Negotiators Break Early, Agree Deal is Near

Some 9000 state employees are about one week into an evergreen contract that does not help New Hampshire’s bottom line.

Last month as part of the budget package, lawmakers instructed Governor Lynch to save $25 million dollars from the general fund.

The longer it takes the Governor’s negotiating team and union leaders to hammer out a compromise, the more likely state employees will lose their jobs.

Worker’s representative Dennis Kinnan says he believes they are fairly close to a deal.

TAPE: another day of serious negotiation will tell the tale. We are almost there.

Talks halted early Tuesday due to disagreements over discussions on a new healthcare plan.

It seems that the two sides are very close to a deal on a furlough package which would include closing all non-essential state government services several days in each of the next two years.

The state is also willing to guarantee it won’t layoff anyone other than those people that lose their jobs as a result of the move to save $25 million dollars.

For NHPR News, I’m DG.