Posts tagged Julie Kushner
Connecticut: Striking Worker Bill: Lawmaker Acknowledges Government Role in Labor Disputes
March 30, 2026 // Strikes inherently involve economic tradeoffs. Workers take on financial risk by withholding labor, while employers absorb operational and financial disruptions. That dynamic creates pressure on both sides to reach an agreement. By allowing unemployment benefits during a strike, the bill alters that balance by reducing financial pressure on one side of the negotiation. Sen. Sampson pressed the point directly during the hearing. “How is a worker who voluntarily withholds labor from their employer unemployed through no fault of his or her own?” he asked.
State Senator ‘Proud’ of Conflict-of-Interest Voting Record
August 2, 2024 // What is particularly concerning is Sen. Hochadel’s dual role as a lawmaker and president of the Connecticut American Federation of Teachers (AFT) — the state’s other teacher union. This overlap raises a serious question: why does Hochadel not recuse herself from voting on legislation that directly benefits both AFT union members and her? Sen. Hochadel has served as AFT’s president since 2015, a position elected every two years. Notably, she earns over three times more in her union role ($154,810) than in her state Senate position ($49,000). This financial disparity makes it clearly advantageous for her to prioritize union growth and benefits for its members.