CONCORD - Calling it part of an overall, long-term strategy to recruit and retain quality workers, Gov. John Lynch today announced a tentative state employee contract agreement.

For the agreement to become effective, State Employee Association members must ratify the contract, and the Legislature must vote to fund it.

This contract includes pay raises for state employees, and for the first time, will require employees to share in health care premiums.

"This contract is part of a long-term strategy to recruit and retain workers, and for the first time state employees will share in the cost of health care premiums. This is a fair and fiscally responsible contract - fair to our state employees and fair to the taxpayers," Gov. Lynch said. "This contract provides our dedicated state employees with a wage increase. In addition, I appreciate that our state employees recognize the impact of the rising cost of health benefits and agreed to sharing in those premiums."

If approved, the agreement will run through June 30, 2009.