State union employees hit hard by job cuts

In the Nashua Telegraph, Kevin Landrigan takes a personal look at the impact of layoffs on state employees.

Worried about the jobs of his co-workers, state Revenue Operations Officer Bill Champagne said Monday he voted for a pending labor contract, that if approved, would have cost him $3,300 in unpaid furlough days.

On Tuesday, Champagne, 63, listened in stunned disbelief while being told he was one of seven Department of Revenue employees to be let go.

“I was just flabbergasted. I would have bet the farm I was the last one to go and that would have been after the commissioner,” Champagne said. “I am just devastated. It does bring your self-worth and self-esteem down to zero.