Union will ask court to block Carcieri's order
7:09 AM Fri, Aug 01, 2008 | Permalink
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A major state union says it'll go to court today to prevent Governor Carcieri from implementing an executive order requiring members to pay more for their health insurance. Council 94 is the largest public employees union in the state and represents more than 4,000 workers. Workers covered under the union's contract currently pay health care costs based on a percentage of their salary. Carcieri's order, signed today, would force them to pay a percentage of their premiums, which would be more expensive for many workers. The governor says the order is essential to help the state achieve a balance budget and will also help the state avoid layoffs and furlough days. But union leaders say he's acting unilaterally and is restoring to scare tactics. The order was announced one week after Council 94 rejected a contract Carcieri needed to close a $422 million budget deficit. -- The Associated Press 
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I hope they go to court and I hope they get the order blocked.
And by this afternoon I hope Don hands out 4,100 pink slips.
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I would lilke to remind everyone that State Employees are Tax PAYERS just like all of you. The state employees do not work tax exempt so in effect they pay for themselves. If Carcieri does had out pink slips to all union employees, I hope you all have fun trying to get any of your state services done for you since most of the union jobs cover the menial day to day tasks that the public relies on. No one cares about the state workers until it impacts the delivery of services that they or someone they know require.
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I have been a state worker for 10 years - before that, I was in the private sector for 22 years. If I did not work for the state, I would probably have the same opinion as Greg - but, here's what he doesn't know and what's not being publicized. Most of the unions whose members are the higher paid executives and professors deal with the Board of Governors to ratify a new contract. They all got a very nice deal. Council 94, ACT and a number of other unions have to negotiate with Carcieri - and he is trying to balance the state budget on the backs of worker's who make app. $35,000 per year. I work with many women who are either widowed or divorced and trying to live on one income. We already pay a great deal toward health care, and have gone without any raises. We are not greedy, stupid or lazy. We just want some fairness. Why don't you look into why we're really in such a deficit in this state.
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