The New Hampshire State Employees Association, which represents about 11,500 state workers, rejected a contract yesterday with a 59% to 41% vote. Despite NH Governor John Lynch's threats to layoff up to 750 employees if the contract failed, union leaders urged employees to reject the contract and make an effort to bring the Governor, whose budget has forced him to find ways to cut state costs, back to the bargaining table. Union leaders said the proposal provided poor job security, high wage cuts, and an unequal distribution among employees. It also included 19 furlough days. The union has called for Governor Lynch to begin new negotiations, but the Governor remains adamant that he must begin immediately cutting positions.
See "N.H. employees reject furlough plan", Holly Ramer, The Boston Globe, October 12, 2009