Malloy seeks labor's support on budget

Hartford, Conn. (AP) - Governor Malloy has told a gathering of nearly every union leader in the state that without the concessions he's asking for it will be doomsday for them, and for him.

The Malloy administration called the leaders together for a face to face, frank discussion at a hotel in Hartford.

The union leaders love Malloy because he's pro union and pro collective bargaining, but they hate what he's telling them.

Malloy got several standing ovations from a packed room of public and private sector union leaders from across Connecticut, most of whom supported and worked for him in the election, and he admitted he is beholden to them.

"In many ways I won this election because of you, and in many ways this election was as close as it was because of you, and I'm proud of that," says Malloy.

But when the questioning started, Malloy really exhibited what can only be described as tough love over his request for concessions to solve the budget crisis.

"What happens if a billion dollars in savings or concessions do not materialize?" says John Yrchik.

"When I talk about that, I'm called a bully, but listen, the consequences are dire. I'm not going to say anything different in this room than I say outside, the consequences are unimaginable," says Malloy.

Malloy made it very clear in a pitch he's never made before, that without the billion dollars it will be doomsday for them, and for him.

"The consequences are dire for us all; if we don't succeed dire for me because if we don't succeed I probably won't be re-elected. Dire for you because if I'm not re-elected then you're not going to have somebody who does the kinds of things I do, who actually believes in government and believes in unions," says Malloy.

The state labor unions and the Malloy administration had their first negotiating session on Mar. 2, and are working to schedule a second meeting early next week.