I wish that I were shocked to see my Republican State Rep. Holly Cheeseman's response to your editorial board's stance on the SEBAC negotiated raises due to our state employees this month. I wish that I were shocked to see her advocate not just for breaking a fairly negotiated and legally binding collective bargaining agreement, but also for further harming the working families of her district and of Connecticut by driving down their wages. Cheeseman voted against raising the minimum wage and Earned Family Medical Leave, laws passed during last year's legislative session that directly benefited the working families of Connecticut.

Instead of advocating for policies that ensure all workers receive the wages and benefits required to keep their families above water, Cheeseman advocates for taking the wages and pension benefits workers have organized and collectively bargained to earn.

Pitting communities against each other is a common Republican distraction, while the real enemies are those who refuse to pass fair taxation policies requiring our wealthiest neighbors to pay the same percentage of their taxes as you and I do. Until that happens, I do not want to see another elected official demanding more from working people during a pandemic.

Tony Attanasio

East Lyme