State, Employees Reach Tentative Contract Deal

Never easy, this year’s contract negotiations were especially hard. Mostly because the new state budget requires the Governor to wring 25 million dollars in personnel savings out of a workforce already slated to absorb 200 layoffs. To hear both sides tell it, this plan does that, while guaranteeing that fresh job cuts will basically be off the table for the next two years.

“Now the light at the end of the tunnel has been properly identified as the light at the end of the tunnel and not the train.”

That’s lead state employee negotiation Dennis Kinnan. Here’s Lynch administration spokesperson Pam Walsh:

“We’re pleased we could reach an agreement that protects both taxpayers and employees.”

The deal calls for the state workers to take 18 days of furlough over the next two years; 12 of which would come from state government shutdowns. Labor grade increases would be frozen during 2011. Workers would also be forced to use mail-order pharmacies for certain prescriptions drugs and participate in a wellness program. In return, workers picked 18 vacation days spread over 4 years beginning in 2012. They also won a limited restoration of so-called bumping rights, which will allow some laid off workers to take the jobs of less senior colleagues. The Governor wanted to nix bumping rights; unions fought hard to retain them them. Again, Lynch spokesperson Pam Walsh:

“It limits it to one bump sand it limits it to an employee with 10 years of service can only bump an employee with less than 10 years of service and only within the division.”

In the meantime, the rank and file union members still need to weigh in. With leaders pushing it and new layoffs no longer in the picture, the SEA’s Dennis Kinnan says it’s likely to pass.

“The Governor of the state of NH is going to sign on that dotted line, as is the president of the state employees association.”

Negotiators on say the final version of the agreement is still being written up. Once it is, it will be mailed to all union members, who are expected to vote on the deal in the next few weeks.