Posted by Lou on May 28, 2010
There are a couple articles in the Projo that you should be aware of:
Two weeks ago, the budget deficit was deemed to be less than expected.
Yesterday, the House Finance Committee voted to send their budget proposal to the full house by a 13-to-1 margin. This budget proposal includes the previously accepted proposal of cutting state employee pension COLAs to the lesser of the CPI or 3% on first $35,000 on pension benefit.
You know what this means, folks. It means it’s time to contact your representation and explain to them that cutting your pension benefit constitutes a breach of contract and takes money out of the RI economy in the future. Tell them that our pension is not the financial windfall that they and the public think it is. Ask them if pension cuts are so necessary, why are state troopers and legislators exempted from the cuts. Ask them to force all legislators, judges and state troopers to pay 8.75% towards their pension benefit and a 20% co-chare of their health insurance. But most of all, tell them that you refuse to support politicians who refuse to support you.
Posted by Lou on April 16, 2010
Last night, Ken DiLorenzo came to our general membership meeting to update us on the recent happenings that affect us.
1) The federal lawsuit filed to challenge the retirees’ health benefit changes has been decided. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in our favor. Ken is going to be reviewing the decision, and keep us abreast of any chances for further appeal.
2) As you may know, the House supplemental budget included a provision to change our pension benefit again. It kept a compounding COLA, but the COLA would only apply to the first $35,000 of our pension, and only be applicable after the third anniversary of retirement or age 65, whichever is later. And the COLA would be either the Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 3%, whichever is less. After this provision passed the house, the Senate rejected the budget due to the pension fund re-amortization, that will spread the unfunded liability over 25 years. The house will not vote on a new budget for at least a week, since they are not in session.
In the meantime, please take a minute and contact your state senator and representative: Keep the COLA!. Also, Council 94 has put together some information regarding the budget, and its effects on state employees.
3) Finally, for those of you interested in social networking, Council 94 has a Facebook page. Right now, there are lots of photos from the state convention, and will be used to update Council 94 members en masse. You might even notice that the page linked to our Local 2881 website! Go to Council 94’s Facebook page and become a fan!
If you have a question or a comment, don’t hesitate to leave us a message!
Posted by Lou on April 9, 2010
Local 2881 Members, we need you to be (or stay) active in this fight to save our COLAs. Please come to the rallies scheduled for 3pm Monday, April 12 and 4pm Tuesday, April 13 in front of the State House, to protest this additional cut in our pension benefits!
Monday, April 12, 3pm and Tuesday, April 13, 4pm!
Be there to let the legislators know that this attack will NOT be tolerated.
In the meantime, from your HOME COMPUTER, take a minute and go to Keep the COLA, fill in your information, and contact your state senator and representative!
Posted by Lou on April 8, 2010
11:57am 4/9 UPDATE: The new version of the bill allows for a 3% or CPI (whichever is less) COLA on the first $35,000 of pension benefits, to begin in the third year of retirement, or age 65, whichever is later. See the new language on page 130: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText10/HouseText10/H7105A.pdf.
See the entire proposal by the House Finance Committee here:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText10/HouseText10/H7105.pdf.
The pertinent information is on page 97, where the COLA has been proposed to be abolished for state employees who were not eligible for retirement on September 30, 2009. Later sections eliminate the COLA for teachers, justices, and judges also.
Please do everything in your power to tell your representatives that this additional attack on state employees is unconscionable and urge them to vote against the bill if it makes it our of committee!
Posted by Lou on April 6, 2010
This week, the state supplemental budget will be released, and it needs to close a $220 million budget gap. Recent rumblings have been that eliminating or decreasing the COLA is one of the proposals to do this. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
To combat this proposal, Council 94 has set up a form on their website which enables embers to quickly send an e-mail to their representation on Smith Hill voicing their displeasure in attempting to eliminate the COLA. Take a minute and go to Keep the COLA, fill in your information, and contact your state senator and representative!
If you prefer, you can also call your legislator. If you need help finding out who your representative and senator are, feel free to contact us, or leave a comment here.
If you hear from your legislators, please forward those responses to me so that I can let the council know how legislators are voting.
