More than 350 children will lose their health care on February 1, 2009 because state agencies have not been paying cleaning contractors the amount necessary to fund their health care and other benefits. 

"We cannot stand idly by while the children and spouses of these hard working men and women lose their health care coverage and are left with no choice but to transition to an already overtaxed state-funded healthcare system," said Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy.  "Immediate attention to this matter will not only save state resources during these difficult economic times but will reflect the values and standards upon which the people of Connecticut rely."

Without coverage from their parents’ insurance, many of the children will be eligible for the HUSKY program.  The cost of adding these children to the public health rolls is estimated to be upwards of $1.6 million. 

"In these difficult financial times, we have a greater obligation as a state to do all we can to guarantee that working families do not lose their health insurance,” said Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez.  “I stand with the working men and women of 32BJ and their families to demand that the state meet its most basic obligations for those who work hard every day and play by the rules, we owe them nothing less.”

Nearly 600 workers who clean state-owned buildings across Connecticut, including the State Capitol building, Bradley Airport, the Stamford and Bridgeport train stations, UConn and other community college campuses, are affected by the state agencies’ reluctance to cover their full benefits.   The underfunding, which will result in the elimination of their family health care coverage in February, cost the workers their retirement benefits this summer. 

“Our state-building cleaners are working hard to keep Connecticut running,” said Kurt Westby, 32BJ Connecticut Director.  “Denying their families basic health care benefits is not how Connecticut residents want their state to operate.”

32BJ also launched a state-wide advertising campaign today profiling four-year-old RoseMarie Valenzuela and her father Juan, an office cleaner at the State Capitol building.  RoseMarie is one of the 350 children whose health care is in jeopardy.  To see the ads, visit http://www.seiu32bj.org/ne/ITN_CT_Health.asp.  

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