I am constantly in awe of the blatant stupidity of rank-and-file public union workers. In Connecticut, AFSCME and other public unions voted down a proposal negotiated over many months that contained a "no layoff" clause for 4 years in return for a pay freeze for 2 years.



That was an amazingly generous offer. The state was silly to offer it. Nonetheless, Union Deal Shot Down; Malloy Pledges To Cut Close To 7,500 State Workers

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday that he was moving "full steam ahead'' with plans to lay off 7,500 state employees, as leaders of the AFSCME union announced that their members had officially rejected a savings and concession deal that would have given them layoff protection for four years.



The administration has ruled out a renegotiation with the unions because the multi-faceted agreement took months of intense negotiations and compromises to complete. Malloy said he and his budget team intend to release layoff notices "as soon as possible" to balance the budget.



"I have a big job to do, and we're going to do it," Malloy told reporters Friday. "Listen, I don't want to be laying off 7,500 people or more. I think it's bad for the economy. I think it's bad public policy."

Reflections on Good Public Policy