Rhode Island IBPO Fights Attack on Public Pensions
November 4, 2011
In the continuing fight to protect public workers from political attacks, IBPO leaders in Rhode Island testified before a legislative committee considering drastic, unnecessary and harmful changes to public pensions.
Rhode Island State Director Anthony Capezza and National Representative Ralph Ezovski testified in late October before the Joint Finance Committee during a multi-day hearing on public pension reform. They not only opposed the proposal, but the way in which the state crafted it without participation of unions whose members would be affected.
“There’s always room to negotiate,” Rhode Island IBPO Director Tony Capezza said at the hearing. “Why won’t you listen to us? Why are we always trying to balance the problems of the state on the backs of workers?”
“It was our understanding that public safety was not going to be part of this process,” said Ezovski. “We were told that as late as six weeks ago. And then we’re part of the process. Well, we’re part of the process without having any input, which isn’t really being part of the process.”
(To see video of Capezza and Ezovski testifying, you can go to the Rhode Island pension reform website. Scroll down to the October 27 hearings and click on the second of three screens. To cut to the IBPO testimony, move the button to the 41:00 minute mark.)
Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee and State Treasurer Gina Raimondo have proposed raising retirement ages for most workers, ending the annual cost-of-living increases for most retirees, and creating a new system combining traditional defined benefit pensions with 401(k) type retirement accounts. Many public employee groups, however, believe that the treasurer is exaggerating the future fiscal threat to the pension fund, cities and towns, and the state.
Capezza said that the treasurer had repeatedly reassured the IBPO that any pension reform proposals from her office would affect only state workers and teachers. He did not learn that public safety workers would be included until the bill’s release just weeks before the hearings.
Lawmakers are now considering amendments to the bill, including those which may ease the impact on some public sector workers. Legislators may be ready to vote on the measure by Thanksgiving.