Conn. health care workers to rally against cuts

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Mental health workers are expected to rally against proposed layoffs and budget cuts at a state-run addiction detox and rehab program in Middletown.

Members of the New England Health Care Workers, District 1199, are holding the noontime rally on Wednesday despite the fact that talks re-started between the state employee union leadership coalition and Gov. Dannel Malloy's administration.

Union spokeswoman Deborah Chernoff says workers want to make sure people understand the importance of the program in case the beds wind up on the budget chopping block again.

Malloy's budget-balancing plan called for closing 20 detox beds and 60 male rehab beds at Connecticut Valley Hospital. It also calls for laying off 115 workers. The cuts were proposed after union members failed to ratify a labor-savings and concession deal last month.