Fung, Local 1322, Reach Contract Deal

Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung announced that he and the Laborer's Union Local 1322 have reached an agreement on a new contract covering the time between July 1 of last year to June 30 of 2014.

The new contract is the second that Fung has negotiated that includes the elimination of defined benefits and a shift into a defined contribution plan, like a 401(k), for all new hires.

The contract also increases healthcare co-shares and includes cash concessions, similar to a prior agreement the union faced shortly after Fung was elected in 2009 when the city was in the midst of major financial stress.

Fung recognized labor leadership for the successful effort. 

“I would like to thank Arthur Jordan, Business Agent for Laborer’s Local 1322 for being a tough but fair negotiator in this endeavor.  These negotiations represent the culmination of a long but fair process in which the taxpayers' interests were balanced with the needs of the union membership."

"More importantly, this union like our teamsters bargaining unit, is willing to take the step toward defined contribution plans like those in the private sector.  By doing this, these groups are agreeing to help secure the long term stability of our City by changing prior pension practices that led so many of our communities and our State down the unaffordable road we have been on for decades," Fung said.

The Cranston City Council will need to ratify the Tentative Agreement and will be considering the matter during the regularly scheduled Finance Sub-Committee meeting this Thursday (tonight) at 6:30 pm at Cranston City Hall.