"N.H., state workers at contract impasse" by Norma Love | Associated Press, July 20, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. — A mediator will join contract negotiations between New Hampshire and the State Employees’ Association, or SEA, which are at an impasse after six months, with the greatest differences on wages and a new deductible in the health care plan.
Union president Diana Lacey said bringing in a mediator would introduce a new perspective into the negotiations. ‘‘Sometimes a neutral perspective is very helpful,’’ she said.
Matt Newland, state manager of employee relations, said a meeting between the parties is scheduled for mid-August.
New Hampshire announced tentative, two-year agreements last month with four labor unions representing 10,000 state workers. Teamsters Local 633 and the New England Police Benevolent Association have since ratified contracts with the state. The New Hampshire Troopers Association, which represents about 300 workers, continues to negotiate with the state, but talks with the SEA reached an impasse this week. The SEA is the largest union, representing about 7,500 workers.
SEA’s bargaining team asked union leaders after last month’s announcement of a tentative agreement to decide whether to hold a ratification vote by members, and the leaders instead told the negotiators to return to the table and try for a better deal. The tentative agreement rejected by SEA leaders called for a new health care deductible, $500 for individuals and $750 for families, to start in January. It would increase to $1,000 for families in 2015.
Newland said the deductible applies to a few defined services such as hospitalization and imaging, and most employees would not be affected. He said the state’s proposal to the four unions also contains financial offsets to the $500 deductible.
The state proposes continuing a program in place now that provides state workers with $200 toward deductibles, glasses, and other out-of-pocket expenses for completing an annual health risk appraisal form. It also implements a voluntary wellness program in which workers can qualify for up to $300 in cash payments for getting a physical, flu shot, and biometric or other screenings.
‘‘The $200 has been in place for several years. People are already using that. It’s not new money,’’ said Lacey.
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