On Wednesday, the Legislature approved a budget agreement months after Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed the budget originally passed by lawmakers. SEA/SEIU Local 1984 President Rich Gulla released the following statement regarding the deal, which includes funding for a new state employee collective bargaining agreement:
“We’re happy to see this budget agreement, which will ensure our state will continue to provide the vital services our residents depend on,” Gulla said. “The inclusion of funding for Medicaid reimbursements and the next state employee contract are important, but it’s still troubling knowing those come with massive back-of-the-budget cuts and preservation of Gov. Sununu’s tax cuts for out-of-state corporations. As a state, we simply do not have enough revenue to provide the services our residents depend on, which leaves state agencies, municipalities and community service providers fighting for scraps.”
While the budget deal includes funding for the next state employee collective bargaining agreement, it’s unclear whether that funding will be sufficient because there is no agreement in place at this time.
“I think it’s important to remind people that there is no deal yet, because the governor has made only demands and no concessions,” Gulla said. “We’re currently awaiting the report from the independent fact-finder – the current step in the process – but the governor has the ability to step in at any time and deliver a fair contract for his state employees. We urge him now, as we have all along, to resolve this quickly.”