2 Woonsocket city workers' unions agree to givebacks
12:21 PM Fri, Feb 13, 2009 | Permalink
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WOONSOCKET, R.I. -- The two unions representing City Hall workers voted Thursday night to approve five-month agreements that increase their health insurance contributions and add unpaid furlough days to help the city compensate for an expected $3.6 million loss in state aid. John J. Tassoni Jr., senior business agent for the American Federation of State County And Municipal Employees Council 94, said the two City Hall locals of Council 94 approved tentative agreements reached earlier this week. The agreements now go to the City Council, which meets Monday night. Tassoni said the agreements cover the last five months of the budget year. The deal with Local 670 calls on members to pay 5 percent of their gross pay toward family health coverage and 3 percent toward single plans, and to take five furlough (no pay) days. Local 3851, which represents the city's professional and technical employees, agreed to furloughs as well, but opted for flat-fee contribution for their health insurance coverage. The city is still seeking agreements for five-month deals with the police and fire unions. Rodio said talks with them will be continuing throughout the weekend. The police union membership rejected a proposed deal Wednesday while talks with the firefighters are still going on. Joseph Rodio, the lawyer representing the city in the talks, praised the union for coming up with the percentage contribution approach, saying it helped because for some of the union's members, who make around $20,000 a year, paying a 15 percent share of health care costs -- the city's first proposal -- would have been too much of a hardship. Local 670 approved its five-month deal on a 49-to-29 vote, Tassoni said, while Local 3851 approved it , 19-to-3. "Some people were thick-headed," he said. "This could have happened in January."
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How about the town officials take a pay cut!!! And the Mayor!!!! Police and fire first off don't get paid enough for what they do and then you are going to cut their salary. They are protecting the families of the city and putting their life on the line. The Mayor isn't!!!!
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