Union hopeful for deal

Lauren Dorgon reports in the Concord Monitor that the state may be close to a new contract with its largest union:

Negotiators for the State Employees' Association and the state appear to be nearing a new contract deal likely to include widespread unpaid furloughs instead of as many as 750 additional layoffs.

"It feels really close," said union President Gary Smith, who met with Democratic Gov. John Lynch this week. Smith cited that meeting plus the involvement of two new mediators - former labor commissioner Jim Casey and former SEA negotiator Dick Molan - as reasons to hope a deal could be reached as soon as tomorrow. (more)