Union seeks hold of judge’s ruling

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge said she will rule Monday on a request to put a hold on her decision in a state labor dispute.

Lawyers for Council 94 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the governor met for about 90 minutes with Judge Patricia Hurst in her chambers Thursday.

The union has asked Hurst to put a hold on a ruling that allows the governor to collect higher health insurance payments from certain workers.

The judge ruled Wednesday the governor's office could collect higher health insurance payments from Council 94 workers in the executive branch. But her order blocked the governor from raising the co-payments on union workers in the judicial and legislative branches.

The governor's office said about 98 percent of Council 94 employees work in the executive branch.

Carcieri said he's moving ahead with plans to collect the higher co-pays retroactive to Aug. 8.

"We're going forward, and we're going to put in place those co-shares for those members in the executive branch," Carcieri said.

The higher deductions for Council 94 workers will not be taken out of paychecks that come out Friday. Union members won't get another paycheck until after the judge makes a ruling.

A representative for Council 94 told NBC 10 the union would have no comment until the judge's decision.