To the editor:
In a reckless act, legislators are rushing through the Rhode Island General Assembly a plan that would effectively lock unsustainable teacher-union contracts in place indefinitely. It is hard to imagine what they are thinking in taking a step that could undercut the ability of every community in Rhode Island to negotiate contracts to better serve the common good.
That would leave some communities with little choice except to raise taxes by double digits, sowing enormous financial hardship for citizens and struggling businesses, or to declare bankruptcy.
Are taxpayers truly so poorly represented at the State House?
It would seem so. This legislation, sponsored by Peter Palumbo (D.-Cranston) and pushed hard by Sen. Charles Levesque (D.-Bristol and Portsmouth), flew through the Senate by a margin of 32-2 and seemed ready to be rushed through the House.
The legislation was clearly designed to stop cold the East Providence School Committee. Facing enormous deficits, and unable to negotiate a contract that sufficiently reduced expenses, that committee acted unilaterally to control costs, arguing that since the old contract had expired, the city had the ability to make adjustments in an economic emergency. The union argued that the committee’s action was tantamount to failing to bargain in good faith.
That matter is now before the courts. The General Assembly should let that process play out, rather than coming down on one side.
By now, it should be clear to anyone who reads the newspaper that Rhode Island communities, buffeted by declining or stagnant tax revenues, are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain union contracts that provide remarkably generous benefits to public employees.
Clearly, contracts must be brought in line with the ability of communities to pay for them. But if contracts can be extended indefinitely, the old benefits will never be cut, nor will education reforms be made to better serve the interests of students. The unions will have a powerful incentive to hold out for a very, very long time.
The economic mess certain to ensue from such a law — hastening the flight of the middle class to less punishing states, something already happening — would damage Rhode Island severely, and make the needs of students even less of a factor than they are now.
David Nelson
Tiverton
Hey Portsmouth,this was sponsord by your sen.Levesque,is this your idea of good goverment.I hope you hold him accountable for this the man is an inbarr(ass)ment to the town.If you do not know what this legislation would do read more about it on the ANCOR RISING web site.This is a NEA give away bill that could cost us millions.Who are you working for chuck, what is the pay off campain funds.
Hey Joe, I wrote Mr. Levesque and voiced my outrage on this issue. Here is his reply.
Mr. XXXXX:
I wonder then what is your resolution of the East Providence situation. As you know, the two parties, School Committee and teachers, went to mediation, and the
mediator's recommendations were accepted by the teachers without change. The School Committee said no, and unilaterally changed the terms of the agreement
that both parties had been living under. People keep saying that there is no incentive for the teacher's to bargain, but clearly, under the current scenario as adopted by the E. Providence School Committee, the teachers and their
representatives are irrelevant.
I sort only to maintain status quo until "cooler" heads could resolve the disagreement. In so doing, of course, I have incurred the wrath of the not so cool heads.
Anyway, take care.
Charles Levesque
That had to be the most lame response I have ever received from a Politician. Talk about "dancing" around the issue.
If we had sat around waiting for "cooler heads" in 1775 we'd be a province of Canada now.
The insult from Mr. Levesque, implying that you are not a "cool head" is typical of the arrogance of RI Democrats. They really believe that they are a superior sort of person and don't have to listen to us citizens - I mean, subjects.
The entire system of government employee unions giving campaign money and other support to elected officials who then vote to entrench their monopoly power and to steal from the taxpayers however much money it takes to keep the unions happy and contributing, is a profoundly corrupt, vicious cycle.
It must end now.
I'm a cool head. I don't say, "break the union." But I do say, "break the union monopoly."
Joe and NE Hiker's post are central to a scandal in RI that few are aware of. The scandal that goes unreported is that if you did a forensic on the background of the mediators, you would find they come from the NEA side of the equation. They are biased in favor of the teachers so where does this leave the school committee and the taxpayer. This is a ploy by so called Reps who like to display frustration when mediation fails. OF COURSE IT FAILS YOU IDIOTS, IT WAS STACKED IN FAVOR OF THE TEACHERS FROM THE START.
So now the Reps do a "we tried everything" routine. This will stink until the unemployment rate reaches 20% because no company in their right mind will want to stay in RI and new companies will avoid RI like the plague.
Where can we get the voting records for our East Bay reps on that one?
Right here KidChourico:
http://rhodeislandvotes.org/RollCall.aspx?ID=409248
Hiker the main thing is you wrote and expressed your outrage.That is great, I hope others will follow your example.All of the senators in the east bay voted for this.SHAME SHAME SHAME !
Joe, I'm not a sit on my a$$ and complain kind of man without any action. Too many people complain about the situation but do nothing to resolve it or make their opinion heard. These monkey's up at the State house forget they work for US the taxpayer, next election I think they should be wiped clean!!! Enough is enough!!
How much did senator levesque get from the unions/democrats (same thing) last time he ran for office? I'll bet his "sinseer" caring about the teahcers union is influenced by his fat campain pocketbook--any takers? FF
thanks NE Hiker
Levesque...straighten up or be voted OUT! Merely because we live in a community that has an above average tax base, does NOT give you license to pick our pockets for special interests!
Call it what you will...(presumptuously, 'for the children'), but a thief is a thief.
Continue to steal from the people under the color of law, and be prepared to stand trial.
Your choice.
All
This letter, attributed to me here is actually a cut/paste from Projo.com. Here is the link - http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/content/ED_union21_06-21-09_ENEOLL7_v25.3e92b25.html.
I did send this out to the TCC email list on 6/22. I did not intend to take credit for this. I apologize for this misunderstanding.
David Nelson
Tiverton Citizens for Change
I suggest everyone write to their Rep in the house.
http://rhodeislandvotes.org/Legislator.aspx
If you don't know who your local Rep is:
http://www.sec.state.ri.us/vic - this also will get you to their page with their contact info on it.
I don't believe the GA can change RI contract law for a single class of contracts nor can they create a contract in perpetuity after the fact without the cognizance of the signatories. In fact doing so may void existing contracts of this type since the agreement has essentially changed.
Even if this became law it would be challenged and overturned.
downtown-I suggest you research RI state law, particularly chapter 28 on labor and labor relations. There you will find the laws stating police officers and firefighters (a single class of employees) contracts continue under existing terms until a new contract can be negotiated. The perfect example of this is the Providence firefighters union, which has been working under the terms of a contract that expired over 5 years ago. As far as your statement that the law would be challenged and overturned, what facts do you base that on? If the bill passes, it becomes law and cannot be overturned by a court, arbitrator, etc. The only way a law can be overturned or repealed is by the general assembly.
this year, at least one law has been challenged and overturned as unconstitutional. Fire and Police unions are considered a special class. The teachers would have to prove they were a special class in order to qualify for the same protections. they cant. so the bill will be overturned.
Sorry metaldoc-but if the general assembly passes a law stating a certain class of workers contracts continue in force until a new contract can be negotiated then that becomes law. The general assembly can choose to include whatever class or occupation that would apply to, whether it be police, fire, teachers, etc. When the law was passed for the police officers and firefighters, they didn't have to prove they wee a special class. As long as a legislator sponsors a bill and it passes and becomes law, it remains the law until the legislature passes a new law to repeal it-plain and simple.
So now your a lawyer, Union I guess your vacation is over.I believe the law won't pass muster, or the veto pen.People will make a stink about this one the word is out.The sleeping giant is awakening, this bill is the alarm clock.
Umm, union, no, that is not the case. If a law is deemed unconstitutional, it ceases to have any bearing.
There was a law, passed by the general assembly which required all sex offenders to live at least 300 feet away from a school, day care or playground. This law was struck down by the supreme court as unconstitutional. Therefore, the law ceased being enforcible. The same can, and probably will, happen here. Put down Mein Kampf, union, and actually read the constitution.
and Joe, the "veto pen" does not matter since the Democrats hold a 90% majority in both houses of the state congress.
Thanks to all for your discourse. Now I know what to say when I write to my local rep asking that the insanity in RI finally end. Do any of you union types ever show an ounce of concern for the union workers who haven't made it up to the "protected, no layoff" status. You all think the taxpayer will bless unlimited employment and never consider what happens to the union members at the bottom facing layoffs. There is only so much in the taxpayers pockets you've been picking for years and now your attitude is screw even my own members, I want more, more, more. For educated people, you certainly don't act that way and remedial math is one area you could all use some help on. As far as being "caring and nurturing" to our children, you now see them as little more than hostages in your bargaining. I, and most of my neighbors, believe you have lost your way. You need to reflect on that.
metaldoc-once again it appears you're living on Fantasy Island. There's an old saying, if you repeat the same thing over and over again, you start to believe it yourself. What happened to Don "The Moron's" big plans to overhaul the pension system, remove contractual mandates, etc.? His big plans ended up right where they belonged-in the garbage pile. Sen. Levesque's bill protects unionized workers from idiots like Carcieri who choose to make public employees scapegoats and sacrificial lambs to make up for their own incompetence and fiscal irresponsibility. Once again, many thanks to Sen. Levesque for fighting for the rights of unionized public employees.
And to garymm-many years ago when I was hired as a unionized public employee, the first thing I was told on my first day of employment was that the golden rule was "last in-first out". While you hate to see layoffs, the only fair method of determining who stays and who goes is seniority. It's 100% fair, and prevents cities, towns, and the state from playing favorites.
Unionteacher, many people in the private sector believe change will come soon. Simply a matter of addition and subtraction. The rhetoric and name calling won't work much longer. Let me provide some math even you can understand. RI's jobless rate will soon approach 15% (this means less tax money for the math challenged). As an example California's unfunded pension liability is around $4K per household and now on an IOU payment system. RI's similar pension liability is around $17K per household.
Next year RI begins to work off the funding credits it has under RIGL 36-10-2 from the gains in prior years from the pension trust fund and will need more money into the fund. Add to that the fact that tax revenues will be down further, PLUS we won't have the federal stimulus funds to balance the budget, PLUS the municipal bond market is likely to collapse and our bond rating will be SH$T.
Add all this together with a public who has had it for too long with union bullying and you get the picture. We won't need to have comment boards to get this message across We see through your rhetoric and name calling. "Don" had no power to change the pension system, only the GA (read - union controlled GA) has exclusive power on that matter. Time is working against you.
MetalDoc, the governors veto gives him the bully pulpit,he uses it to spread the word.The media will report it bringing light to the subject.It also shows the electorate who is screwing them.Rep Levesque barely won last time, he needs to go.People are slowly waking up,a time for change is near.The real wake up is when the stimulas money is gone.Buy then the union will be chopped back to a level the state can afford. The legislature is not done, the people will push and they will listen.Remember our state flag, HOPE, the time is at hand.
UnionTeacher, laws are overturned as unconstitutional all the time by courts. Saying a law can only be overturned or repealed by the GA is a false statement. You need to research that yourself.
Oh man, if unionteacher is adding his ignorance and false statements to the thread, this discussion is as good as over.
The below is reported in the Valley Breeze this week. RI Bond rating for cities, towns and state agencies is about to collapse to junk. Time of the unions will soon be vanishing so if the unions do not demand change now, you will get it from a totally pissed off constituency who will vote out the jerks in the GA. It is coming. Read below from the Valley Breeze;
The City Council's decision last week to put off a required $1.7 million payment into its vanishing pension fund has a former member of its managing board this week warning of a financial doomsday.
"The rating agencies are going to freak out," said Richard Lepine, a financial adviser in Cumberland.
Lepine, former pension fund board of directors member and Woonsocket native, said choosing not to make the required payment into the fund for police and fire personnel "is going to kill" the city's bond rating, a worst case scenario for any municipality.
unionblowhard: there are thousands of "laws" on the books which cannot be enforced because they were overturned by the courts. Mass passed a "straight people only" marriage law. Courts overturned it and gay marriages happened. California has passed several "straight only" laws, only to be shot down by the courts time and time again. RI has had it's share as well, including the 300 foot rule I mentioned earlier. Plus, RI had a prositution statute which was shot down, and now RI is the only state which allows unfettered prostitution, as long as it is indoors. this new law the assembly is trying to push through, if it passes, will not pass constitutional muster, and the towns will spend thousands upon thousands of teachers pension dollars to get it repealed.
Furthermore this would be a retro change of terms and not what was signed which would void all existing contracts. This attempt by the GA to bring contract law back to the 'I'll make them an offer they can't refuse' way of doing business of their forefathers is destined to blow up in their faces. Their (GA) legal advisers wouldn't know a law book if it bit them in the face.
The GA was slapped on the wrist very recently.
U.S. judge strikes ballot access rule for new parties
01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, May 30, 2009
By John Hill
Journal Staff Writer
PROVIDENCE — A federal judge Friday threw out as unconstitutional a provision of state law that forced new political parties to wait until Jan. 1 of an election year to collect the signatures they need to get on the statewide ballot.
