NH, workers' union talking about return to table

A week after 250 New Hampshire workers got layoff notices, the state and union representing the workers are considering resuming talks over ways to cut costs - though the two sides are far apart over whether the layoffs could be reversed.

Diana Lacey, chair of the union's bargaining team, said Thursday the two sides should have returned to negotiations immediately after the union rejected a contract last week containing a furlough plan. After the rejection, Gov. John Lynch ordered layoffs that will be completed by the end of next week.

Lacey said it's not too late to negotiate a deal to recall the workers, perhaps by January.

Tom Manning, chief state negotiator, said his team was meeting Thursday to discuss what the administration could negotiate with the union, but the layoffs can't be stopped at this point.

"I'm not sure even if we find a pot of gold that those jobs would come back, not all of them," added Manning.

The State Employees' Association, which represents most of the state's 11,500 workers, rejected a contract containing 19 mandatory furlough days over the next two years. Lynch had told the workers the choice was between a furlough plan and layoffs to comply with a legislative mandate to cut $25 million in state labor costs.

About 250 workers received notices last week that they would be laid off next week, but actual layoff numbers released Thursday were much lower with 192 layoffs. Almost half were in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Another 91 people are being demoted or transferred. Some workers chose to be demoted or to retire instead of being laid off, and some vacant positions were eliminated to save money. Mostly workers paid by state tax dollars - not federal or other funds - were affected. Programs hurt by the layoffs ranged from the closure of a unit treating repeat drunken-driving offenders to cuts in the state's lead-poison prevention effort.

Lacey said chances are slim for an agreement that doesn't save jobs.

"This is not a time for people to expect raises to come out of a contract agreement. This is the time to save jobs and if the administration doesn't want to save jobs, I don't know what we'll be looking at," she said.

Lacey said furloughs could still be negotiated to shorten the paid work week by two hours to lessen the impact on workers' paychecks. If the two sides agreed to such a plan, a contract could be put to a vote and, if approved, the shorter work week could be implemented by January, she said. That could bring all or most of the workers back, she said.

Manning said he did not know why furloughs would be a topic for negotiations at this point.

"We will really have to take a hard look at whether furloughs would be in the mix," said Manning.

Lacey said workers are upset the state is hiring managers to implement a new community corrections program "while it is laying off single mothers and people six weeks from retirement."

"That is really souring things," she said.

Both Lacey and Manning would like to discuss the workers' health coverage. Lacey would like to keep that part of the contract that was rejected. Among other changes, it implemented a mandatory mail-order prescription drug program.

Manning also would like to win agreement on wellness provisions to save the state money. He said the state spends $500 million annually on health care for workers.