Another state employee union has voted to ratify a new four-year agreement with the Carcieri administration, despite what the local president describes as widespread opposition.

Local 400, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, voted Tuesday 62 percent to 38 to approve the deal, according to president Brendan J. Fogarty.

The union represents approximately 400 Department of Transportation employees, most of whom approved the deal only because it provided job security, Fogarty said.

"It was 62 to 38, but I'll tell you right now, 100 percent of the people not happy. That's the bottom line," Fogarty said. "We could have rejected it and fought, but there's no guarantees, and in the end we voted for the security of a contract. And it protected jobs. That was a big selling point."

Two other unions have already endorsed the proposal: affiliates of the Laborers' International Union of North America and Local 580 of the Rhode Island Alliance of Social Service Employees. Late last week, an affiliate of the NEA that represents the Association of Clerical-Technical Employees at the University of Rhode Island said no.

Among the highlights of the proposal: raises of zero, 2.5 percent, 3 percent and 3 percent during each of the next four years; a one-day pay reduction in the current year that employees can recoup as a paid leave day; and escalating increases in the percentage of premium employees are required to pay for their health insurance.

The largest alliance of state employees unions, Council 94, will vote on July 24.

-- Steve Peoples, Journal State House Bureau