Federal & State Regulations | Collective Bargaining Agreements - Connecticut

State Info

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Connecticut has labor relations laws for all private employers. The State Labor Relations Act (SLRA) was enacted in 1945 and was modeled, in significant part, after the original federal Wagner Act. The SLRA covers private employers who do not fall under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board.

Right to work

The state has no right to work law.

Unfair labor practices

Connecticut labor relations law only provides for employer unfair labor practices. Under sec. 31-105, it is an unfair labor practice for an employer:

To spy upon or keep under surveillance any activities of employees or their representatives in the exercise of the union rights;
To blacklist individuals because of the exercise of union rights;
To dominate or actually interfere with the formation, existence or administration of any employee organization or association, agency or plan which exists in whole or in part for the purpose of dealing with employers concerning terms or conditions of employment, labor disputes or grievances, or to contribute financial or other support to any such organization, by any means;
To require an employee or one seeking employment as a condition of employment to reveal membership, past membership or nonmembership in a labor organization, either by the use of written application forms, questionnaires or oral inquiries, or to join any company union or to refrain from forming or joining or assisting a labor organization of his own choosing;
To encourage membership in any company union or discourage membership in any labor organization by discrimination in regard to hire or tenure or in any term or condition of employment, provided nothing in this chapter shall preclude an employer from making an agreement with a labor organization requiring as a condition of employment membership therein, if such labor organization is the representative of employees;
To refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of employees;
To refuse to discuss grievances with representatives of employees;
To discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he has signed or filed any affidavit, petition or complaint or given any information or testimony under this chapter.

Reporting

The state has specific financial reporting requirements for labor organizations, similar to the provisions of LMRDA.

Public employment

Connecticut has four collective bargaining statutes, covering state and municipal employees, public school teachers and certain administrators and some private sector employees (not covered by the NLRA). The statutes are: