Workers protest departure from Maritime Aquarium

Jan. 29--NORWALK -- Last Sunday, while the World Chocolate Expo took place inside the Maritime Aquarium, a protest took place outside.

Former cleaning workers stood outside holding signs reading "Aquarium Unfair" and handed out flyers reading "Save Our Jobs."

A union representative for the 11 workers, Carmen Sargent, said on Dec. 31, 2013, 11 workers were let-go after their contract with the aquarium ran out.

"Some of the people here had worked at the aquarium for 15 years," Sargent said.

President of the Maritime Aquarium, Jennifer Herring, said the reason they were let-go was because the cleaning company's contract had become too expensive.

"As a non-profit company, the aquarium has to be very careful to husbandry our resources," Herring said. "The cost of their contract had gone up 54 percent over the last three years and we didn't eliminate any jobs."

Sargent said her union reached out to local politicians to try and help save the workers their jobs.

"We talked to state Sen. Bob Duff and he talked to President Herring, but ultimately it was the aquarium's decision."

State Sen. Bob Duff said he spoke with President Herring a week before the workers were let-go.

"I was trying to come to a resolution to the issue and trying to save these workers their jobs," Duff said. "It's a balancing act. I understand the aquarium is trying to save money, but it really comes down to the whole package; a living wage, with healthcare benefits and not a race to the bottom for wages.

"Say you're making $12 an hour and now you're making $8 an hour, you need to make up that income, and it causes stress for families," Duff added. "These families now have lost their medical insurance and due to that will likely have to enroll in the state's medical insurance. It may save the aquarium money, but it costs society in the long run."

Following the protest, a statement from the aquarium was sent to The Hour.

"Because of current dynamic, changing conditions, the aquarium has decided to move the maintenance cleaning of the facility 'in-house,' as opposed to using an outside vendor," the statement read.

"The Maritime Aquarium seeks to operate efficiently and economically, in part by using outside vendors as infrequently as possible. For example, the aquarium prefers to create and design marketing campaigns 'in-house' where we previously relied upon outside ad agencies. And where possible we design and build our exhibits in-house."

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