NEARI Blog

Things to Do to Start 2012

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

1. Contact your rep and senator and tell them to correct the pension bill and finally pass binding arbitration. Let me say this again to them' "NO TRADE OFF, DO BOTH."

2. Call the Treasurer with your pension questions, she pushed the bill, now she and her staff should be answering the questions. Tell her to come clean on Engage RI so we know that the bidding process on the 403(b) accounts is clean.(?)

3. Cancel your subscription to the Journal.

4. Give no money or support to politicians who voted "yes" on the pension bill. They have a chance to redeem themselves; see number 1 above.

Where's the Treasurer?

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NEARI released a press release last week and President Purtill was on the Buddy show asking where the General Treasurer was now that the pension bill passed. Purtill said she needs to set up a procedure and meet with members directly so they can get their questions answered. A hot line, as Buddy supported, would certainly be one way. Purtill said that she was in the news it seemed 24 hours a day before passage and now that members have unanswered questions she is not around. "I hope she spends this week setting up an organized, easy process for all teachers, state and municipal employees to get their questions answered? Purtill is directing members to call her office directly with questions.

Regional Meetings This Week

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT

NEARI has set up a series of regional meetings for members to discuss the pension changes passed recently in to law and to discuss next steps. (Those were sent to you by an all member email last week.) The meetings this week are as follows;

Tuesday, December 6 at South Kingstown High School, 4:30 PM, Thursday, December 8 at Chariho Middle School, 7 PM, and Friday, December 9 at Ponaganset High School, 4:30 PM.

Pension Vote

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

There will be an all member email shortly regarding last night's pension vote with a much more detailed response on Monday. Understand that there will be a legislative, political and legal response.

Don't let your rep or Senator try to use the argument that they had no choice; they had one. We offered many ways to soften the blow to teachers and state workers while still saving the state billions, but they didn't want to listen. This was all political and the Treasurer's quest for power and to be governor.

Phone Tonight, State House Tomorrow

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

There is still time to call your rep and senator before tomorrow's vote. Tell them to support Rep. Flaherty and Senator Tassoni's amendmends. (See yesterday's blog posting for details.) Come to the State House tomorrow to show support for these and your opposition to the Governor's anD Treasurer's bill. The House meets at 2 and the Senate at 4.

Call the Treasure's Office and ask her to disclose her relationship with EngageRI. How can we be sure there is no conflict of interest when they won't say where the money comes from, 1-2 million dollars?

Call Regarding Amendments, Treasurer at Chariho Tomorrow

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

The vote in the House and Senate is Thursday; your last chance to call your rep and senator and voice your opinion. Tell them to support raising the COLA cap to $35,000 and instituting it for all after the 5 year freeze. Base the sliding scale for retirement on age 65, not age 67 and support a continuous COLA for those at 150% of the federal poverty level. Tell them the bill they will be voting on is too harsh, unfair, and penalizes public employees who honored their end of the contrat. Even the amendments will cause dramatic changes but certainly fairer than what the Treasurer and her allies, EngageRI are supporting.

The Treasurer will be at Chariho Middle School tomorrow at 5 PM and all are invited. The question I would ask immediately is don't we have the right to know who is funding the campaign to pass her legislation. She could put the rumors to rest about 2 million dollars being raised, some by her Wall Street friends.

Pension Bill Out of Committees

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Last night the House and Senate Finance committees passed the revised pension bill. The vote in the House and Senate is scheduled for this coming Thursday. The bill did make some changes but more are needed to make this fairer. For most active members it appears the age will be phased in on a proportional basis which should be better for many than the original bill by the Treasurer and Governor. As of last night however, they were struggling with the formula to create a chart so people could see when they would actually be able to retire. Stay Tuned.

Check back here later in the weekend or Monday for amendments we will be supporting and asking you to once again to call your reps and senators. These will deal with the age and COLA.

The rally made a difference!. The numbers and energy surprised a lot of people, especially those from EngageRI. Now is not the time to start; just look at what happened in Wisconsin last year and Ohio this past Tuesday. We have another legislative session starting in less than 8 weeks and the November, 2012 elections will be here before we know it. Thanks and keep up the pressure!

Rally Today; Don't Let Others Speak for You

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Rally today at the State House for your retirement security. Join with union members from around the state to rally for fair and responsible changes to the pension system. Check with your local president as many have arranged buses. There will be two leaving from NEARI in Cranston at 3:30 and two at 4:00. Yes the rally starts with people arriving at 3:30 but the speaking kicks off at 4:30 to allow those getting out of work a little later to get there and participate. There is also a bus from the Ryan Center at URI and CCRI Lincoln, both at 3:45.

If you are driving, I suggest you park at the mall or Convention Center and walk up the hill to the Smith Street side of the State House. Find the NEARI table and pick up a sign. This is it; your time to let your voice be heard, don't leave it to others to speak for you.

Tele-Town Hall Tomorrow

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Join with 30,000 of your union colleagues from across the state in participating in a tele-town hall at 7 PM for the latest on the pension bill and the rally next Tuesday. You will be getting a robo call reminder this evening around 7 as well. If we do not have your current phone number, get it to us immediately and we will make every effort to add it for tomorrow night. It is your pension, your future; take part.

UNION RALLY on NOVEMBER 8

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Come join your union colleagues from across the state as they descend on the State House next Tuesday, November 8 for a rally to protest the draconian changes to the pension system put forth by the Governor and Treasurer. The rally will be from 3:30-5:30 with the second hour being the speaking program. We will have much more information as the week progresses and we have asked locals to look in to scheduling buses to help get members there.

There will be an all union tele-town hall this Thursday at 7 to explain more about the rally and what is happening with the pension bill. All you need to do to take part is answer your phone when it rings at 7 PM. You also need to continue contacting your reps and senators!!!!!!!