“The Governor has turned a blind eye to the health care needs of the very workers who clean her office,” said Kurt Westby, 32BJ Connecticut Director.  “The State’s disregard for these children will ultimately cost Connecticut tax payers millions of dollars.”

Without coverage from their parents’ insurance, many of these children will be eligible for the publicly-funded HUSKY program.  The cost of adding these children to the public health rolls is estimated to be upwards of $2 million. 

“People cannot work if they are sick, and they can’t go to the doctor if they don’t have health care coverage,” said Flor de Maria Matos, who has been a cleaner at a state building for several years.  “The governor should make sure everyone has the health care they need.”  

Over the past year, many state agencies have underfunded the basic benefits for nearly 600 cleaners because of a perceived cap on benefits in the Standard Wage Law, which governs the workers wages and benefits.  The cleaners work at state-owned buildings across Connecticut, including State Capitol building, Bradley Airport, the Stamford train station, UConn and other community college campuses. 

“When employer-based coverage fails, tax payers are forced to pick up the bill,” said Westby.  “The HUSKY program is a safety net that was never intended to catch the working families who keep our state running.”

With more than 100,000 members, including 4,400 in Connecticut, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.