Most Connecticut state employees have Christmas Eve off, but not by choice and not with pay.
Thursday marks the third furlough day workers have taken during the current fiscal year.
State employees, as part of a labor concessions agreement reached earlier this year between the unions and Gov. M. Jodi Rell's administration, will take three days off with no pay in the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1.
Rell's office says each furlough day saves the state about $10 million.
With the state still facing deficits, Rell's lead labor negotiator recently contacted the unions about renewing talks. Under the existing concessions agreement, they can discuss deferring $100 million in payments to the pension fund, but Rell says she wants to look at other ways to save money.
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