars have shrunk, so we need to realign the department with respect to the size of the audience they expect to serve, so, we believe this is the appropriate thing to do," Malloy said.