Redington Jahncke’s attack on Connecticut state employees in his October 1 column is exactly what we should expect from a wealthy corporate finance executive. It has no relation to reality. 

According to State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, the number of unionized state employees fell from 52,000 in 2008 to 44,000 in 2017 and continues to drop. My fellow correction officers feel the impact of this intentional downsizing of public services in Connecticut. Correctional officer staffing alone is down nearly 650 over the last decade, with fewer security posts filled as well. Jahncke may not understand this, but prisons are a 24-7 operation, and working in these facilities is inherently dangerous. 

Jahncke ignores the repeated sacrifices made by Connecticut state workers — in 2003, 2009, 2011 and, most recently, in 2017, when unionized employees agreed to wage and benefit concessions, and other contract changes, that will save taxpayers $20 billion over 20 years. 

These concessions cost state employees approximately $17,500 a person. It was painful, but we stepped up to do our part to close the budget deficit. How much did Jahncke and his modern-day robber baron friends give up helping Connecticut and its citizens?

Mike Tuthill

President of AFSCME Local 1565, Department of Correction union

Glastonbury