Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

CRANSTON, RI -- Mayor Allan W. Fung's first attempt to win concessions from a city union hit major turbulence Monday night.

The new mayor had reached a tentative agreement with the police union that he said would save $1.39 million over three years. But the City Council Finance Committee voted to table the proposed contract until April.

Committee members raised a number of concerns, saying the proposed deal:

* does not go far enough in raising the share of health insurance costs that are paid by employees

* gives some management rights to the union, such as setting fees for police details

* could put the city at risk by allowing the hiring of retired officers to handle details when Cranston officers are not available

* could result in higher costs once the contract expires, because vacancies the contract would allow to remain open would then have to be filled unless a new contract allows them to stay open.

Fung said the delay jeopardizes savings estimated at $446,000 in the current fiscal year that ends June 30.

 Tags  Cranston police R.I.

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