Town could lose dozens of police

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) - Woonsocket officials warn the city will need to lay off dozens of firefighters and police officers if public safety unions don’t agree to major concessions.

Up to 60 of the city’s 135 firefighters and 40 of its 101 police officers could lose their jobs.

The warning came after a Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday that the city couldn’t slash fire department pay by 5 percent or impose a 15 percent health insurance contribution.

Both unions say they’ve already offered concessions and called the potential layoffs disastrous.

Woonsocket officials have said they had no alternative. Cities around the state are wrestling with flagging state aide and sinking budgets.