Common Ground February, 2011 by JH Communications

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FEBRUARY 2011

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Quinn wants to improve working conditions for home health care workers By Paul V. Palange PROVIDENCE – For Patrick J. Quinn, serving as executive vice president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199 New England is a family affair. “If you do this job seriously and correctly, you have an extended family. It’s a lot of responsibility,” he said in a recent interview with Common Ground. “You are pretty much on call. … The members you represent work 24/7 so you have problems 24/7.” Quinn, 51, has been employed by the SEIU for 25 years. He succeeds Stan Israel, who retired

on Dec. 31, following a distinguished career with the SEIU that spanned more than 30 years. (See related story). A long-time organizer for the union, Quinn will also replace Israel as the president for the SEIU State Council – the political coalition of four SEIU union locals. Previously, Quinn was executive director of the council. The new executive vice president knew he wanted to work on the “union side” before heading to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, to major in industrial labor relations. “My family is union. … My parents, grandparents and other relatives were workers who had unions make a difference in their lives,” he said. There are several challenges facing the SEIU, according to Quinn, especially with the shift in the delivery of long-term health care from institutional to home- and community-based settings. The change in caring for senior citizens and adults with disabilities is the best course of action to maximize the state’s Medicaid dollars, he said, but it is wrong to do it on the backs of workers.

“Deinstitutionalization is the right thing to do, but it is predicated on people making poverty wages. They get paid dirt,” he said of home health care workers. “They provide valuable services, so they should make decent wages so they can live decently. Everyone wants home care, but no one wants to pay for home care.” Under the Rhode Island Medicaid Reform Act of 2008, the state applied for a waiver to give the Department of Human Services (DHS) flexibility to redesign the state’s Medicaid program. The purpose of the overhaul is to provide costeffective services in the least restrictive and most appropriate settings. That could translate to fewer people in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, which officials say will extend the life of Medicaid dollars. Instead of just moving money around, Quinn said, the DHS must also develop an acuity index to assess the condition of patients and determine whether they should receive services in a health QUINN continued on page 2

Celebration will honor Stan Israel for distinguished organized labor career By Common Ground Staff PROVIDENCE – Stan Israel will be honored on March 12 for his 37-year career with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199 New England. Israel, 66, officially stepped down as executive vice president of SEIU District 1119 on Dec. 31. The long-time labor activist and executive decided that “it is time to enjoy life a little more,’’ and determined that he would be leaving the union at one of its highest points. He said his successor, Patrick J. Quinn, “is going to do a great job,” because he is a “capable leader,” and that District 1119 “is in excellent shape.” During Israel’s approximate six-year tenure as the local’s first executive vice president, membership grew from 1,000 people to about 3,700, he said. When explaining some of the district’s most significant accomplishments while he was at the Primary

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helm, Israel said the most important achievement was getting service employees to understand that a union can improve their lives, and that organized labor allows workers to stand up for their rights and be treated with dignity and respect. The New England Health Care Employees Union is hosting the March 12 celebration at the Rhode Island Convention Center, starting with a cash bar at 5 p.m. A dinner and speaking program is slated to begin at 6 p.m., followed by dancing. Tickets will be available on Feb. 7 and must be purchased by Feb. 25. They are $40 and can be reserved by calling District 1199 at (401) 457-5099, e-mailing yandujar@seiu1199ne.org, or mailing a check payable to NEHCEU 1199 to 294 West Exchange St., Providence, R.I., 02903. Group discounts are available, according to the union. In addition, event organizers are looking for

stories about and photographs of Israel for a memory book. If you have material for the book, call the union office. To advertise in the publication, call Chas Walker at District 1199 or e-mail him at cwalker@ seiu1199ne.org. Israel began his career with the union in 1974 as an organizer for District 1199 N.Y. Throughout the 1970s, he organized non-union health care workers and negotiated contracts at hospitals and nursing homes throughout Queens and Long Island. According to Local 1199, Israel came to Rhode Island in 1984, and worked during the last three decades to win some of the best contracts for health care workers in the country. He led three large strikes at Women & Infants Hospital and united workers across racial and economic lines to win justice on the job and provide a voice for patients and workers. ISRAEL continued on page 2 R

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QUINN continued from page 1 care facility or at home. Patients on the higher end of the acuity index would remain institutionalized, while others could be treated at home. Besides helping with the delivery of services, the index would be instrumental in setting fair wages and benefits for home health care workers. “We want to improve the employment standards, so people with the proper qualifications are attracted to health care,”

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Quinn said. Another challenge facing the SEIU is delivering the message that cutting government budgets too deeply will also be detrimental to the private sector. “Many of our members are private workers who depend on public funding,” Quinn said. “We have to make sure people are aware that there is a balance between pubic and private employment.” He explained that the general population “needs to have an understanding that not all public funding is spent on public employees.” For example, investing in roads and bridges not only keeps people in the private sector employed or creates more jobs, but infrastructure maintenance and improvement produces “a climate in which business can

flourish.” “The labor movement,” Quinn stated, “must articulate what created the current economic crisis. It’s not the result of something the snowplow driver or the public health care worker did. They didn’t cause the collapse on Wall Street.” A native of Long Island, Quinn has five brothers and four sisters. He relocated to the Ocean State in 1985, when his wife started graduate school at the University of Rhode Island. They have two children, ages 19 and 15. Quinn’s father handled constituent services for Congressman Otis Pike while also working full-time as a teacher and high school principal. He obviously taught his son some valuable lessons.

ISRAEL continued on from page 2 During his career here, Israel also played a key role in passing state legislation that benefits patients and health care workers - including the Hospital Conversion Act, which governs the process of hospital mergers and ensures that any hospital consolidation is in the best interests of Rhode Islanders; the Safe Patient Handling Act, which reduces workplace injuries and the likelihood of patient falls; and the ban on mandatory overtime for nurses and nurses’ aides in hospitals. Quinn, a long-time organizer for the union, which represents about another 16,300 workers in Connecticut, previously served as executive

director of the SEIU’s State Council. He will replace Israel as president of the State Council, which is the political coalition of four SEIU union locals. “Stan has left some very big shoes to fill, and he will truly be missed,” Quinn said in a statement released by the union. “I am honored to have the trust of the members of 1199, and I will look to the high standards that Stan has set for inspiration and guidance. He was always the first to remind us that the union’s strength comes from the members’ unity, and that all working people benefit through organization. We will carry that vision … into the future, and we wish Stan the best in his retirement.”

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Union volunteers set collection record during Salvation Army kettle campaign On Dec. 4, Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee, and hundreds of union members and their families, volunteered to be bell ringers at Salvation Army Christmas kettles set up at more than 25 grocery stores across Rhode Island. For more than a decade, union members statewide have joined in the effort to bring the spirit of Christmas to families in need by raising thousands of dollars for the Salvation Army during its annual Christmas Kettle Drive. Union members set another record last year, collecting an astounding $14,500 in a single day. “Union members have a long and proud tradition of public service,” said Dave Deumuth, a Teamsters’ Local 251 member and organizer of the Union Kettle Program from its start in 1998. “We are pleased to serve the communities in which we live and work and are honored to assist the Salvation Army in this most compassionate campaign.” “During these hard economic times, union members understand the importance of reaching out and helping neighbors in need,” Nee said. “Not only do union members build our roads, schools, and bridges, fight fires, deliver packages, and nurse the sick, they are there to support those in our communities who are facing hardships. Volunteering their time and energy year after year is just another way union members give back to their communities.” “It is heartwarming to see so many union volunteers coming to the aid of the Salvation Army,” said organizer and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Maureen Martin. “We are very proud of our union members and the Rhode Islanders who donate their hard-earned cash to help the less fortunate. It is a tradition we plan to carry out well into the future with the hope of setting new records.”

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UAW’s King: Union’s survival at stake By David Shepardson / Detroit News Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- United Auto Workers (UAW) President Bob King told members recently that the union’s very survival is at stake, and that the union has limited options in contract talks with Detroit’s Big Three. “If we don’t organize these transnationals, I don’t think there’s a long-term future for the UAW, I really don’t,” King told more than 1,000 members and retirees at an action conference in Washington. He told members that a top priority is getting President Barack Obama re-elected in 2012, and that the president has been friendly to last three decades. unions. He called on members to back Democrats, and said workers In a spirited hour-long speech here, King said the union, which has would not have been successful in the Flint sit-down strike in 1936seen membership fall from a high of 1.53 million members 37 if Michigan had had a in 1979 to less than 400,000, has its very survival at stake in Republican governor. “It wasn’t legislation that organizing foreign auto plants. The Detroit union has “What we’re really committed to is creating the UAW built the UAW. It was asked foreign automakers to of the ‘40s and ‘50s and ‘60s. The UAW of those days was an agree to a set of principles workers coming together.” activist union -- that members were mobilized all the time,” King allowing for what it calls “fair UAW President Bob King said. “It wasn’t legislation that built the UAW. It was workers bargaining,” and King says coming together.” the union plans to pick a first He ramped up the rhetoric with foreign companies and said the union target by sometime in April. He said the foreign automakers are out to had assembled a list of the 50 largest dealers of one foreign company as it “destroy the union.” prepares protests if no talks are held. So far no foreign automakers have agreed to the principles, and the “They don’t fear us and they think they can get away with it,” he said UAW has been unable to organize any of the foreign auto plants over the of the foreign automakers. The union’s options are dramatically limited with Detroit’s Big Three because previously the union had “virtual pattern bargaining,” as foreign automakers would match what the UAW won, King said. King said that ended about six or seven years ago, when the foreign automakers began opening in the deeper South and paying less “in more economically depressed areas where a lot of really desperate people really need jobs.” But that clout has gone, King said. “Here’s the terrible position we’re in,” King said. “Because we’ve fallen so far in the percent of workers represented by the UAW in autos,” the union can’t demand big increases because of nonunion competitors. “So if we go in, we dramatically raise fixed costs for Ford, General Motors or Chrysler, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. … We don’t want to disadvantage the (Detroit 3) companies.” The above article is being reprinted with the permission of The Detroit News.

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FEBRUARY 2011

The myth of high public sector pay By Jeffrey Keefe NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Thirty-seven states are struggling with substantial budget deficits. Several governors have identified excessive public-employee compensation as a major cause of their states’ fiscal duress. The remedies they propose include public-employee pay freezes, benefits reductions, privatization, major revisions to the rules of collective bargaining, and constitutional amendments to limit pay increases, each as a necessary antidote to the supposed public-employee overpayment malady. But data indicates that public employees, in both state and local government, are not overpaid. Comparisons controlling for education, experience, hours of work, organizational size, gender, race, ethnicity, and disability reveal no significant overpayment, but a slight undercompensation of public employees when compared with private employee compensation costs on a per hour basis. On average, full-time state and local employees are undercompensated by 3.7 percent in comparison to otherwise similar private sector workers. The public employee compensation penalty is smaller for local government employees (1.8 percent) than state government workers (7.6 percent). There are, however, substantially different approaches to staffing and compensation between the private and public sectors. On average, state and local public sector workers are more highly educated than the private sector work force; 54 percent of full-time state and local public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree, compared to 35 percent of full-time private sector workers. State and local governments pay college-educated labor on average 25 percent less than private employers. The earnings differential is greatest for professional employees, such as lawyers and doctors. On the other hand, the public sector appears to set a floor on compensation. The compensation of workers with a high school education is higher for state or local government employees, compared to similarly educated workers in the private sector. Benefits are also allocated differently in the private and public sectors. Full-time workers in state and local governments receive a higher percentage of their compensation in the form of employerprovided benefits, and the mix of benefits is different from the private sector. Some benefits are more generous in the public sector, but it is a serious error to imagine that comparability requires that every element of compensation is the same. What is important when considering both the employer-provided benefits and direct pay is whether state and local government workers have a total compensation package that costs what they would receive if employed in the private sector. It is the total cost of the compensation package -- not the mix of cash and benefits -- that is important in making a comparison. Public employers contribute on average 34.1 percent of employee compensation expenses to benefits, whereas private employers devote 26.1 percent to 33.1 percent of compensation to benefits, depending on the employer’s size.

Public employers provide better health insurance and pension benefits. Health insurance accounts for 6.3 percent to 8.3 percent of private-sector compensation but 11.2 percent of state and local government employee compensation. Retirement benefits also account for a substantially greater share of public-employee compensation, 8.1 percent, compared to 2.8 to 4.8 percent in the private sector. Most public employees also continue to participate in defined benefit plans managed by the state, while most private-sector employers have switched to defined contribution plans, particularly 401(k) plans. On the other hand, public employees receive considerably less supplemental pay and vacation time, and public employers contribute significantly less to legally mandated benefits. A standard earnings equation produced a surprising result: Fulltime state and local employees are undercompensated by 6.3 percent. Full-time public employees, however, work fewer hours, particularly employees with bachelor’s, master’s, and professional degrees. A reestimated total compensation equation controlling for work hours of full-time employees demonstrates that there is still a significant publicsector penalty of 3.7 percent in total compensation between full-time state and local employees and private-sector employees. At closer examination, the penalty disappears for local government employees but remains for state workers, who in 2009 had a 7.5 percent compensation penalty. Here is a link to my study: www.epi.org/publications/entry/ debunking_the_myth. Jeffrey H. Keefe is an associate professor of industrial relations at Rutgers University in New Jersey. For more information, contact John F. Killoy III, director of communications, mobilization and research for the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, at (401) 751-7100.

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Social entrepreneurship: The next generation of the Rhode Island economy By Laurie White

We have said it many times: Rhode Island is turning the page on economic development. Social entrepreneurship will play a key role in the state’s economic future. There is no denying that the idea of social entrepreneurship has struck a responsive chord. It’s a phrase well-suited to our times. The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce recently heard from some of the state’s leading social entrepreneurs. Their message is clear: Rhode Island’s size, the creativity of our residents, and the critical mass of this movement has our state emerging as a national leader in social enterprise. What is social enterprise? It combines the passion of a social mission with business-like discipline, innovation, and determination. Social entrepreneurs identify and solve social problems on a larger scale. They break new ground; develop new models, and pioneer new approaches. Just as traditional entrepreneurs create

and transform whole industries, social entrepreneurs act as change agents. They seize opportunities to improve systems and create sustainable solutions that have real social values. And while the language of social entrepreneurship may be new, the phenomenon is not. We have always had social entrepreneurs, even if we have not always used the term. Examples of past social entrepreneurs include Susan B. Anthony, who fought for women’s rights in the United States; Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; and John Muir, the naturalist and conservationist who helped to establish the National Park System and the Sierra Club. And you don’t have to look far to find social entrepreneurs in Rhode Island. There is Amos House Works, an umbrella organization for programs that train and employ former Amos House clients. Their mission is to move people from homelessness to self-sufficiency. There is also Maternova Inc., a Webbased startup company located in Providence.

Maternova has a global mission of creating a marketplace for tools and ideas that save mothers and newborns. Then there is Social Venture Partners, a group of entrepreneurs and social investors who catalyze social enterprise development in Rhode Island by providing social, intellectual, and financial capital. They are behind the Change Accelerator, an eight-week mentorbased program aimed at helping entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions to unmet social needs. The program, which was partially funded with Chamber grant money, included workshops on essential startup topics, mentor matching, business plan refinement, and early-stage and seed capital. It is one of only a handful of such social enterprise incubators in the world. The people behind those companies are forging a path for others to follow, and the Chamber is proud to play a part in their efforts. Laurie White is president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at lwhite@provchamber.com.

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FEBRUARY 2011

United effort helps needy families Labor, management, and State Rep. Roberto DaSilva (D-District 63, East Providence-Pawtucket) organized a turkey drive to help provide a holiday dinner for East Providence families needing assistance. Fifty turkeys were donated by the East Providence Stop & Shop and were delivered by volunteers. Participants included, from left, Tom Rose, East Providence councilman; Barbara Connors, East Providence Democratic Committee member; John Faria, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers international business representative; Rep. DaSilva; Luci Stoddard, Democratic Committee member; Domenic Pontarelli, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 328 representative; John O’Hare, Democratic Committee member; and Ozzy Monteiro, manager of the East Providence Stop & Shop.

Caring for your pets this winter As we continue to watch the snow pile up and the temperatures drop this winter, we are reminded just how harsh this season can be for people. Our top priority in these frigid times is staying indoors and keeping our families warm. Stand Up For Animals wants to remind you not to forget about the furry members of our families – our pets! It is important to remember that they also require proper care to stay safe and healthy during the bitter cold winters.

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High-quality food and adequate protein diets are essential for pets that spend time in the cold. Since water may freeze outside be sure to always keep a bowl of fresh, warm water in a deep, plastic bowl accessible to your pet. Be sure to wipe your pet’s’ paws clean after being outside. The salt can cause them to dry up and crack; the best method is to soak the paws in warm water. Another material that can collect on paws is antifreeze which is highly toxic. Some of the chemicals in antifreeze taste sweet to cats and dogs so make sure to clean up any that might spill or leak onto your driveway or garage floor. Cats have a particular attraction to car motors as they provide warmth on cold winter days. They can be severely injured or even killed by the fan belt so be sure to always check under the hood or at least tap on it or even honk your horn before pulling out of your garage or driveway. Pets will try their mightiest to find warmth when they are outside for extended periods of time. They might try burrowing under porches, in window wells, dumpsters, or cellars; it is important to ensure they don’t become trapped in these areas. In the case of dogs, it is important that they continue to get the proper amount of exercise during the winter months. When they are outside, keep them on a leash as they can lose their scents in the snow and ice if they should venture too far unattended. There are pets of all kinds with varying types of fur. Animals with long, thick coats can handle sustained exposure to the elements while animals with short, thin coats cannot. Be mindful of what type of fur your pets have when taking them outside. A protective covering, jacket or sweater may be necessary and is available at most pet stores and large retail outlets. Never leave your pet in the car for any reason. The car will naturally retain the cold temperatures leaving your cat or dog at risk of freezing to death. Giving your pet a warm, insulated place to sleep away from any drafty areas (doors or windows) can go a long way in keeping them protected from the cold. It also can’t hurt to bring your pet to see the veterinarian for a winter check-up just to be sure they don’t have any conditions which might make them more vulnerable to the cold.

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Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

Treatment programs should last at least 30 days and include psychiatric services By Michael J. Blackburn Working in the drug treatment industry has put me in a position of great responsibility. Though I am far from unique, the people I help are often on the cusp of death. Quite literally, tonight could be their last. With those kinds of consequences at hand, it is important that I know that what I offer really is the best service available. People suffering from addiction come in all shapes and sizes, from the functionally normal weekend binge drinker to the homeless heroin addict, to the single mom who escapes with marijuana use, to the senior who is prescribed painkillers after surgery but suffers withdrawal when trying to stop using them. I was approached recently by a mom whose young adult son has been struggling with chemical use for many years. Her son is a bright kid with his whole life ahead of him, yet he has spent most of his youth in and out of rehabilitation programs and mental health units in a seemingly endless quest to kick his addiction. There is a problem here: Why can’t a young man with seemingly everything in his lap quit using drugs? What is it that drives him to be self-destructive? After all he has

loving parents, a good education, and a classic middle-class American family. After speaking with his mom for a few minutes, I found out she has been doing some therapy of her own, by volunteering her time on a crisis hotline for families. She certainly has enough experience with her own son to be able to help others. But again, why can’t she help her own son? Can she do better? We talked some more, and I realized this lady from Dallas, Texas, who has nothing but the highest aspirations for her son, knows the answer. The problem is that the system is stacked against people with the disease of addiction. In her son’s case, as is the case with nearly half of all people suffering with addiction, there is also a mental health issue at play. In our discussion, I learned from her perspective what I hear from many clients. Short stays at chemical dependency treatment centers followed by a separate mental health treatment plan were part of the problem. The best solution to treat a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse problem is almost always a stay of 30 days or more at

an integrated dual diagnosis treatment facility. That offers the person the highest chance of a long-term recovery. The mental health and substance abuse disorders cannot be treated as separate issues; they are intertwined and must be tackled together. So why don’t all substance abuse treatment programs include at least 30 days of treatment and also offer access to psychiatric services? The answer to that question is complicated. It lies in stigma, a lack of parity in insurance coverage, and many other financial and clinical obstructions. What that woman needed was someone who could advocate for her son, a person or group with the clinical knowledge and industry connections to get it right. Michael J. Blackburn is senior vice president of Treatment Solutions Network. He is a founding member and past president of the Rhode Island Chapter of Labor Assistance Professionals Association and the past national labor director for the association. He also serves as vice president of the board of directors of the Rhode Island Council on Alcoholism. He can be reached at mikeb@tsnemail.com or (401) 255-4622.

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I became involved in the EAP/MAP programs because of my own struggles with addiction, as I have been in recovery for many years. Twenty-five years ago, I was asked by my Union President to start a committee to assist our members and their families who needed help with addiction and mental health issues, because of my own experiences, I was excited to help. We started a silent committee to offer confidential help to Firefighters and their families who were struggling with these issues. I spent several years obtaining certifications in the field and have been helping members and their families ever since!

How has this program benefited firefighters and their loved ones?

Firefighters often experience things in the line of duty that cause mental and emotional stress that can lead to substance abuse. Once we built the EAP/MAP program we were amazed at how many people came forward to get the help they needed. Part of the rehabilitation process is learning how to deal with these stresses so they don’t negatively affect the rest of their lives and their families.

Where has life taken you since retirement? Well before I retired, I worked closely with Treatment Solutions Network to place my members, providing the care that they needed. I was so impressed with the company that I started working with them more and have now become a Vice President and shareholder in the company. We have expanded the network to include top rated treatment centers, not just in Florida, but across the nation as well. Our network is set up to accept most insurances, self-pay and contracted rates with health & welfare funds to make treatment affordable to everyone.

What is next for you and Treatment Solutions Network? We are working with a committee focus group comprised of leadership from Boston Fire, Boston Police, Providence Fire, MA Department of Corrections and MA Sheriff’s Department. This group is being directed by a highly accomplished therapist to design programs specifically geared toward Unions, Public Safety Officers and to help us better serve the Employee Assistance Professionals we work with. Our programs are designed to find the best possible solution to Dual Diagnosis problems. Solutions that combine, long term success, financial flexibility, and clinical practice into effective services.

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Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

Chafee creates Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission; names Roberts as chair On Jan. 13, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed into executive order the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission, with more than 100 professionals from the healthcare community in attendance. “We want Rhode Island to be a national leader in terms of implementing federal health care reform, with the overall goal of accessible and affordable health care for all Rhode Islanders. This commission, led by Lieutenant Governor [Elizabeth] Roberts, who has decades of valuable experience with health care-related issues, will be a key step toward achieving those goals,” Gov. Chafee said. Along with the lieutenant governor, the executive committee will include the director of administration, the health insurance commissioner, the secretary of the executive office of Health and Human Services, and the governor’s policy director. The commission will make recommendations on reform initiatives

to the executive committee, which will make recommendations to the governor. “I want to thank Governor Chafee for taking the proactive step of establishing this commission. This is an important day for all Rhode Islanders, and I am ready to lead this initiative and look forward to the important and challenging work ahead for all of us,” Roberts said. In April 2010, the lieutenant governor formed the Healthy Rhode Island Implementation Task Force, which met throughout the summer to discuss federal health care reform. In September 2010, the lieutenant governor and the task force released their findings in a report, Healthy Rhode Island Task Force: Getting National Health Reform Right for Rhode Island. The report included a set of recommendations for the state’s decision makers to prepare for implementation of federal health reform law. Many of the health experts and stakeholders from the task force will participate in the new

commission. The commission will develop and implement action steps, timelines and assignments of lead responsibilities for all health care reform efforts; maximize stakeholder and public engagement; assure open dialogue with the General Assembly; identify and remove barriers to and develop incentives for critical health care; and identify work force capacity and training needs in the private and public sectors. The Healthcare Reform Commission will expand the efforts of the task force to ensure a more accessible and affordable health care system. Our goal is to maximize the benefits in the law for all Rhode Islanders, while identifying and addressing any challenges,” Roberts said. Roberts participated in a recent conference call with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to discuss the cost to Rhode Island of repealing the law. Solis said the Congressional Budget Office had given her a cost figure of more than $260 billion if the law is repealed by Congress.

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Common Ground

Page 13

Age does not diminish George Lima’s spirit to make the world a better place By Matthew H. DiTomasso He jumped transit turnstiles in Harlem to snatch free subway rides during the Great Depression; Joe Louis staggered him with a right jab in a 1940s exhibition boxing match; and he was arrested by the U.S. Army and threatened with a court-martial during World War II. Today, at 91, George S. Lima is one of Rhode Island’s unsung heroes. Lima led a life of daring, passion, and strength, fulfilling a long commitment to serve his community, state and country. As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s also celebrate Lima, a World War II veteran, union activist, civil rights leader, and Rhode Island native. Born to Cape Verdean parents in 1919, Lima grew up in a busy household with three brothers and two sisters. His parents owned and operated a boarding house in Fall River, but the family moved to Harlem to search for work during the Great Depression. Lima’s growing street smarts served him well in New York City, where he worked as a shoe shine boy and graduated from PS 139 -Fredrick Douglass Junior High School. While his father found factory work, Lima immersed himself in the thriving byways of Harlem, watching followers of Marcus Garvey hold back-to-Africa rallies. He would also witness his brothers’ independence as they joined the integrated Building and Services Union 32B as elevator operators. Lima attended North Carolina A&T State University, where he learned to fly and met his future wife of 55 years, Selma Boone. Their lives, like so many others of that generation, were put on hold when America entered World War II. Lima, having trained as a pilot already, gained entry into the famed Tuskegee Airmen. It was in Tuskegee, Alabama that heavyweight champion Joe Louis would engage future Rhode Island State Rep. Lima in an exhibition fight. Louis would quip, “I saluted the lieutenant and hit him right in the chops!” If fighting Louis challenged him physically, what came next would challenge his spirit. Lima was part of the 477th Bombardment Group, which organized the “Freeman Field Mutiny” at an Army Air Force base near Seymour, Indiana in 1945. Lima and his fellow black officers were arrested for protesting a whites-only club on base. They risked being court-martialed over the incident. Eventually, all charges were dropped. The base desegregated as a direct result of the protest, but it wasn’t until 1948 that President Harry Truman integrated

the entire U.S. armed forces. Lima found courage in the ring against Louis and honed his sense of social justice in the Army, both of which would serve him well in the years to come. After the war, Lima found his way back to Rhode Island. He enrolled at Brown University and helped start the first local chapter of Omega Psi Phi, the first African-American national fraternity, which was founded at Howard University in 1911. After he graduated in 1948, Lima settled for a lesser job than most Ivy League graduates, working as a shipping clerk at the downtown Providence Cooperative Department Store. He joined the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union and rose through the ranks to become president of the Providence local. His dedication and hard work attracted the attention of Leo Kramer, regional director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union (AFSCME). By 1950, there were about 100,000 AFSCME members throughout the country, and Lima became the first person of color and only the second full-time employee of the union in New England. Lima organized a variety of public employees, including police officers, highway laborers, and social workers. He quickly tackled their lack of retirement benefits, sick time, and competitive wages. State workers in the middle of the 20th century were subject to political patronage, and that spurred Lima to recruit employees to AFSCME. In time, he negotiated better wages and benefits for Rhode Island workers and helped establish a collective bargaining agreement between AFSCME and Republican Governor John Notte Jr. in 1962. Lima went on to combine his labor activity and civil rights activism by creating a program to help educate union members on racial equality. Lima’s undertaking would serve as an inspiration for other AFSCME locals. He also helped launch the Harvard Trade Union Institute, where up-and-coming New England union representatives would be exposed to provocative ideas and labor leaders from around the globe. By the late 1960s, Lima had channeled his organizing skills into the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA). He worked in the public employee segment of that group, leveraging national contacts and organizing Arlington National Cemetery workers and hospital employees in and around Washington. The lessons learned in union organizing would become powerful tools in the struggle for civil

rights. He was in Birmingham, Alabama in 1962, when terrorists bombed the house of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.’s brother. On the night when fellow activist Medgar Evers was assassinated, in June 1963, Lima was leading a protest at the Rhode Island State House. He participated in a variety of sit-ins, sleep-ins, and pray-ins over the issue of fair housing, joining other civil rights advocates such as the Reverend Edward Flannery of the Providence Diocese; Larry Spitz, a fellow union activist; and Irving Fain, a Jewish community leader. Fair housing legislation would eventually pass the General Assembly. By August 1963, Lima was president of the Rhode Island chapter of the NAACP, working closely with the Congress of Racial Equality to end discrimination throughout the country. He participated in the legendary March on Washington, where Reverend King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Lima would continue his life-long battle for social justice as a regional director of President John F. Kennedy’s Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), an organization created to tackle poverty in urban areas. He would travel across the country, helping Native Americans in the West, migrant workers in Florida, and inner city residents in the Watts area of Los Angeles. Lima was elected to the General Assembly twice in the late 1980s. He championed a variety of social causes in the legislature, including voter registration drives and the creation of the Black Caucus of State Legislators, which soon included Hispanics. Lima remains active within the state at age 91. He established the Black Air Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing minority youth to the world of aviation, education, and the media. Lima’s son Robert sits on the board of directors and is treasurer of the foundation, which represents the veteran’s enduring legacy of promoting social change by working within the local community. Lima flourished throughout the past century, contributing to society with little public fanfare. He followed King’s call to “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for human rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country and a finer world to live in.” Matthew H. DiTomasso is a graduate student of history at the University of Rhode Island. Contact him at mditomasso@me.com.

American Cancer Society kicks off Daffodil Days Supporters can place orders until March 1 WARWICK -- For more than 35 years, the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days program has been making a difference in the fight against cancer. Although Daffodil Days involves offering daffodils to donors every spring in appreciation for their contributions, it is about more than just giving flowers; it is an opportunity to share hope for a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Flower and product orders can be placed through March 1 by calling the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345 or making an online donation at www.cancer.org/daffodils. Delivery occurs the week before spring, beginning March 14. According to the Society, this long-standing program is expected to raise $165,000 in Rhode Island to support the fight against cancer. Daffodil Days offers a variety of products. They are: • A bouquet of 10 fresh daffodil blossoms for a $10 gift. • Three mini-daffodil bulbs in a soil-filled pot for a $15 donation. • A bouquet of 10 daffodils and a Boyd’s collectible stuffed bear for a $25 donation. • The Gift of Hope: for donations of $25 or more, daffodils are delivered to a cancer patient undergoing treatment. • Bear Hugs for Hope: for a $25 gift a special edition collectible bear is delivered to a child impacted by cancer. The Society is seeking volunteers to help collect Daffodil Days orders

and help wrap daffodils when they arrive in March. To help make a difference in the fight against cancer through Daffodil Days, contact the Society by calling the toll-free telephone number or by visiting the Web site. Dollars raised through Daffodil Days enable the Society to offer free programs and services that help people fight cancer with courage and optimism. The Society also provides day-to-day help, emotional support, and 24-hour information to help ease the cancer experience. Daffodil contributions also provide the Society with much-needed dollars to fund groundbreaking cancer research, educate people about the importance of cancer prevention and early detection, and advocate for public health policies that benefit the community. As a global grassroots force of more than 3 million volunteers, the American Cancer Society fights for every birthday threatened by cancer in every community. As a result of the Society’s efforts, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year.

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Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

Winter is a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors Don’t be a couch potato! Get up and experience snowshoeing on fresh powder, evening owl prowls and winter fitness walks. Bring a friend, bundle up and join an Audubon Society of Rhode Island expert to discover those natural wonders found only during the winter months. A complete listing of activities and programs are detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Program Guide. Visit www.asri.org to download a copy. Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. For more information or to register, call (401) 949-5454, extension 3041, or e-mail programs@asri.org. Here are some of Audubon’s upcoming programs: Feb. 8 & 15; March 8 & 22; April 12 & 26 - 3:30-5 p.m. Audubon Teen Environmental Club: Preparing for a career in environmental studies Middle school and high school students committed to learning about the environment are invited to join. Club members meet twice a month at the Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1041 Hope St., Bristol, to learn about ecology, biology, stewardship and conservation of Rhode Island’s habitats. Led by Lonnie Guralnick, assistant dean of math and natural science and professor of biology at Roger Williams University, the club is ideal for students looking for a career in environmental studies and/ or ecology. Topics include fresh and salt-water studies, habitat comparison, seasonal changes, macro and microorganism investigations and soil ecology. For ages 13 to 17, the club is limited to 15 students, so please register early. Fee for eight-week series: $48 member child, $54 nonmember child; course number: 164333-524. Feb. 9 & 10; March 9 & 10 - 7-8:30 p.m. Great Ideas Join Audubon for hot ideas and warm beverages. Enjoy a discussion based on the Great Books Foundation volume on the environment “Keeping Things Whole.” The book may be purchased through the Great Books Foundation bookstore online or readings will be announced to registrants who may find the selection in the library. Sessions are offered for just two months. Please e-mail emarks@asri.org with questions. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield; Feb. 10 and March 10; Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1041 Hope St., Bristol; Feb. 9 and March 9; $4 for members, $5 for nonmembers; ages teen to adult; course number: 104333-32. Feb. 11 - 7-9 p.m. Owl Prowl at Fisherville Brook Head out on the trails for an evening of fun, learning about the owls of Rhode Island. Start the evening with a presentation on the creatures and a visit with one of Audubon’s live owls. Then walk the evening trails in search of the intriguing birds in their natural setting. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Meet in the Nature Center. Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter; $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers; ages 8 and up; course number: 134333-177. To register, call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org. Feb. 12 - 10-11:30 a.m. Treats for Tweets Learn to attract birds to your yard and spark your child’s interest in birding. Begin in the Nature Center with a story on feeding birds. Then create a variety of treats, including pinecone feeders, bird cookies, suet feeders and orange holders. If time allows, we will take a short nature walk. The program is fun for the whole family. Please note peanut butter is used in this program. Meet in the Nature Center and dress for the weather. Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter; $8 for member child, $12 for nonmember child; ages 5 and up; course number: 134333-176. Feb. 12 - 7-8:30 p.m. Chocolate and Tweets Just in time for Valentine’s Day. Join Audubon for a chocolate adventure. Presented by Jennifer Schouppe, executive pastry chef at Johnson and Wales University, the program will explain the unique history of chocolate and how it is made. Jennifer will demonstrate basic truffle filling and finishing followed by the best part, sampling and enjoying. Limited to 25 adults, so please register early. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol; $18 for members, $24 for nonmembers; course number: 164333-525. Feb. 13 - 10 a.m.-noon Snowshoeing Parker Woodland Explore the snow-covered trails in search of tracks and signs of animals. Participants must provide their own snowshoes, which can be rented from REI or Eastern Mountain Sports. Note: If the trails are too icy or there is no snow, the program will be canceled. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, Maple Valley Road, Coventry, $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers; ages 12 and up; course number: 024333-037. Feb. 17 - 6:30-8:30 p.m. Snowshoeing by the Full Moon A white expanse of snow blanketing the forest, the moon creeping up through the pines and the stars twinkling overhead all set the scene for a guided full moon snowshoe walk at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge. The trail winds through the forest to a pond where the moon will be rising. Survival of plants and animals as well as lunar folklore will be discussed. Participants must provide their own snowshoes, which can be rented from REI or Eastern Mountain Sports. Note: If the trails are too icy or there is no snow, the program will be canceled.

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter; $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers; ages 15-plus; course number: 134333-178. Feb. 18 - 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Fast, Fun and Fit in the Forest Winter is great time to be out on the trails, and the Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge has the longest public trail system of any Audubon refuge. Join Senior Director of Conservation Scott Ruhren on a heart-pounding exploration of this quiet winter landscape. The goal is to see as much as possible of the refuge property while keeping a brisk pace through the rocky forest. Wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers. Bring a snack and water. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, Maple Valley Road, Coventry; $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers; ages 10 and older; course number: 034333-52. Feb. 19 - 7-9:00 p.m. Caratunk Owl Prowl Join Audubon for a wonderful evening in search of owls. Recent prowls at the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge have proven to be very productive. It may be a little chilly, but this is when the owls are most active. Start indoors with a short presentation on the owls of our area and learn interesting facts about these amazing creatures. Then take to the trails with an Audubon guide to look for the stars of the evening. Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Ave., Seekonk, Mass; $8 for adult members, $4 for child members, $12 for adult nonmembers and $6 for child nonmembers; ages 8 and up; course number: 014333-10. Feb. 19 - 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Winter Walk Join Kimball naturalist Bob Kenney on an exploration of the snowcovered woods and fields of the Kimball Refuge and Burlingame State Park in the quietest season of the year. On past winter walks, participants have discovered squirrel, deer and fox tracks in the snow; crossbills in the pines; otters, muskrats, and even bald eagles on the frozen pond; and even a Northern three-toed woodpecker in 1991. Finish by warming up around the stove with a steaming bowl of vegetarian chili. Kimball Wildlife Refuge, 180 Sanctuary Road, Charlestown; $10 for adult members, $5 for child members, $12 for adult nonmembers, $6 for child nonmembers; all ages; course number: 044166-46. Feb. 19 - 12:30-4 p.m. Tropical Getaway Climb aboard the Audubon van and enjoy a couple of hours amid tropical flora in Logee’s Greenhouses of Danielson, Conn. A more than 100 yearold lemon tree is an outstanding feature, and a variety of blooming plants or foliage await your viewing. Purchases of plants for your home are possible. Departs from Powder Mill Ledges, Smithfield; $15 for adult members, $8 for child members, $20 for adult nonmembers, $10 for child nonmembers, $5 for each additional child member, $8 for each additional child nonmember; ages 8 and up; course number:104333-30. Feb. 26 - 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Cape Ann and Plum Island, Mass. Winter Birding Trip The North Shore of Massachusetts is a birding paradise. This annual daylong trip always produces exciting birds. The snowy owl, short-eared owl, rough-legged hawk, Barrow’s golden-eye, black guillemot, northern shrike and bald eagle are just some of the birds we hope to see. Dress warm and pack a lunch. Departs from Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield; $45 for members, $55 for nonmembers; ages 16 and over; course number: 014333-05. Feb. 26 - 10 a.m.-noon Naked Tree I.D. OK, now that we have your attention…come and learn to identify some common trees when they are ‘buck nekkid’ in winter. We will discuss branching patterns, bark and buds to help us determine deciduous species and will talk about evergreen species as well. The program will take place both indoors as well as outdoors. Please dress warmly. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield; $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers; ages 14 and up; course number: 114333-413. Through Feb. 26 - 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A Natural Perspective - Nature Photography Exhibit by Mike Tucker Mike Tucker, Audubon refuge manager and naturalist, has always enjoyed the challenge of capturing the wonders of nature with photographs. Since acquiring his first 35mm camera at age 12, Mike has striven to find perspectives with the lens that do justice to the amazing art that nature has created. He has dedicated his life to working for the environment and his passion can be felt through his images of birds, plants, streams and other wonders of the natural world. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol; free with admission; all ages.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island office is at 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield.

FEBRUARY 2011

Common Ground

Page 15

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Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

Rhode Islanders can air opinions about transportation issues By Barry Schiller No doubt people everywhere have strong opinions about transportation, but part of the fun in Rhode Island is that due to our small size, it is relatively easy to voice those opinions in ways that count. That is no minor matter since transportation relates so directly to our mobility, economy, and environment and provides employment to a substantial work force. So what do you think needs to be done? Whatever it is, there are numerous opportunities to let the powers that be know. For example, the State Planning Council has a Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) of diverse stakeholders, including the state Department of Transportation, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, planners, AAA, truckers, environmentalists, rail passengers, bicyclists, and nonprofits. TAC is the first stop for the allocation of about $350 million a year in state and federal transportation funds. The committee meets monthly, usually on the fourth Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and public comment is accepted at the start and end of every meeting. Also, TAC conducts public hearings every time there is a significant update to transportation plans. The DOT director and appropriate staff meets the public quarterly to discuss environmental issues from large-scale concerns like the role of transportation in climate change, to local project features like drainage, a traffic signal, or pedestrian design. RIPTA’s board, which sets transit policy

and oversees operations, also allows public comment at its monthly meetings, normally held on the third Monday in the afternoon. The public does attend, especially when service changes or fare increases are pending. I think it is fair to say that some proposed service cuts were avoided due to the outcry from passengers and union representatives. No matter where you live in Rhode Island, you can’t be far from the State House, so you can get to hearings on transportation-related bills. Think how hard that would be in New York if you didn’t live near Albany. You don’t have to be invited to testify; just walk in and sign up when there is a hearing. The state Senate is forming a special commission to study how to pay for transportation, and I am confident there will be an opportunity to tell legislators how to do it. Of course, you can also call your local legislator, whom you might actually know. Because their state is small, Rhode Islanders might run into the director of DOT or the governor at a cafe or market. Various nonprofits also welcome the public to give input. For example, the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, which normally meets on the second Monday evening of the month, is glad to have people at meetings and discuss their ideas for improving bicycling in the state. Does public input make a difference? I think so. For example, if not for public input, there would be no East Bay Bike Path, there would be freeways slicing across the Scituate Watershed and on the western shore of

Aquidneck Island. The public overwhelmingly urged the I-195 relocation even though it was much more expensive than rebuilding the former road. Public opposition derailed bicycle path expansion in Smithfield and North Kingstown, and the public saved No. 9 bus service to Burrillville and achieved free bus rides for low-income seniors. The state does face some serious transportation issues. It has more than its share of roads and bridges in poor repair, but it must use much of its resources to pay back debt from past projects. There are grand plans to improve that state’s bus and rail transit systems, but how to pay for the upgrades is an important question. Some still hope the Ocean State will resume ferry service on the bay. There are other issues, which makes it imperative for state officials to ensure that transportation money is spent effectively and efficiently. The state needs to invest in its infrastructure, but having enough funds to make repairs and improvements is a grave concern. Anti-tax zealots opposed to investing in public services have experienced some success, so residents in favor of spending more money on transportation projects must make their voices heard. If you want more information on attending transportation-related meetings and hearings, contact me at bschiller@localnet.com. Barry Schiller is a member of the Rhode Island Transportation Advisory Committee.

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Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

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Common Ground

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DIRECTORY OF UNION SERVICES BARBERS & HAIRDRESSERS Some barbers and hairdressers are organized by UFCW Local 328. For a list of union barber shops and hairdressers, please contact Local 328 at (401) 861-0300 or www.ufcw328.org

BUILDING TRADES For home and business construction, repairs, or additions please contact one of the following unions for a reputable contractor in your area. For general questions or help please call Build RI at (401) 553-2100 or www.BuildRI.org Boilermakers Local No. 29 (617) 328-8400 Bricklayers Local No.1 (401) 946-9940 Carpenters Local No. 94 (401) 467-7070 Elevator Constructors Local No. 39 (401) 423-2293 Glaziers Local No. 1333 (401) 781-4736 Heat and Frost Insulators Local No. 6 (617) 436-4666 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 99 (401) 946-9900 International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 57 (401) 421-6678 Iron Workers Local Local No. 37 (401) 438-1111 Laborers Local No. 271 (401) 331-9682 Painters & Allied Trades District Council 11 (401) 467-7010 Plaster & Masons Local No. 40 (401) 943-1185 Plumbers & Pipefitters Local No. 51 (401) 943-3033 Rhode Island Building Trades (401) 438-1111 Roofers & Waterproofers Local No. 33 (781) 341-9192 Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 17 (401) 831-7150 Sprinkler Fitters Local No. 676 (860) 666-4447 Teamsters Local No. 251 (401) 434-0454

BUS SERVICES RIPTA Rhode Island Public Transit Authority 265 Melrose Street Providence, RI 02907 (401) 781-9400 www.ripta.com Peter Pan Bus Lines Corporate Headquarters P.O. Box 1776 Springfield, MA 01102-1776 1-800-237-8747 ext. 1209 www.peterpanbus.com

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS To arrange on-site child care coverage for your meetings or conferences, or to locate a DCYF-licensed home-based child care provider in your neighborhood or near your workplace, contact the union of home-based child care providers, District 1199 SEIU, at (401) 457-5099 or www. seiu1199ne.org

DELIVERY SERVICES United Parcel Service The Teamsters Local 251 represent Rhode Island’s UPS workers. For the outlet nearest you, or to schedule a home pick up, please contact UPS at www.ups.com or 1-800-PICK-UPS. United States Postal Service Your local post office is represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (a division of the Laborers Union.) www.usps.com

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Credit union employees are organized by UFCW Local 328. Rhode Island Credit Union www.ricreditunion.org Providence Branch 160 Francis Street Providence, RI 02903 (401) 751-7440 Cranston Branch 570 Pontiac Avenue Cranston, RI 02910 (401) 941-8770 Bristol Branch 390 Metacom Avenue Bristol, RI 02809 (401) 253-1313 URI Branch URI Memorial Union Kingston, RI 02881 (401) 789-0253 Dexter Credit Union www.dextercu.org 1 Village Plaza Way North Scituate, RI 02857 (401) 934-7600 934 Dexter Street Central Falls, RI 02863 (401) 724-6200 Woodlawn Federal Credit Union 744 Main Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 (401) 728-8300 The Carpenters’ Union represents: First Trade Union Bank www.ftubhb.com 14 Jefferson Park Road Warwick, RI 02888 1-800-242-0272

FUNCTION FACILITIES Biltmore Hotel 11 Dorrance Street Providence, RI 02903 (401) 455-3027 Scott Connery, Director of Catering Brown University 45 Prospect St. Providence, RI 02912 (401) 863-1075 Cynthia Schwartz, Director of University Event Bryant University 1150 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 (401) 232-6921 Sheila Guay, Director of Events Community College of Rhode Island Knight Campus, Warwick Flanagan Campus, Lincoln Liston Campus, Providence Newport Campus CCRI Downcity (401) 825-2015 Edna Mattson Dunkin Donuts Center 1 LaSalle Square Providence, RI 02903 (401) 331-0700 ext. 150 Robert Sturm, Event Manager Newport Grand 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road Newport, RI 02840 (401) 849-5000 ext. 157 David Rollin Providence College 549 River Avenue Providence, RI 02918 (401) 865-1000 ext. 2070 Victoria Mocshu

Rhode Island College 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue Providence, RI 02908 (401)456-8022 Kathy Sasso RI Convention Center 1 Sabin Street Providence, RI 02903 (401)-458-6002 Antonia Anthony, Director of Event Services Roger Williams Park Casino 1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI 02905 (401) 785-9450 ext. 240 Lisa Gonzales, Casino Event Planner Roger Williams University 1 Old Ferry Road Bristol, RI 02809 (401) 253-1040 ext. 3793 Allison Chase-Padula Twin River 1600 Louisquisset Pike Lincoln, RI 02865 (401) 723-3200 ext. 8497 Alana Barts University of Rhode Island Kingston, Alton Jones Campus Providence Campus (401) 874-2214 Sherry Davis

HOSPITALS UNAP members work at the following locations: • Fatima Hospital • Greater RI Visiting Nurse Service • Homestead Group • Kent Hospital • Landmark Medical Center • Memorial Hospital • Rehabilitation Hospital of RI • Rhode Island Hospital • RI Community Living & Support Services • RI Dept of Human Services • RI Veterans’ Home • URI, CCRI, RIC Health Services • Westerly Hospital (Professional & Technical) • Westerly Hospital (Service & Maintenance) • Zambarano Hospital SEIU 1199 members work at the following locations: • Butler Hospital • Women & Infants Hospital

JANITORIAL SERVICES Some janitorial companies are organized by SEIU Local 615. For a list of unionized janitorial services, contact the Local 615 office at (401) 521-6150 or visit their website at www.seiu615.org.

NEWSPAPERS Common Ground News www.commongroundnews.net Subscribe 401.451.1305 Providence Journal www.projo.com Subscribe (401) 277-7600 Pawtucket Times www.pawtuckettimes.com Subscribe (401) 722-4000 Woonsocket Call www.woonsocketcall.com Subscribe (401) 767-8522

PRINTERS, BANNERS & SIGNS B Sign Graphics 27 Libera Street Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 943-6941 Fax: (401) 943-2287 Checkmate Consulting Group & Printing 461 Main Street East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 885-0666 Fax: (401) 885-0775 Cogens, Inc. 1 Virginia Avenue Providence, RI 02905 Phone: (401) 421-4436 Fax: (401) 331-9032 Crownmark 109 Fletcher Avenue Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 943-1112 Fax: (401) 943-1113 Dorrance Engraving 635 Prospect Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 725-0504 Fax: (401) 725-0504 East Coast Screen Printing 22 Partridge Street Providence, RI 02908 Phone: (401) 272-1166 Fax: (401) 272-1167 Federal Signs 135 Dean Street Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 421-3400 Fax: (401) 351-2233 Financial Innovations 1 Weingeroff Blvd. Cranston, RI 02919 Phone: (401) 467-3170 Fax: (401) 467-3570 JB Foley Printing 1469 Broad Street Providence, RI 02905 Phone: (401) 467-3616 Fax: (401) 467-8309 Lamar Outdoor Advertising 360 Warren Avenue E. Providence, RI 02914 Phone: (401) 421-4504, Fax: (401) 421-4757 Mandeville Sign Co. 676 George Wash. Hwy. Lincoln, RI 02865 Phone: (401) 334-9100 Fax: (401) 334-7799 Regine Printing Co., Inc. 208 Laurel Hill Avenue Providence, RI 02909 Phone: (401) 943-3404 Fax (401) 944-1228 R.I. Litho Printing, Inc. 1395 Atwood Avenue Johnston, RI 02919 Phone: (401) 275-0760 Fax: (401) 464-6002 Screen Works, LLC 62 South Main Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 692-0304 Sheahan Printing Corp. 1 Front Street Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 273-7272 Fax: (401) 769-9206

PUBLIC SCHOOLS All public school employees are organized by the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals or the National Education Association of Rhode Island. The following Charter Schools are also unionized: • Laborers Charter School • Textron Charter School • Times 2 Charter School

RECYCLING AND TRASH REMOVAL SERVICES Waste Management of Rhode Island (800) 972-4545

SUPERMARKETS Supermarket employees at the stores listed below are members of UFCW Local 328 or UFCW Local 791. Super Stop and Shop • Bristol • Coventry • Cumberland • Johnston • Lincoln • Middletown • Narragansett • Newport • North Kingstown • North Providence • North Smithfield • Pawtucket • Providence • Richmond • Smithfield • Warwick • Westerly Shaw’s Supermarket • Barrington • Garden City • Cranston • East Providence • Riverside • Johnston • Middletown • North Providence • Pawtucket • Providence • Wakefield • Warwick • Lakewood • Westerly • Woonsocket Eastside Marketplace • Providence Brigidos IGA • Pascoag • North Scituate

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NURSING HOMES SEIU 1199 members work at the following locations: • Bannister House • Charlesgate Nursing Center • Country Gardens Skilled Nursing • Crawford Skilled Nursing • Greenville Skilled Nursing • Hopkins Manor • Pawtucket Skilled Nursing • Parkview Associates • United Methodist Health Care Center

PUBLIC RELATIONS Checkmate Consulting Group & Printing 461 Main Street East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 885-0666 Fax: (401) 885-0775 The Sentinel Group, LLC 111 Wayland Avenue Providence, RI 02906 Phone: (401) 451-1305 Fax: (401) 831.6111

Simply call 1-888-Get FiOS or SATURDAY 1-888-591-6076. 5 P.M. Or contact IBEW 2323 at (401) 732-IBEW (4239).

COX CHANNEL 14

IBEW 2323 VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 1150 New London Avenue 33 Cranston, RI 02920

P.O. Box 7613 Warwick, RI 02887 (401) 751-7100

BUY Union Products. USE Union Services. Use your hard earned money to support hard working union members!

Page 20

Common Ground

FEBRUARY 2011

Affordable Hearing Solution HOME EQUIT Y LINE OF CRE DIT Introductory Fixed Rate for First 12 Billing Cycles

Thereafter, remaining term will automatically convert to a variable rate of interest as low as prime minus 0.50%

.75 2.75 %

APR*

No Title Fee • No Application Fee • No Closing Costs

Only your imagination stands in your way now. This special introductory rate on a Home Equity Line of Credit won’t last long. Come in today and take advantage of this extraordinary low rate. And Journey on. Call 401.233.4700, or visit navigantcu.org

Enjoy Life’s Journey

Advertised Introductory *Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 1.75% is the lowest available and is fixed for the first 12 months. Offer applicable for applicants with a credit score of 680 or higher. After initial 12 monthly billing cycles, rate automatically reverts to a variable rate of interest as low as Prime minus 0.50% as published in The Wall Street Journal 30 days before the date of any rate adjustment. As of 9/1/2010 Prime Rate was 3.25%. Interest rate and line amount determined by individual creditworthiness and subject to loan-to-value ratio of 80%. Offer limited to 1-4 family owner-occupied primary residence properties only. Property insurance (and flood insurance if applicable) required. Offer and rate is subject to change at any time without notice. Other terms and restrictions may apply. APR will not exceed 21% with a minimum rate of 2.75%. If home equity line is paid in full and closed within twelve (12) months from the opening date, a prepayment penalty may apply. RI: up to but not to exceed 2% of the balance due at time of payoff; MA: remaining balance of first year’s interest or amount equal to last 3 months’ interest, whichever is less. Existing NCU home equity lines/loans are not eligible for refinance with this promotion. Other rates and terms available. Inquire for full details.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ LOCAL UNION 1033

Representing the Public Servants who make government work!

Partnering with Rhode Island’s Municipalities to Provide the Most Effective and Cost-efficient Public Employee Benefits

The Rhode Island Public Employees’ Health Services Fund

The Rhode Island Public Employees’ Legal Services Fund

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES = PUBLIC SERVICE Cranston Crossing Guards

Lincoln Highway Department Providence School Department Narragansett Bay Commission City of Providence North Providence Crossing Guards Providence Civic Center Authority Warwick Crossing Guards Lincoln Town Hall

Town of North Kingstown Providence Community Action Program Lincoln Public Library Town of North Providence Narragansett Town Hall Lincoln Water Commission R.I. Department of Transportation North Providence School Department

DONALD S. IANNAZZI, ESQ. Business Manager

VICKI A. VIRGILIO President

The Rhode Island Public Employees’ Education, Training and Apprenticeship Fund

Donald S. Iannazzi, Esq., Chairman Vicki A. Virgilio Trustee

Pasquale T. D’Amico Trustee

Sharen Gleckman Trustee

Joseph F. Kenney Trustee

Betty Jackson Liaison

Chris Lombardi Coordinator

Rhode Island’s Union Built, Operated and Staffed Facilities Roger Williams Park Casino accommodating 50 - 300 (401) 941-5640 (401) 785-9450

city center skating rink accommodating groups from 10 - 400 (401) 331-5544 ext. 5