Why Connecticut Must Act Now to Protect Workers from Federal Rollbacks
April 30, 2025
As working people across the country brace for another wave of anti-labor policies under the Trump administration, Connecticut faces a critical choice: Will we allow our state’s workers to be further harmed by federal rollbacks—or will we step up and provide the protections they urgently need?
In a powerful op-ed published by CTInsider, union steward and grocery worker Brian Simmons lays out exactly what’s at stake. From the weakening of the National Labor Relations Board to the shuttering of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the federal government is dismantling key protections for workers. Trump’s latest executive order goes even further, stripping union contracts and collective bargaining rights from hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
In this context, the right to strike remains one of the only tools workers have left to stand up to unfair treatment. But in Connecticut, state law still denies striking workers access to unemployment insurance—leaving them financially vulnerable at the exact moment they are fighting for better wages, benefits, and dignity on the job.
This must change.
Simmons shares his firsthand experience from the 2019 Stop & Shop strike, where more than 30,000 workers stood united to protect their health care and retirement benefits. While the strike lasted just 11 days, the financial strain was immediate. And like many workers, Simmons and his fiancée, both employed at the company, were forced to take a stand at great personal risk.
This year, Connecticut lawmakers have a chance to do the right thing by passing HB 6904 and SB 8, two bills that would allow striking workers to access unemployment benefits after two weeks on strike. These common-sense protections would not only ease the burden on working families, but also encourage more balanced and fair negotiations, potentially preventing strikes altogether.
At the Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs, we stand with workers like Brian Simmons. We believe no one should have to choose between standing up for their rights and feeding their families. With the federal government actively working against labor protections, it’s up to the states to be the firewall.
We urge the Connecticut General Assembly to take bold action now. Protecting striking workers isn’t just about labor—it’s about justice, dignity, and a fair economy for all.
📣 Take Action
✅ Call your legislators and urge them to support HB 6904 and SB 8
✅ Share Brian Simmons’ story and help raise awareness
✅ Support organizations fighting for workers’ rights—consider joining CRCJ as an affiliate member or making a donation today
📝 Read the full op-ed here: Hearst CT Opinion: Connecticut must protect workers from Trump’s policies
Together, we can ensure Connecticut remains a place where workers and communities thrive—even in the face of federal setbacks.
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