State workers to vote on proposed contract

PROVIDENCE—The largest state employees union will vote next week on a deal with Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri that’s designed to trim costs during a budget crisis.

Dennis Grilli, executive director of Council 94, said each of the roughly 65 locals will vote on the proposal. The ballots will be counted next Friday.

Union members rejected a similar deal 15-to-1 in July.

The current agreement would require the union’s 4,000 members to forego a pay raise this year. They would a receive a 2.5 percent raise next year and 3 percent raises in years three and four.

The plan also calls for state workers to pay a larger share of their health insurance. Unlike the rejected deal, this proposal would spread out those increases.