State negotiators: NH employees should choose furloughs over layoffs

The state negotiating team pens an op-ed in the Union Leader urging the State Employees Association to approve the deal they reached.

he governor instructed the state negotiating team to work toward a well-structured furlough plan. It was, and is, Gov. Lynch's preference to achieve the mandated savings through furloughs rather than layoffs. Unlike layoffs, furloughs can only take place upon agreement with the union.

To work toward this end, the state negotiating team put forward several provisions to help union leadership reach agreement on a furlough program.