State union has itself to blame

The Portsmouth Herald says that the State Employees Association is responsible for the round of layoffs now hitting state workers.

While the SEA membership can have many reactions to the layoffs the one reaction they have no right to is surprise.

The governor made it absolutely clear that if the union rejected a plan that included 19 furlough days he would have no choice but to go forward with layoffs. He was also clear that he didn't want to pink-slip state employees.

In our view, the union left him no choice. So 250 state workers will receive layoff notices and 60 others will be moved to lower-paying jobs. Another 60 vacant positions won't be filled.