Why politics?

NEARI represents 12,000 Rhode Island workers in K-12 school buildings, on higher education campuses, in municipal buildings and at the Department of Health. We are varied in our work, but all of our cohorts are impacted by policies and laws passed by politicians. We actively support candidates, officials, and initatives – from the Statehouse to school committee hearing rooms – that are pro-public education and advance the rights and working conditions of workers across the Ocean State.

You are the Union! Get involved.

We have registered lobbyists who represent our membership at the General Assembly fighting to advance and defend public education and worker protections. Remember too: it's the U and I in UNION that keeps us STRONG! Members like you are called upon to testify before General Assembly committees, show up in support or opposition at School Committee meetings, or lobby your legislators from home! Learn more about getting involved by contacting your Local president or your NEARI UniServ field representative.

NEARI 2024 Priorities and Legislative Agenda

Pension Relief

• 2011 reform was too drastic
• We want meaningful change for all categories of members – retired and active
• Continued negative impacts include
  • Retirees whose COLAs were frozen
  • Active members who are working longer for less
  • Aspiring educators who are educated in the Ocean State but choose to work elsewhere for higher wages and stronger retirement benefits
  • Additional negative factors compounding recruitment and retention problem

Visit Pension Page for more

Common Sense Gun Safety

• Safe Storage Act S-2202 & H-7373 (Sponsors: Sen. Pam Lauria, Rep. Justine Caldwell)
• Assault Weapons Ban H-7217 & S-2653 (Sponsors: Rep. Jason Knight, Sen. Lou DiPalma)

Targeted MLL Funding

• Reform to state education funding formula to incorporate Multilingual Learners (MLLs)
• Increase funding to support MLLs with the resources they need for academic success.
• Enough instructors to teach them too
• Thanks to Governor McKee for prioritizing as part of proposed budget
• MLL targeted funding must be part of a broad approach to addressing an equitable and fair funding formula

Universal Healthy School Meals for All

• Studies show Healthy School Meals for All supports student well-being, reduces administrative costs, increases investment in food service programs, eliminates unpaid meal debt, removes stigma from the lunchroom, and increases equity in our schools.
• H-7400 (Sponsor: Rep. Justine Caldwell)
• S-2320 (Sponsor: Sen. Sandra Cano)

Additional priorities

• Mental health crisis effecting students and educators
• Ensuring public higher ed staff earn a living wage, including a fair contract for CCRI faculty
• Increase FTE cap at RIDOH for fair and effective staffing
• Fair and equitable education funding formula – no cuts