Blumenthal, Murphy, Courtney Call for Restart of Negotiations in L+M Dispute

Washington--Today, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Congressman Joe Courtney released the following statement on the L+M Hospital dispute that could result in a lockout of workers after tonight's planned conclusion of a labor strike:

"Like everyone in southeastern Connecticut, we are sorely disappointed that last night's bargaining session did not result in a solution to the L+M impasse. We hope the fact that parties spent five hours at the negotiating table before discussions broke off is a sign that substantive ideas were being exchanged. Given the fragile state of affairs between the two sides, and the union's willingness to return to work, we continue to believe that no further escalation of the dispute should occur between now and Tuesday. Imposing a lockout carries grave risk, escalating the impasse instead of resolving it. We call on both sides to return to the negotiating table and find a way to first return the union to their jobs, and then to resolve the underlying dispute so that L+M can continue to serve the southeastern Connecticut community."