Politics & Government

Release: Rhode Island Public Sector Unions Form New Coalition

A coalition of public sector unions was announced yesterday as a group created "to educate and inform the members of the coalition's unions on the potential changes to the state retirement system" being discussed by a special committee.

A new coalition of public sector unions was announced today to advocate for public employees in the ongoing pension change debate. The Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition was created to educate and inform the members of the coalition’s unions on the potential changes to the state retirement system that are being discussed this summer at General Treasurer Gina Raimondo’s Pension Advisory Commission and this fall in a special session of the General Assembly.

The Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition is composed of: the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, AFSCME Council 94, the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, the National Education Association Rhode Island, the Service Employees International Union- Locals 580 and 401, the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers- NAGE/SEIU, the Laborers International Union of North America, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers- Local 400.

“With so much information coming out almost daily many of the rank-and-file members are understandably confused and scared about what is going on with their pensions, which they have faithfully paid into week after week and year after year,” said coalition spokesperson George Nee, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “The Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition was put together so the unions could provide timely and relevant information to their members and the public.”

Find out what's happening in Cranstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In an effort to reach their members quickly, the Rhode Island Retirement Security Coalition launched a website (www.RhodeIslandRetirementSecurity.org) today that allows union members and the public to access information, news stories, reports, and give their input into the discussion on the pension situation in Rhode Island.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here