Common Ground VOLUME 1, NUMBER 6
Take Sassy Home TM
JUNE 2010
See Page 18
RHODE ISLAND
Three month struggle preserves jobs
On February 23, 2010, the Central Falls Board of Trustees voted to fire the entire teaching staff and administrative staff at Central Falls High School. The move was made after the District broke off negotiations with the Central Falls Teachers Union. The parties had been meeting at the request of the District to discuss a State requirement to adopt a plan to improve the school. On May 17, after an intense three-month struggle, the Union members ratified an agreement that preserved each teaching position. Prior to the Board’s decision to fire its entire staff, Labor and Management had met three times to discuss the Superintendent’s proposed plan to make changes at the high school. Superintendent Frances Gallo planned to increase the teacher workday without additional compensation and to add additional planning and training time at an hourly rate of pay. The Union and the District were in the middle of a three-year collective bargaining agreement that had been ratified by the parties and formally approved by the Commissioner of Education. Recently-adopted Federal and State guidelines meant to create changes in schools where students perform poorly on standardized tests required the adoption of one of four models to improve the school. The United States Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, created a plan requiring schools to adopt one of four intervention models to change the school. Two of the four models require the termination of teachers. One of the least punitive reform models, the Transformation model, was supported by the Union and was initially supported by the Central Falls School District. When the Union and the District first met in early February, the District proposed six preconditions to
continue the path on adopting the Transformational model. One of the six preconditions would have allowed the District to terminate an undetermined number of teachers in the spring after an unknown evaluation team came into the District. The Union noted that all teachers had received satisfactory evaluations over the last two years and that terminating any high school teacher would violate the just cause provision of the union contract and the Rhode Island tenure law.
The Union asked to work on a school improvement plan first, and then talk about modifying working conditions later. The District did not want to work out a school reform plan with the Union, nor did the District provide information on budget and programs requested by the Union. The District walked away from the table. Then, the Central Falls Board of Trustees, composed of appointees of the Board of Regents, called a meeting to terminate the teachers. The February 23rd termination meeting was very contentious. It was attended by all Central Falls High School teachers who were not given an opportunity to speak before being fired. The meeting followed a well-attended rally of students and union members in nearby Jenks Park. The local struggle became a national struggle when Education Secretary Duncan and President Obama issued statements of support to the Superintendent. They relied on misinformation. For example, while President Obama criticized Central Falls, he praised a non-union school in Rhode Island which ironically had the worst math test results. Soon, the story was covered throughout the nation, as 89 teachers resisted the takeit-or-leave-it approach to bargaining. Community support for the fired Central Falls teachers was tremendous. Hundreds of members from throughout the labor movement rallied in Jenks Park in Central Falls just prior to the Board meeting. Union members showed support at the Board of Regents meetings, Department of Education meetings, and Board of Trustees meetings in a show of solidarity. Teachers throughout the US and Canada expressed outrage with the District’s decision to terminate the entire faculty. Student support was the most important, as students organized their own Web sites and created a support network to preserve their school community. Despite efforts to create a schism between the members and their union leadership, the faculty of Central Falls High School remained unified and strong. Central Falls Teachers Union President, Jane Sessums, handled hundreds of media requests while maintaining close contact with her members. Attendance at regular union meetings was high. Members organized a number of activities, including a letterwriting party to the Board of Trustees, leafleting the entire City, and organizing parent meetings to strengthen parent – teacher connections. Through community pressure, a supportive student voice, and political pressure from the US Senate delegation, the District agreed to mediate the dispute. Attending the mediation sessions was Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services
mediator Jack Buettner and retired US District Court Judge Ernest Torres. Additional pressure was put upon the District when the Union filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge, alleging that the District did not bargain in good faith by using mass terminations as a bargaining tactic. The Union also filed for individual termination hearings for each of its 89 members. Finally, the Union filed a lawsuit in US District Court alleging that the District’s actions violated the due process rights of teachers in violation of the US Constitution. After 5 full-day mediation sessions and numerous additional phone and e-mail exchanges, an agreement was reached. The Union agreed to many of the time elements of the District proposal, while garnering a $3,000 annual stipend for the additional time. The Union also preserved due proccess rights by insisting that all teachers be rehired. The Union also regained a voice in decision-making at the high school with the creation of four joint committees to consider the high school schedule, evaluate teacher training, create a criteria-base hiring system for teacher transfers, and a joint labor-management committee to guide the high school transformation. The CFTU membership overwhelmingly ratified the agreement. While some were still angered by having to go through such a counterproductive process, all were proud to have stood up for due process rights and their union rights.
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JUNE 2010
Capitalizing on tidal power as an alternative energy source By Armand DeLuise study conducted by The Electric Power Research Institute contends underwater turbines powered by the tidal movement at three sites, including one in Maine, can produce electricity at a cost that competes with wind power. The study concluded that tidal power could produce electricity for 4.2 to 6.5 cents per kilowatthour. According to the Providence Journal, Deepwater (the firm proposing the RI wind turbines) concluded that the starting price for the energy produced by its turbines would be 24.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. The current price for power from conventional sources is 9.2 cents per kilowatt-hour. So fellow Ocean State residents, what could be the reason that our leaders are not considering this appealing and cost effective alternative to the wind alternative? Could there be some powerful lobbyists behind the decision or perhaps some “alternative” tentacle of “Big Oil”? When will our citizens rise like a spring tide and flood our representatives with a demand that we may call ourselves the “Ocean Powered State” in the near future? Armand DeLuise is a videographer and avid blogger.
I am very fortunate to have spent many years living and boating on Narragansett Bay. During those years I have watched the tide roll in and out twice a day with chronographic precision. I have seen large yachts lifted and lowered by those tides with their massive weights rising four to six feet and then lowered again. I have seen strong currents carry objects both light and heavy swiftly away in seconds. I have even witnessed a magnificent feat of engineering when a massive bridge was lowered into place by the effects of the moon’s gravitational pull. I also have baked in the sweltering August heat when money couldn’t buy a breeze and I have drifted many Sunday afternoons watching my sails slap limply against my mast as I sat on a motionless bay. The wind is a fickle friend! Tidal power brings all the positives of wind and few if any of the negatives.While the wind may or may not blow on certain days the tide will always roll in and out twice a day along our coast. Tidal turbines and other mechanisms will be underwater and out of sight to coastal property owners and thus will generate less opposition from this group. Additionally, there will be no discernable noise associated with tidal generators and no danger to birds and water fowl. Of course, and most importantly, there is the economic factor to be considered. Which alternative energy source will cost less? A recent
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out -Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak for me.” Martin Niemoller (1892-1984) was an ardent nationalist and prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last 7 years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Many of us in the animal rights movement have spoken up for those who can’t speak for themselves, and we believe in the credo: “The smaller the victim, the bigger the crime.” We are determined to stand up and defend those living beings that cannot defend themselves and believe in what Martin Luther King said: “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Dennis Tabella is the Director of Defenders of Animals.
There have been many examples throughout history of famous people standing up for the defenseless, including human beings and animals. For example, our sixteenth President, who in the middle of a Civil War, stopped his horse and carriage to rescue a baby bird. “I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.” (reply to friends who chided him for delaying them by stopping to return a fledgling to its nest.) – Abraham Lincoln We know that many not so famous Rhode Islanders have rescued many domestic animals and wildlife. These individuals and small organizations work with little resources, but the resources that they do possess are multiplied by their motivation, determination, and perseverance and they have, indeed, changed the world for cats, dogs, and wildlife and live the words of Margaret Mead who said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Although it was another time and for another purpose, the lesson still holds true: “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak
INDEX
Providence, RI 02906 Page 1
Winds of Change in RI From the Publisher: John J. Tassoni, Jr.
Page 8
Cheers for Geo-Toursim By Barry Schiller
Page 2
Working Together to Try to Save Local Sports
Helping the Animals of Rhode Island
Laborers Help Preserve Cranston Sports
john@commongroundnews.net
Page 9
Local Butcher Builds Travel Advisors International
Why We Need the Job Development Fund
www.commongroundnews.net
Page 10
An Answer for Addiction
Page 3
Dereka Crosby’s Success Story Page 11
Mortgage Fraud and the Foreclosure Crisis
Page 4
Labor Community Invited to Network, Build Relationships at Business Expo
Page 12
Expedite Delivery of Health Reform Benefits
RI PERC Holds Annual Forum
Page 16&17 Directory of Union Services
Page 5
May is the Ideal Month for Bird Watching
Page 18
Archambault Calls for Crackdown on Employee Misclassification
Page 6
Time to Stop the Hits By George Nee
Stepping Up for Diabetes
Rhode Island owes Brown thanks for its building projects By Michael Sabitoni
Page 19
The Real Truth About Health Care Reform By John A. Pernorio
Page 7
Strengthening OSHA Protects Workers
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JUNE 2010
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Page 3
Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund celebrates their 10th anniversary of giving back “Joyfully lighting the path of education for others” by Jennifer Geronaitis When I scheduled a meeting with Mary Riley, President of the AFSCME Local 2879 to interview her about the 10th anniversary of The Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund I expected to gather facts about her scholarship fund and to learn more about the London/Riley Memorial Golf Tournament being held on Monday, August 2nd, at the Cranston Country Club. Instead I learned a life lesson about heroes, survivors and the healing effects of giving back after an unconscionable loss. The Scholarship fund was founded in 1989 to honor the lives of Scott London and Chris Riley, “two enthusiastic 2nd graders with an appetite for learning. Following the boys’ deaths from cancer, their mom’s, Mary Riley and Joyce London and families joined to create the Scott London/Chris Riley Memorial Scholarship Fund (www.londonriley. org) to honor their boys and the love they shared for education. This year they proudly celebrate their 10th of giving back. Mary Riley vividly recalls the day her four year old son Chris, a
sweet looking red headed boy with freckles and a toothless smile, was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer that forms in soft tissue of muscle. She recalls the day Chris complained of pain in his abdomen and the days following when she was told by Chris’s physician that Chris was “gravely ill”. She recalls the numerous medical appointments, the 7-8 surgeries her son endured in three years as well as every kindness that family, friends and the staff at Hasbro Children’s Hospital bestowed upon her during that very difficult time. Mary’s memories are bitter sweet, like the time Chris spent a Halloween in the hospital and a relative brought him rings that squirt water and the fun he had showering the medical staff as they came in his room for daily rounds. She also, recalls the close relationship Chris established with Dr. Frank DeLuca, the now retired head of pediatric surgery, who treated Chris to “Big Alice’s” ice cream. And the day Chris asked Dr. Frank to simply install a zipper in his chest to simplify things for future surgeries. As I spoke with Mary, I saw a
sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her son and the scholarship foundation she founded to honor his life. I was inspired by the fact that although she suffered a loss she still had strength to give hope to others and was determined to make a difference. When asked about groups that aided with her healing process she acknowledged organizations and support groups that helped along the way. Those groups included The Tomorrow Fund (www.tomorrowfund.org), “a local non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to children with cancer and their families” and Candelighters (www.candelighters. org), a support group “dedicated to alleviating the uncertainty and isolation felt by families facing childhood cancer and the Make a Wish Foundation who granting Chris a puppy he named “Kelly” that comforted him during his final days and the rest of the family for the years that followed. Mary stays positive by being grateful for many things she has including the support of friends and family, the seven years she had with her son, Chris, and the lives he touched in such a short time. She is grateful for the 37 years of marriage she has shared with her husband Tom and her sons, Kevin (31), and John (23), both Providence College Alumni, who have made her extremely proud and who have been her “reason for getting up every morning”. Dr. Edwin N. Forman, MD shared his sentiments about the Memorial Fund saying “I want to express my deep gratitude to the London-Riley Memorial Fund. The NAV-0277 Homebuyers' Guide 10 x 10.5.qxd_Layout 1 3/5/10 3:57 PM Page 1 Front Row: Mary Riley , Mr. Cabra, Joyce London, Greggory Champagne stressful, painful and frightening Back Row: Erik Resly, Sean Boyle, Todd Resly, Tom Riley
Mary’s son Chris with a puppy which was given to him by the Make a Wish Foundation. (8/31/75-1/6/1983)
experience that children with cancer go through, along with their families, is beyond communicating to those who are fortunate enough never to have personally experienced it. The survivors are real heroes, and their ambition to go on with life deserves the greatest support. This memorial fund helps support their dreams of going on to college and on with life. It is a reward greatly deserved.” Laura Hartley agrees with Dr. Forman’s sentiments. Her son Michael was a scholarship winner. He is a cancer survivor and the inspiration for her book entitled “Michael’s Journey”. His road to recovery was been long, however, “he has been cancer free for five years, attends college where he recently made the Dean’s list,” a dream the London-Riley Memorial Fund helped him fulfill. Donations can be made on-line via Pay Pal at www.londonriley.org, or mailing a check to Mary Riley at 53 Dante Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919. To reserve a spot in the upcoming Golf Tournament call 401-751-5153.
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Common Ground
JUNE 2010
After the floods: preserving Rhode Islanders’ jobs As cleanup, restoration and rebuilding continues in the wake of the record floods of March 2010, Lt. Governor Roberts, Chair of the Small Business Advocacy Council, continues to reach out to the business community to ensure that businesses and employees are not left behind by the ongoing federal disaster relief response. As flood waters receded, one of the key issues that Lt. Governor Roberts quickly identified was the need for businesses, particularly small businesses already impacted by the economic downturn, to become eligible for direct grant assistance. Currently, only government-sponsored loans are available, in many cases involving a timeconsuming application process, especially for those businesses that may have lost paperwork in the flooding. Taking action to protect Rhode Islanders’ jobs,
Roberts made an official request for grant funds to Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, also raising the issue with federal officials who visited the state in the flood aftermath. “We must do what we can to preserve Rhode Islanders’ jobs by assisting local businesses affected by the flood, especially during Rhode Island’s fragile economic recovery. Bank loans are not enough,” said the Lt. Governor. In her visits to other businesses impacted by the floods, Roberts identified new issues that will also need to be addressed to prevent more jobs from being lost in the future. These include improvements to public works that will reduce the risk of future floods and prevent businesses from moving their operations elsewhere; updates to federal flood plain maps to make sure all businesses that were recently flooded have access to federal
flood insurance; better communication about flooding risks and evacuation orders that will provide businesses more time to react in a crisis; and more outreach about state-subsidized engineering and consulting services that can reduce businesses’ vulnerability to future disasters. In response to many of the concerns she observed personally, Lt. Governor Roberts moved quickly to convene a special meeting of the Emergency Management Advisory Council (EMAC). Inviting key state and community stakeholders affected by the flood for a first-ofits kind meeting, Roberts assembled three panels comprising mayors and town managers from hardest hit locations, state agency directors involved in the response, and private sector leaders from business and community organizations and associations.
Emergency management meeting highlights successes, identifies challenges In her role as Chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council, Lt. Governor Roberts brought together state and local officials and agency heads to address “Lessons Learned—Flooding of 2010,” on Tuesday, May 11th. In her many visits to affected areas around the state, she was impressed by the resilience of those who were forced to leave their homes and found themselves at recovery shelters throughout Rhode Island. She also noted the effectiveness of multiple agencies working in a coordinated effort at the Joint FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center, planning each step in the recovery efforts. Major General Robert T. Bray, Adjutant General of Rhode Island, and Director J. David Smith, RIEMA Executive Director, gave opening remarks, inviting panelists to share their experiences and offer constructive feedback for present and future recovery efforts. Lt. Governor Roberts led the first panel on the
municipal perspective with Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, Richmond Town Council President B. Joseph Reddish III, West Warwick Town Manager James Thomas and Coventry Town Manager Thomas Hoover. Director J. David Smith, RIEMA Executive Director, led the second panel from the statewide perspective with representatives from the Departments of Health, Environmental Management, and Transportation, as well as the RI State Police and the RI Association of Emergency Managers. The third panel, also moderated by the Lt. Governor, featured representatives from the RI Chapter of the Red Cross, the RI Broadcasters Association, the Providence Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center and the RI Community Action Association. In this rare opportunity, heads of state and local agencies and organizations across a broad spectrum
of interests came together to share their experiences and propose solutions to the still-pressing issues of flood mitigation; the rebuilding of city and town roads and bridges damaged in the flood; how to ensure that business and state operations are not interrupted either during an emergency or as disaster recovery continues; improving crisis communications; and how to better coordinate emergency planning efforts between state and community agencies going forward. “Although the long-term recovery efforts are far from over, a key goal of the council is to protect the safety of Rhode Island’s citizens by improving the state’s ability to prepare, respond and recover from natural and man-made disasters in a coordinated way. This meeting has served to inform our efforts going forward as we continue to find ways to improve upon a collaborative response in the future,” said Lt. Governor Roberts.
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To leave, or not to leave your Understanding your retirement plan when you leave employer By William J. Hawkins, III, CRPC When you leave a job – whether due to layoff or for any reason – you are often faced with a decision about your 401(k) or other retirement plans. The decision is whether to keep your 401(k) funds with your former employer, roll them over to an IRA, or pay the taxes and cash out. Over time, many employees have accumulated substantial balances in these employer plans which are designed for tax-advantaged retirement savings. For this reason, it is wise to understand the implications of each option. Some employers offer the opportunity to maintain your retirement account at the company. On the other hand, by rolling over your funds to an IRA, you can maintain control, manage the funds any way you want, and remain subject to IRA rules alone rather than the limited investment selection and perhaps restrictive distribution policies of your former employer. Note, however, that while you are permitted to take loans from your 401(k) plan, this is not possible in an IRA, and depending on the investments used to fund the IRA, charges and expenses could
be higher or lower than those you would incur inside your 401(k) plan. At your direction, your employer can transfer your distribution directly to another qualified plan or to a rollover IRA. A rollover occurs when you withdraw cash or other assets from one eligible retirement plan and contribute all or part of it within 60 days to another eligible retirement plan. Under this option, you would direct your plan administrator to make a direct and tax-free transfer of funds from your former employer’s plan to a rollover IRA at a financial institution of your choice. That way you maintain the tax-deferred status of your retirement account, consolidate all retirement accounts for easier management, and benefit from increased investment flexibility. When you roll over a retirement plan distribution, you generally don’t have to pay tax on it until later when you take cash withdrawals. By rolling over, your funds have the potential to continue to grow tax-deferred. Job changers should resist the temptation to spend down their retirement savings, whether they are moving to a
What does the RI ARA membership mean to you? By John A. Pernorio, President
new job or plan a hiatus from work. When you fail to roll over, you not only pay tax on the amount you receive, but you may, if you are under age 59 1/2, be subject to an additional 10% penalty on the early distribution you receive. Sound financial planning dictates that you would draw on other funds first, leaving retirement plan spending as a last resort. If you are simply moving your IRA from one institution to another and you do not plan to use the funds, you should consider making an IRA transfer and not a rollover. This is a simple direct transfer from IRA to IRA between financial institutions to better manage and grow your retirement assets. This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of William J. Hawkins, III, CRPCÂŽ Financial Advisor in Providence, Rhode Island at 401-459-6824. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDICINSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
The primary objective of the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans is to enroll and mobilize retired union members and other senior and community activists into a nationwide grassroots movement advocating a progressive political and social agenda-one that respects work and strengthens families. The long-term goal of the RI ARA is to become the voice for all older Americans. By engaging in important political battles to protect and preserve programs vital to the health and economic security of older Americans, the RI ARA will gain recognition as the country’s leading progressive grassroots senior organization. In pursuit of these values, the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans will: ¡ Build a strong organization of seniors with a viable structure, ample resources and clear objectives - a structure compatible with that of the labor movement and community-based groups at local, state and national levels. ¡ Create programs and membership organizations designed to promote a commitment by retired workers and older persons to the concept of lifelong participation in their unions, and in their community, political and civic organizations. ¡ Encourage all segments of the senior population to act with unity on legislative, political and policy issues of importance to retirees and their families in order to maximize their influence on federal, state and local governments and on private organizations that affect their interests. Benefits available to you and your spouse as members of the RI ARA & RI ARA HealthLink Wellness Program: ¡ Numerous discounts. Log onto www.newenglandsenior.com. ¡ Vision Care Program through Davis Vision, with no premium. ¡ Dental Care Program. Discounts of 30-40% off usual & customary fees, with no premium. ¡ Participation in the HealthLink Wellness Program with no cost to you. ¡ We are awaiting the final announcement of the RI Best Rx program for people that have no prescription coverage. We are hopeful that seniors will be able to participate in the RI Best Rx when they are in the DONUT HOLE on Medicare Part D. For more information about the Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans, have your union retiree leader or community based organization leader contact John A. Pernorio at japernorio_riara@ hotmail.com or call 401-722-2770.
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Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Battling the illness of substance abuse By Reinhard Straub Substance Use Disorders, as the professionals call them, are a fascinating and devious set of illnesses with many names and faces; however, for the purposes of this article, addiction, alcoholism, substance abuse, chemical dependency, etc. as well as addict and alcoholic, will all be used interchangeably. While the names, faces and even the approach to treatment often change, there are some unavoidable constants. Initial treatment varies, depending on drug of choice, but the long-term recovery process is the same. The major symptom: the individual suffering from the illness denies that he or she has the illness. I am always impressed by the lengths a patient will go to continue drinking and/or using, or to avoid treatment altogether. The alcoholic’s rationalization, justification, and minimization are par for the course for the addiction expert, but can be baffling and frustrating for friends and family of the addict. In my experience, the addict/alcoholic knows deep down that there is a problem, and they just aren’t willing or able to do what is required to get well or to embark on a lifelong program of recovery. I typically hear “Give me a chance to do this on my own. If I can’t stop drinking, I promise I’ll go to rehab...” or, “I’ll go to AA and to an outpatient program...” or, “I’m not going to rehab. Those places don’t work for people like me...” Here are the basics: Addiction is an illness that is primary, chronic, progressive, incurable and potentially fatal, but highly treatable. Primary - It needs to be dealt with first. Many medical problems and psychiatric symptoms are directly attributable to or exacerbated by substance use, for example: high BP, anxiety, depression, pancreatitis, etc. Chronic - You have it forever and even after a complete detox, you remain highly susceptible to relapse and a return to old habits. Progressive – If left untreated it gets worse.
Incurable - Once you’re a pickle, you can’t go back to being a cucumber. The brain has been altered at the cellular level by the use of chemicals. It works and looks different forever.
Fatal - Four of my former patients have died in the past four months: one, sober at 78; and three overdosed unintentionally by mixing and misusing legal prescription drugs. Any known disease process follows a well-charted course. Substance Use
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Disorders are no different. Those closest to the addict are affected first, followed by friends, and finally, work or legal problems. The recovery process also follows a well-charted course. The patient does not have to “want it” or “hit a bottom.” Most patients I have confronted through an intervention only go to treatment to avoid terrible consequences. I didn’t go to treatment because I thought it was a good idea to get sober – I went because I was threatened with divorce. I am respectful when dealing with the addict, but I don’t waste a lot of time trying to reason with an impaired individual. Doing so would compare to doing psychotherapy with a patient partially under anesthesia while they were being wheeled to an emergency appendectomy. You can’t talk a drunk individual into going to rehab. I seek leverage to help me get a person to a place where they can begin to recover. The first phase of recovery is medical stabilization. Get the person to a place where they are guaranteed to abstain from any alcohol or drugs except those prescribed by an addiction expert. Then and only then can we have a realitybased conversation with the addict, but abstinence is only the beginning. Diets don’t work. A thorough and holistic life change is required; the addict needs to rediscover why they are alive in the first place. In AA this is referred to as a “spiritual awakening,” and as the last of the critical 12 Steps, it requires a lot of hard work before reaching the heights of self-actualization. Treatment works - but not how, why or when most people outside of the business think it does. Something happens to the patient in the course of a 30-day residential episode of care that is hard to describe. I believe that many addicts and alcoholics require residential treatment and aren’t able to go because their insurance companies won’t pay for it or there aren’t beds available due to long waiting lists. These are all barriers to entry, which are more often than not, death sentences. I am proud to work for a company that is in the business of taking down the financial, logistical as well as the clinical barriers to recovery. Treatment Solutions Network was created to cut through the red tape so you don’t have to. If you, a loved one or someone you know needs treatment, don’t be afraid – just do it. Call your local addiction expert. I am always available and will respond promptly to emails or phone calls. I can be reached at 401-741-1574, or reinhards@tsnemail.com. Reinhard Straub is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor and full-time Treatment Consultant with Treatment Solutions Network. He is a recovering alcoholic and addict who has worked in numerous levels of care in the field of addiction recovery since 1989, including seven years with the New York State Medical Society’s Impaired Physician Program, where he was the lead interventionist, placing hundreds of physicians into treatment.
Local Smithfield Tech program receives Don’t Miss worldwide recognition At the recent annual conference for the International Technology Education Association, the Technology Education Program at Smithfield High School, was recognized as one of less than 50 programs worldwide to earn the prestigious Program Excellence Award. An informative, Sponsored by the International Technology Education Associationone-hour (ITEA), weekly show highlighting the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Paxton/ Patterson, the Program Excellence Award is one of the highest honors given to issues and events affecting Technology Education classroom teachers on the elementary, middle or high working families. school levels. It is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the profession and students. Schools from all over the United States and around the TUESDAY 7 P.M. world compete for this honor. THURSDAY 8 P.M. Each year the Program Excellence winners are recognized at the largest conference for Technology Educators in the world. This year the program SATURDAY 5 P.M. at Smithfield High School, was recognized at the first general session of the conference where the award plaques and pins were presented. COX CHANNEL 14
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JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Page 7
Summer days bring outdoor adventures June Programs and Events for Children and Families at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island School will be out soon so start the summer off right and let the kids explore the great outdoors. Hike Audubon’s Caratunk Wildlife Refuge in search of Bluebirds, have breakfast on the Blackstone River, or enjoy a sunset beach walk with an expert guide. Summer has arrived! A complete listing of activities and programs are detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Programs, a free guide to connecting with the natural world. Available by calling (401) 949-5454 or online at www.asri.org.
June 10, 2010
Home School Science
Introduction To Tree ID and Anatomy South Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge Smithfield, RI 10:00 a.m. - Noon This class covers the basic anatomy and physiology of trees as well as the major features of local species. We will be both indoors and out, so dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $8/member child, $12/non-member child; Ages: 7+. Course Number: 114333362. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
June 12, 2010
Breakfast on the Blackstone
Central Falls Landing, RI 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Join Audubon aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer for a morning river cruise exploring the spring beauty of the Blackstone River. Sip coffee and juice and sample baked goodies as we search for wildlife in the marsh and along the river. Bring binoculars. The Explorer is a covered boat and runs rain or shine. Cosponsored with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Departs from Blackstone Valley Explorer Dock/Central Falls Landing, Madeira Ave., Central Falls; Program Fee: $15/member adult, $8/member child; $20/non-member adult, $10/non-member child; Ages: All. Course Number: 114333-363. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
June 12, 2010
Bluebirds of Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Hike the refuge and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Eastern Bluebird. Get out on the trails and learn about their nests, diet and habits, as well as how Audubon manages the property to encourage the species.
June 21, 2010
Solstice Sunset Beach Walk
East Matunuck State Beach, South Kingstown, RI 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Join Kimball naturalist Bob Kenney for a leisurely sunset exploration of the beach on the summer solstice — the longest day of the year. Enjoy more than an hour of walking and beach combing before the sun goes down at 8:23 PM. This year’s bonus is a three-quarters full moon to light our way after sunset. Meet in front of the pavilion at East Matunuck State Beach. East Matunuck State Beach, 950 Succotash Rd, South Kingstown, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $10/non-member adult, $5/non-member child; Ages: All. Course Number: 044166-52. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
June 24, 2010
Nature Flicks at Night
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Take a trip to Audubon for an evening of fascinating nature documentaries on the big screen. The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies: Nowhere in nature is there a more powerful mix of scientific marvel, awesome beauty, and epic struggle for survival than the Monarch butterfly. Journey into the Monarch’s secret and fascinating world. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Other documentaries will be screened on July 29 and August 26, 2010; 7:00-8:00 pm; Program Free: Free, Donations welcome; Ages: 3+. Course Number: 164333-201.
June 25 & August 27, 2010
Stories in the Stars
Two Dates Available Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Bring the family and discover the legends of the night sky. Begin inside with a brief introduction to astronomy, learn what stars and constellations are visible this time of year, listen to stories from different cultures about the night sky, and venture outside to find the stars and constellations discussed. Advance registration required. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $10/member adult/child pair; $5/each additional member; $12/non-member adult, $6/non-member child; Ages All. Course Number: 164333-505. To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Program Fee: $8/ member adult/child pair, $4/each additional member; $12/non-member adult/child pair, $6/each additional non-member; Ages: 5+. Course Number: 014333-19.To register call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
June 13, July 3, August 9, 2010
Bird Banding
Three Dates Available Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Join the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and witness bird banding – where experts capture, band, measure, and release songbirds in order to record their movement. Birds will be gently removed from nets set in the shrubby habitats on the grounds. The techniques of identifying, measuring, weighing, and banding will be demonstrated before they are released. The migratory habits and life history of each captured species will also be discussed. Bring a camera and binoculars. Program is limited to 15 participants, so register early. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $5/member child; $11/non-member adult, $6/non-member child. Children under 4 are free; Ages: All. Course Number: 164333-506. To register call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041 or email programs@asri.org.
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Page 8
Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Archambault calls on Health Commissioner to turn down rate hikes
Steve Archambault, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, today called on Health Insurance Commissioner Chris Koller to turn down Blue Cross and Tufts Health Plan’s new double-digit rate hike requests. Archambault said, “Instead of moving to saddle hard pressed Rhode Island families and businesses with another double-digit rate hike, Blue Cross and the other Health Insurers should produce significant cost-cuts beginning with a reduction in top Executive salaries. I urge Commissioner Koller to turn them down flat.” Archambault went on to say, “We need a top to bottom review of all Health Insurer expenditures All expenses should receive strict scrutiny.” Archambault pointed to the fact that the CEO of Blue Cross, James E Purcell earned over $900,000 in compensation in 2008 as an example of an expenditure that need to be reexamined, noting that Blue Cross is a non-profit. Blue Cross Administrative expenses are higher than the New England average according to a study conducted by Health Insurance Commissioner Koller’s office.
Blue Cross is proposing for next year an increase of 13.4% for companies with more than 50 employees and an increase of 12.4% for companies with 50 employees or fewer. Tufts is proposing a rate hikes of between 11% and 12%. Blue Cross and Tufts were recently granted rate hikes of nearly 10% for both small and large groups as well as an increase of a little over 6% for direct pay plans, which are purchased by Rhode Islanders who do not receive health insurance from their employer or other group. Archambault has led the fight against rate hikes by Blue Cross and other health insurers repeatedly calling on Commissioner Koller to re-examine the basis of the requests and to give administrative expenses strict scrutiny. Archambault who serves as a Councilman in Smithfield , would bring a broad legal background to the Attorney General’s office. His experience as a police officer, local Prosecutor and defense Attorney gives him a first-hand understanding of all elements of the criminal justice system.
TOWNIE HEROES This week... PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LOCAL 51 Fredrick Foeri, Business Agent Brian Allen, Instructor Brandon Agnew, Apprentice Denis Daigle, Apprentice Fredrick Foeri, Brian Allen, Brandon Agnew and Denis Daigle are proud East Providence residents. And they have shown this pride by selflessly giving back to their community. As part of the Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 51 Joint Apprenticeship Training program, they volunteered their time and effort renovating the kitchens and bathrooms at the Kimberly Rock and Glenlyon baseball and softball complexes–ensuring our kids better and cleaner facilities while participating in youth sports.
Thank you Fredrick, Brian, Brandon and Denis for your dedication to the City of East Providence.
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A Coalition of 100,000 Rhode Island Union Workers and Retirees Unions have improved the quality of life for all working people. Child Labor Laws • Social Security Overtime Pay • Minimum Wage Health Insurance • Unemployment Insurance Workers’ Compensation Paid Vacations • Pension Plans Learn more about the labor movement Watch LaborVision each week on Cox (Channel 14), Verizon (Channel 33) and Full Channel (Channel 9) every Tuesday @ 7pm, Thursday @ 8pm, and Saturday @ 5pm.
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JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Page 9
Testimony in support of RI Transportation Trust Fund By James Celenza News outlets routinely feature stories about unemployment, economic underdevelopment, rising gas prices, traffic jams, truck and car crashes, congestion, the rise of asthma and obesity, and climate change. It may come as a surprise but a robust and growing public transit system is a way out of this list of social maladies. It is a way to grow jobs and the economy and to improve health and mitigate climate change. But for Rhode Islanders to benefit from improved transit and transportation systems, we need to seriously revamp how we fund our transit system and our transportation infrastructure. We fund (locally) our transportation system in two ways. We float general obligation and we rely on the gasoline tax (currently 32.5¢ per gallon). The two largest recipients of gasoline tax proceeds are the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the R.I. Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). RIDOT receives 21¾¢ per gallon (or about $94 million annually), and RIPTA receives 9¾¢ per gallon (or about $40 million annually). (Proceeds from the gasoline tax are RIPTA’s largest single source of operating revenue.) RIDOT uses its share to maintain roads and bridges — and to service the debt from its bonds. RIPTA uses its share to operate the public’s transit system. Yet we must acknowledge that relying on general obligation bonds to fund transportation and transit is potentially destabilizing, as debt service costs add an increasing burden. Now, the problem with the gasoline tax is that it is an unstable source of revenue: especially longterm as most new cars get better gas mileage. As less gas is bought less revenue accrues to support our transportation infrastructure and to provide for a robust public transit system. Infusion Therapy Respiratory Services
The CTC is proposing to break this logjam by developing a different funding system that can provide RIPTA and RIDOT with some financial security. The bills we are urging passage of today were originally vetted through the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on funding transportation. As was also part of the package proposed by the New Public Transit Alliance, the first statewide community coalition to cohere around the transit and transportation issue. Rhode Island Transportation Trust Fund (S2744, H-7734) would increase the biannual auto registration fees and create a Petroleum Products Gross Receipts Tax. Together, these measures could raise a projected $67 million annually – $23 million from auto registrations, and $44 million from gross tax receipts. These would be divvyed up among RIDOT (50 percent) for maintenance and repair of roads and bridges; RIPTA (35 percent); and Rhode Island cities and towns (15 percent) for maintenance and repair of local roads and streets and projects like complete streets. One core element that should be attractive to the state is that these revenues can be used to help leverage federal dollars, which are vital to improvements given the state’s share in funding mass transit and transportation. Rhode Island’s FY09-FY12 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes about $292 million in federal funding for RIPTA. Yet, if we don’t secure the local match for these federal grants, many opportunities for future investment and growth and jobs may be lost. These are solid, proven and wise suggestions for a new funding system. Studies show that every dollar that tax payers invest in public transit generates six dollars or more in economic benefits.
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Given that many of the emerging issues and extreme challenges faced by the Rhode Islanders from obesity, through air quality and climate change, congestion, energy independence, and economic revitalization, are linked to transportation, the way we fund our transportation system is in critical need of reform. James Celenza is the director of the RI Committee on Occupational Safety and Health and was a founder of the New Public Transit Alliance. Currently he is part of the Coalition for Transportation.
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Page 10
Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Transportation funding: jobs, mobility, environment By Barry Schiller What is not to like is that maintaining and improving our transportation infrastructure costs money. To get the jobs in construction (an industry with 40% unemployment noted in the May issue of COMMON GROUND) and in operating transit vehicles costs money. To enhance our environment with investments in bicycle infrastructure, our bus system (Transit 2020 has proposed some exciting ways to do this) and commuter rail expansion requires money. Fixing our roads and bridges – only 42% of our pavement is rated good or excellent, and we have 163 “deficient” bridges – but their repair and maintenance costs money. Indeed, just fixing the Route 6/10 bridges in Olneyville and the I-95 Providence Viaduct may cost about $450 million, but no funding for that has been identified. Few want to pay. We finance transportation mostly from the gas tax, which as a fixed cents per gallon rate not only doesn’t go up with inflation, it actually declines as folks get more efficient cars or drive less due to the recession. Thus the annual revenue per penny of gas tax has declined from a peak of over $4.8 million in 2006 to only about $4.2 million this year. We’re getting by, more or less, by using “stimulus” funds and by borrowing, which now even includes “GARVEE” bonds that borrow from future Federal highway funds that will have to be paid back at a rate of about $48 million/year, thus not available for current transportation needs. Both are one-shot fixes. RIDOT maintenance is financed from our gas tax, but a growing percentage of it, now about 50%, must be used to pay back previous borrowing instead. Clearly this is not sustainable. Bus passengers have seen their fares, soon to be $2, increase from $1.25 or less in just 7 years so they have already stepped up to help. Little new help can be expected from Washington as the federal gas tax, 18.4 cents, has not been raised since 1993 and they too are running out of money. So our Governor convened a “Blue Ribbon Commission” (BRC), all high officials, business interests, highway users (no labor, environmental, or transit types included) and they identified a need for about $3 billion in additional transportation funding over the next decade. They proposed a menu of user fees and taxes, including increases in the gas tax and registration fees, tolls, a petroleum product tax, and perhaps a vehicle-miles-travelled fee. But neither the Governor nor the Assembly has acted on this for obvious political reasons, so the report sits on the shelf. But there are costs in not doing anything. Statewide Planning says the state will “sink” as we can’t compete with I-95 bridges closed to trucks, with a declining transit system just as we enter a carbon-limited world with less and less cheap oil, with deteriorated local roads and most local projects deferred. The BRC warns inaction will lead to worse roads, transit service cuts, deferred maintenance and higher future costs. They highlighted that the current funding program “is inadequate to properly maintain and operate our infrastructure and unsustainable moving forward.” As RIDOT has been known to improperly inspect concrete, and wasted funds on p-r to brand the “Iway” and on a $100,000+ secretary, there is a need for good government and taxpayer groups to keep watch to help ensure reasonable efficiency. But those who see the necessity of transportation
investments must not be cowed by noisy anti-tax zealotry and take leadership in persuading Rhode Islanders that we really do have to pay for our roads, bridges, and transit systems, or else we really will sink. Barry Schiller is a public member of the State Planning Council’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
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JUNE 2010
Common Ground
CONSTRUCTION & GENERAL LABORERS’ LOCAL UNION 271
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Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Central Labor Council considering endorsements quests In a time-honored tradition, Paul MacDonald, President of the Providence Central Federated Labor Council, AFL-CIO, announced that the Federation’s Political Education Committee has established an endorsement process for candidates seeking elected office in 2010. President MacDonald further stated that it is the duty of the Council to promote candidates who understand the concerns of Rhode Island’s working families and who are committed to addressing those concerns while respecting the collecting bargaining process.
The Central Labor Council considers endorseUpon receipt of the candidates’ request, a questionments for candidates seeking the office of Mayor, Town naire on issues relating to working families will be forwarded. The candidate will be asked to return the Administrator, Councilperson and School Committee Member for RI municipalities, with the exception of questionnaire prior to a personal interview conducted thebyCity of Providence 1854Each candiWoonsocket, Pawtucket, Cumberland, LincolnServing and the Political Education since Committee. Aquidneck Island. Interested candidates may request date will be interviewed by a committee of delegates the Central Labor Council’s endorsement in writing representing the service industry, the building trades, addressed to Paul MacDonald, President Providence teachers, firefighters and other municipal employees. PROVIDENCE FIRE FIGHTERS LOCAL 799 Central Labor Council at 51 Cowell Road, Harrisville, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS RI 02830 no later than July15, 2010.
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JUNE 2010
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105 Railroad Avenue, Johnston, Rhode Island 401-232-1660 l 800-427-1660 To See How This Stimulus Package Works Visit
www.hillviewautobody.com
You have the legal right to choose your repair facility in RI, so don’t let the insurance industry direct you to their preferred shop.
JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Travel Advisors International
William J. Hawkins, III, CRPC® Financial Advisor 100 Westminster Street, Ste 1600 Providence, RI 02903 401-459-6824
Full Service Travel Agency
Investment and Insurance Products:
u NO Bank Guarantee
u MAY Lose Value
Maselli Law
Associates, P.C.
Call us to see if we can do better for you. (401) 725-1234 (800) 633-2985 •
u NOT FDIC Insured
Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2009 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 0409-1260 [74124-v1]
Business Travel Cruises, Hotels, Airline Reservations Wedding Destination Travel Customized Tours
info@taitrips.com
Page 15
· Zoning, Planning & Land Use · Real Estate Law · Business & Corporate Law · Wills, Estates & Trusts
www.taitrips.com
Moe, Jeannine and Dan Rondeau, Local 328, retired
· Personal Injury & General Litigation · Landlord - Tenant & Evictions · Criminal Law · DUI - Breathalyzer Refusals
1417 Douglas Avenue, 2nd Floor, North Providence, RI 02904
204 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island
Phone: 401-490-0455 l Fax: 401-490-045 l www.masellilaw.com
E mail joconnor@gciu.org Fax 202/624-8145 Cell 202/297-2945
Joseph M. O’Connor
Vice President
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS 25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001 A UNION REPRESENTING PROUD UNION PROFESSIONALS SINCE 1918
LOCAL 400
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers A progressive labor union representing more than 80,000 men and women in professional, technical, administrative and associated occupations.
685 Warren Avenue East Providence, RI 02914
SCREEN-WORKS
Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals
I I
I
EMBROIDERY-SCREEN PRINTING SIGNS-PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS UNION LOGO WEAR & U NIFORMS
401.438-5450 www.ifpte400.org
Mark @Montees.net
M
NF ERE CE N
(401) 692 -0304
AMST ERS TE
CO
Mark Montecalvo
GRAPHIC
Fund Raising Athletics
MU
O
Promote Morale
NICATIONS
C
5.11 Tactical Organizational
events
LOCAL 12N LOCAL 12N BUY LOCAL BUY LO CAL
Made in the USA available
Marcia B. Reback President
356 Smith Street Providence, RI 02908-3761 marciarift@aol.com
(401) 946-9940/946-3710 Fax: (401) 946-5060 E-mail: bac1ri@verizon.net
Joseph A. Montanaro President Gary Glittone Vice President DISTRICT 4 - LOCAL 12431 172 Longfellow Sreet Providence, Rhode Island 02907 p. 401.527.6792 f. 401.284.3677
Steven Kirby Financial Secretary Gordon Huffman Treasurer Mark Boyajian Recording Secretary
(401) 273-9800 FAX (401) 331-8815 www.rifthp.org
PAUL R. ENOS Vice President POST OFFICE PLAZA 150 MIDWAY ROAD SUITE 153 CRANSTON, RI 02920-5743
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
BRICKLAYERS & ALLIED CRAFTWORKERS LOCAL # 3 R.I.
Looking for some good news for a change? TM
View past issues at www.commongroundnews.net. Rhode Island's only newspaper unions, or andvisit about unions. ADVERTISE IN COMMON GROUND callfor 831-6123 commongroundnews.net
Page 16
Common Ground
JUNE 2010
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 The Westin Providence 1 Exchange Street Providence, RI 02903 (401) 598-8245 Alan Swerdolff, Director of Sales and Marketing
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 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
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
PRINTERS, BANNERS & SIGNS American Speedy Printing 635 Arnold Road Coventry, RI 02816 Phone: (401) 823-0090 Fax: (401) 823-0092 B Sign Graphics 27 Libera Street Cranston, RI 02920 Phone: (401) 943-6941 Fax: (401) 943-2287 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 Prin 1395 Atwoo Johnston, RI 0 Phone: (401 Fax: (401) 4
Screen Work 62 South Ma Woonsocket, Phone: (401)
Sheahan Prin 1 Front Street Woonsocket, Phone: (401) Fax: (401) 7
Sign Lite, Inc. 6 Corporate N. Haven, C Phone: 1-800 Fax: (203) 2
The Sign Sho P.O. Box 229 Westerly, RI 0 Phone: (401)
Tarvis Graph 21 Sabin Stre Pawtucket, RI Phone: (401) Fax: (401) 7
PUBLIC S
All public sch organized by Federation of Health Profes National Edu of Rhode Isla
The following are also unio • Laborers • Textron C • Times 2
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JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Page 17
DIRECTORY OF UNION SERVICES 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 Sign Lite, Inc. 6 Corporate Drive N. Haven, CT 06473 Phone: 1-800-544-0854 Fax: (203) 234-8344 The Sign Shoppe P.O. Box 2296 Westerly, RI 02891 Phone: (401) 364-7442 Tarvis Graphics Inc. 21 Sabin Street Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 726-5530 Fax: (401) 723-6420
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
Don’t Miss Don’t Miss
Eastside Marketplace • Providence Brigidos IGA • Pascoag • North Scituate Grand Union Family Markets • South Yarmouth • Provincetown • Buzzards Bay • South Yarmouth
An informative, one-hour weekly show highlighting An informative, issues and eventsone-hour affecting weekly show families. highlighting working
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issues and events affecting working families. TUESDAY 7 P.M.
TELEPHONE, INTERNET & CABLE SERVICES AT&T Wireless 1 (800) 897-7046 www.wireless.att.com Union members recieve special discounts on AT&T wireless service plans. For more infomation to to www.unionplus.org Verizon Verizon, whose employees are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323, can provide for all of your home and office internet, telephone and cable TV needs through Verizon’s new FiOS (Fiber Optic Service) network.
THURSDAY 8 P.M. TUESDAY 75P.M. SATURDAY P.M. THURSDAY 8 P.M. SATURDAY 5 P.M. COX CHANNEL 14 VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 33 COX CHANNEL 14 VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 33
P.O. Box 7613 Warwick, RI 02887 (401) 751-7100 P.O. Box 7613 Warwick, RI 02887 (401) 751-7100
Simply call 1-888-Get FiOS or 1-888-591-6076 or contact IBEW 2323 at (401) 946-2323.
BUY Union Products. USE Union Services. Use yourUnion hard earned money to support hardUnion working union members! Products. Services. BUY USE
Use your hard earned money to support hard working union members!
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Affiliated with the INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS 121 BRIGHTRIDGE AVENUE, EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 02914 www.teamsterslocal251.org EXECUTIVE BOARD Joseph J. Bairos Secretary-Treasurer Principal Executive Officer Kevin Reddy President James Croce Vice President David Demuth Recording Secretary Dennis Mello Trustee Susan Folan Trustee Janet O’Grady Trustee
BUSINESS AGENTS Brian Carroll Kevin Reddy Steven Labrie Joseph Boyajian Douglas Teoli Daniel Manocchio Asst. Business Agents Linda Russolino
Page 18
Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Sassy
is a Plott Hound/American Staff mix and is spayed, microchipped, and has all her shots up to date. We are looking for a home without cats or other dogs. We are looking for someone with experience handling a companion animal. She is around 55 pounds and enjoys going for walks and a comfortable dog bed. This is a very special adoption, and special accommodations and considerations can be made, including dog walking, free boarding, and free annual shots and check up. Sassy has been in special training classes offered by Dynamic Dog Training in RI. If you are interested, please call Defenders of Animals at 401-461-1922.
We have beautiful apartments ready for you to move-in. These apartments are affordable and best of all they have heat, hot water and some electric included. If you have a small pet (less than 20 lbs.), no problem, they can also move-in at no extra cost to you.
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JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Page 19
Tassoni proposes commission to study cyberbullying “There is a whole new world of brutality to her suicide – more and more states are out there for children to worry about,” trying to crack down with cyberbullying said Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. “Cyberthreats, laws. cyberbullying, sexting are real and are The suicide of a 13-year-old Missouri speading, and children targeting other girl, the victim of an Internet hoax, led MON-FRI MON-THUR children is becoming more and more that state to toughen its laws on the prevalent. It’s an issue that must be matter, upgrading cyber-harassment addressed.” from a misdemeanor to a Class D felony. According to a survey conducted a few New Jersey, in 2007, amended its laws LUNCH years ago, 43 percent of U.S. teens have dealing with bullying to include electronic Mon.-Fri. Exp. June 25, 2010 experienced some form of cyberbullying. communications and gives additional *FORthat MOM ONLYof powers to school systems to enforce Another survey reported 42 percent children in grades 4 to 8 have been bullied bullying related punishment for actions FRI. SAT. SUN. MON. whileMAY online anotherMAY9 35 percent had that may not take place on school grounds. 7 and MAY8 MAY10 Customer pays for higher or same priced meal. been threatened online. Arkansas, thatOnly same 1 Peryear, Party passed a law to 18% gratuity added to check before discount is taken. $ 50 give Cyberbullying involves the use school administrators freedom NOT VALID On Lobster. NOT VALID withmore any other offer. CHICKEN MILANESE . . of various forms of information and to punish those individuals who sought to $ 50 harass their fellow students. A year earlier, communication technologies .to. .support SHRIMP SPUMONI deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior a law to allow $ 99 Idaho lawmakers passedDINNER Mon.-Thurs. by an individual or group that is intended school officials to suspend VEAL PARMIGIANA . . . Exp.students June 24, 2010if they to harm others. It may be simple,$such 99 bullied or harassed other students using a FRUITE DEL MARE . . who . has telephone or computer. as continuing to email someone said they want to further contact, or it “This is not a game and it’s not Customer for higher or same can include funny, andpays individuals whopriced takemeal. part in ERY threats, sexual remarks or Only 1 Per Party V E 18% gratuity added to check before discount isknow taken. posting false statements as fact intended to this kind of harassment need to Y NOT VALID On Lobster. NOT VALID with any other offer. SUNDAsomeone. humiliate there are serious consequences for their 0-1:30 and more of this online 9:3more As actions,” said Senator Tassoni, who has RESERVATIONS FOR PARTIES OF 7 OR MORE CALL TODAY Not Available Mother’s Day harassment leads to serious and even worked for several years to strengthen NEWPORT PAWTUCKET, RIthe(EXIT FROM ROUTE 95“Rhode N/S deadly 1537 incidents – such asAVE., the case of the state’s2Acyberbullying laws. nine students in Massachusetts accused Island was progressive a number of years www.spumonisrestaurant.com • 401-726-4449 of bullying a girl so horrifically that it led ago in adopting legislation dealing with
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cyberstalking, but times keep changing and our laws must continue to keep up with the times. What is going on right now is unacceptable and potentially destructive.” Senator Tassoni has introduced legislation, 2010-S 2871, to create a special Senate commission to study the problem of cyberthreats, cyberbullying, bullying and sexting and to make recommendations for legislation to address the issues. The nine-member panel, which would report back to the Senate by next March, would include a member of the Senate, a representative of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the superintendents of the Smithfield, Scituate and Cranston schools, a school teacher from a public high school, a teacher from a
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private high school, a member of a school committee and the Chief Judge of the Rhode Island Family Court. “The goal of forming the commission is to start a dialogue,” said Senator Tassoni. “Repeatedly making threats or posting humiliating information about another child online is unacceptable and online harassment can spill over into other kinds of harassment, with deadly consequences. I think this commission has the potential to be influential in developing suggestions to increase tolerance and promote understanding among our young people.” The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Constitutional and Regulatory Issues.
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Page 20
Common Ground
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ LOCAL UNION 1033 Representing the Public Servants who make government work!
JUNE 2010
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
The Rhode Island Public Employees’ Education, Training and Apprenticeship Fund
Cranston Crossing Guards
Town of North Kingstown Lincoln Highway Department Providence Community Action Program Providence School Department Lincoln Public Library Narragansett Bay Commission Town of North Providence City of Providence Narragansett Town Hall North Providence Crossing Guards Lincoln Water Commission Providence Civic Center Authority R.I. Department of Transportation Warwick Crossing Guards North Providence School Department Lincoln Town Hall
DONALD S. IANNAZZI, ESQ.
Business Manager
Donald S. Iannazzi, Esq. Chairman
VICKI A. VIRGILIO President
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
Eye On Rhode Island
JUNE 2010
OPINION
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Wind farms for Rhode Island By Frank Caprio, General Treasurer Wind energy is a pivotal step for Rhode Island’s economic future that maximizes the labor resources of the state and puts an unharnessed natural resource to good use. The prospect of creating jobs while working to achieve energy independence is a home-run for Rhode Islanders. RI has strong and consistent coastal winds which makes the state an ideal candidate for wind power. America needs to be a leader in renewable energy, and Rhode Island has the opportunity to be a powerhouse of the green economy in the northeast. Deepwater Wind seeks to build a two-stage offshore wind project. The initial stage is an 8-turbine commercial demonstration wind farm off the shores of Block Island that will allow the island to connect to the mainland grid for the first time, improving the island’s access to energy and reducing the cost to islanders. For this first stage demonstration project alone, 35 to 50 local jobs will be created, with 6 full
time positions expected for the life of the turbines. The people of Block Island want this – the New Shoreham Town Council voted unanimously in support, and the Block Island Residents Association, representing 850 full-time residents, also endorsed the project. The second stage of the Deepwater Wind project is to build 110 turbines in the Rhode Island Sound, more than 20 miles from the mainland, connecting to the grid with enough energy to power 110,000 homes. The greater opportunity here is not only to be the first in the nation to create a commercial offshore wind farm, but to lay the groundwork for RI to be the hub of the regional wind energy industry. The Rhode Island Sound project can create 1,500 to 2,500 jobs. Once we establish Rhode Island as the regional center for green energy, we will then be in a position to attract even more green manufacturing jobs. This is exactly the sort of opportunity Rhode Island needs. Rhode Island has everything the wind industry needs. We have a strategic location on the east coast. We have ample road, rail, air, and sea access to the eastern seaboard. We have a talented
workforce. And we have Quonset Point, a commercially dredged port with the real estate needed to host this new industry. Yet despite having a signed contract with National Grid to buy the electricity, the Deepwater Wind proposal is currently in limbo, lacking the approval of the Public Utilities Commission. Without an approved contract, Deepwater cannot secure the private funding needed to move forward. The Block Island stage is expected to bring in over $200 million of private-sector funding and the 110-turbine second stage is expecting more than $2 billion. This is a valuable outside investment in our economic future. Last month, the General Assembly revived the proposal with a bill that would allow the wind project to bypass the PUC. Under the bill, the agreement between Deepwater Wind and National Grid will require an “open book” approach to the costs of development. I applaud this commitment to transparency and integrity. Instead of the PUC overseeing the project, the responsibility of oversight will be shared between 4 state entities with the objective of achieving a more long-term
approach to the review process. The PUC is a ratepayer watchdog. It is not set up to consider economic potential and long-term interstate competition. Oversight is important, but it should not inhibit growth. We need to make sure our approval process isn’t making Rhode Island anticompetitive. Rhode Island is in the middle of a race to win the wind industry. Developers in other states, such as Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and North Carolina, are moving fast to pioneer offshore wind projects of their own. Cape Wind in Massachusetts has already secured federal approval to build a utilityscale farm in the Nantucket Sound. Deepwater Wind needs time to prepare Quonset Point and get the Block Island project moving. Opportunities like this do not come to Rhode Island often. The entrepreneur George Lane once said: “If you don’t make things happen then things will happen to you.” Unfortunately, things have been happening to Rhode Island for too long. Wind energy presents a great opportunity for Rhode Island. The time to seize that opportunity is now.
Everyone has a role in Cutting rebuilding RI’s economy red tape to create jobs By Elizabeth H. Roberts, Lt. Governor Our economy has only just begun a tenuous recovery from a debilitating threeyear recession. Many businesses and residents are still struggling to make up for significant losses from historic flooding in March. Our state is still losing more jobs than we create, and our small business community continues to bear the brunt of the economic downturn. In my travels across the state, Rhode Islanders express to me their concerns and ask what they can do, as individuals, to help make a difference. My answer is a simple one: make a conscious effort to support locally owned Rhode Island businesses. Last year I launched a new initiative called “Buy Local RI” to highlight local independent businesses, encourage consumers to buy local, and to raise awareness about the real and immediate positive economic impacts that choosing to buy local can have. Earlier this year as part of the Buy Local RI initiative, legislation was introduced at my request to require the state purchasing officer to select a local Rhode Island company when all other things in a bid are equal and the choice comes down to a Rhode Island company or an out of state vendor. In other words, “hire local” as well. Economic studies have found that, on average, 68 cents of every $1 spent at a locally owned business stays in the community. That is 50% more than the same dollar spent elsewhere. Local businesses do more for the local economy because they purchase more goods locally, hire more local workers and spend or invest more of their profits close to home. Even a 10% shift in consumer choices has the power to grow local economic output by twenty-percent, generate millions of dollars in
new economic activity and create hundreds of new jobs. Over the last year I’ve had the opportunity to visit Main Streets and retail districts across Rhode Island, and what I have found is that Rhode Island’s local independent businesses offer a stunning variety of cost-competitive and top-quality products and services. Not only do these businesses offer friendly and personalized service, they also form the economic and social backbone of our cities, towns, villages and neighborhoods. Last August, www.buylocalri.org was launched. The Web site offers a free listing that local independent businesses and consumers can use to search for a local independent business that carries the product or service that they are looking for. I urge everyone to use this free resource to find a local independent business when in need of a product or service. If there is a local business that is not yet listed, please ask the owner to sign up on www.buylocalri.org. It would be naïve to think that Buy Local RI by itself can solve all the issues facing our small businesses. As Chair of the Small Business Advocacy Council, I pay close attention to the challenges facing Rhode Island’s small businesses: taxes and fees, time-consuming and non-standardized regulatory requirements, the rising cost of health insurance, and inadequate access to capital. However, while we work to fix the problems we have, I also firmly believe that we need simple proactive economic development initiatives like Buy Local RI that can have an immediate positive economic impact. This summer season, I encourage every Rhode Islander to visit www.buylocalri.org and to shift 10% of their spending to locally-owned independent businesses. Acting together we can make a difference and provide a spark to our own economy by making our community dollars make good community sense.
By Ralph Mollis, Secretary of State Starting a business in Rhode Island is going to get easier. By the end of this year, people dreaming of opening their own business may be able to complete all of the paperwork state agencies require through an on-line master application that will dramatically cut red tape. In these tough economic times, we must be focused on creating jobs and getting the economy moving again. Our “Quick Start” initiative will not only make it easier for entrepreneurs to do business in Rhode Island, it will help change the perception that our state is not business friendly. To give you an idea of what business owners face, there are 307 different forms just on the state level. Quick Start will enable entrepreneurs to enter their contact and business information in their computer just once no matter how many forms state agencies require them to submit in order to start a business. The system will even identify all the forms that are necessary to open their specific type of business. Once they have the data, they can use it to populate every form that the state requires for your particular business. No longer will they have to write their contact and business information on 10 or 20 or even 30 different forms. That is a giant leap forward for Rhode Island. Just ask the new owner of Gregg’s restaurants. Just days before Bob Bacon was scheduled to buy the restaurants, the closing was almost derailed by the unexpected absence of See MOLLIS continued on next page
Eye on RI
Common Ground
Time to crackdown on employee misclassification By Steve Archambault, candidate for Attorney General
JUNE 2010
MOLLIS continued one form that needed to be filed with a state agency. My office helped him survive that scare, but Bob hasn’t forgotten how close he came to having the deal fall apart over one piece of paper.
A lot of thought has gone into designing a
system that will work right out of the gate. We
Employee
Rhode Island families. As we face the worst economic
invested time in listening to entrepreneurs and
misclassification – the
downturn since the Great Depression, it is essential that
talking with state agencies about their work. By
widespread practice of
we restore basic protections to all workers.
companies paying regular
employees as independent
that comply with the law at a competitive disadvantage.
contractors – is costing
It is significantly more expensive to pay people as regular
our state millions of
employees than as independent contractors. As a result
dollars in tax revenues,
our failure to crackdown on employee misclassification
leaving workers without
hurts the business owners and entrepreneurs who are
Further, employee misclassification puts businesses
January, we had a solid design. Soon, we were demonstrating our “Quick Start” initiative to state economic development officials, chamber of commerce executives, business leaders and elected officials.
Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, Senate
President Theresa Paiva Weed and Governor Carcieri were quick to sign on. The Small Business
basic protections, and putting employers who comply
doing right by their employees.
Administration and Rhode Island Economic
with the law at a competitive disadvantage. It is time to
Development Corporation are supportive. Chamber
address this problem head on.
barriers to enforcement include unclear and varying
leaders like it. And Quick Start took another giant
definitions of “employee” and “independent contractor”
step forward when the Senate Small Business Task
Underground Economy and Employee Misclassification,
and an absence of a coordinated approach between the
Force, chaired by Sen. Erin Lynch, endorsed the
co-chaired by Senator Maselli and Representative
various agencies that have responsibilities in this area.
proposal.
Corvese, estimates that paying people as independent
contractors who should be employees is costing Rhode
actions, we must create a single uniform statutory
will still require the cooperation of state agencies. As
Island as much as $50 million annually in unpaid
definition of independent contractor with a three point
part of developing the system, we will ask them to
income tax, unemployment insurance, temporary
test along the lines recommended by the Commission.
take a fresh look at their forms with an eye toward
disability insurance and workers compensation
The three point test includes that the person has control
premiums. Studies indicate that independent contractors
over their own work and either the service is performed
do not report about 30% of their income. This is
outside the usual course of business or the person is
revenue that we can not afford to lose, especially given
engaged in an independently established trade that is
the budget difficulties our state faces.
of the same nature as the service performed. One clear
definition will limit confusion and provide a solid
The Special Joint Commission to Study the
Generally speaking, a person is an independent
According to the Joint Commission, current
In order to provide a clear standard for enforcement
Our work is not done, however. Quick Start
shortening, consolidating or eliminating them. But they will not have to re-tool their IT systems in order to allow their customers to use the master application.
Quick Start will work with all the various
computer systems in state government. Quick Start is on the fast track. Work will flow into state
contractor when they control their own work. When
foundation for aggressive enforcement actions. We also
an employer controls where, when and how a person
need enhanced penalties for companies that continue
renewed enthusiasm. Future phases could even
performs their work, they should be paid and classified
to misclassify employees. It is important to demonstrate
add a master application for municipalities or an
as an employee.
that we mean business.
on-line renewal system for existing businesses. Keep
your eye on our progress and see the jobs begin to
Companies pay people as independent contractors,
As Attorney General, I will work closely and
agencies as entrepreneurs create businesses with
in part, to avoid paying unemployment insurance,
cooperatively with the appropriate state agencies to
appear.
workers’ compensation and temporary disability
bring about more effective enforcement. It is time to get
insurance. This leaves too many workers without a
this important job done.
Secretary of State Ralph Mollis has helped more
safety net and that is even more problematic given the
severe economic recession that has squeezed so many
Attorney General.
Steve Archambault is a Democratic candidate for
Through his Business Services Division,
than 22,000 companies get started in Rhode Island since taking office in 2007.
Financial empowerment vital to strengthening RI’s economy By Gina Raimondo, candidate for RI General Treasurer
Saving our pennies for a rainy day is an old adage that has a striking double meaning right now in Rhode Island. Our rainy day is here, as we battle economic recession and struggle to rebuild after the devastating March floods. Unfortunately, for so many of our neighbors saving pennies has slipped to the bottom of the priority list, whether out of perceived necessity or simply a lack of understanding of how to grow their resources – whatever those resources might be. The proliferation of credit products – many unclear and risky – has helped some conclude that credit is easy and saving is not necessary. A new survey just released by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling indicates that 3 in 10 survey participants – more than 68 million people – have no savings and 28 percent admit to not paying all of their bills on time. The foreclosure crisis has hit too many people who took out mortgages they didn’t understand and definitely couldn’t afford. In the wake of the financial crisis, we’ve heard a lot about the need to protect people from risky financial products. For example, the proposed consumer protection agency for financial services, currently working its way through Congress, could play an important and necessary role in that endeavor. But there’s another, equally important need that is often overlooked – empowering our citizens
with the knowledge and tools to make the best and most sound financial choices for them and their families. April is Financial Literacy Month, a national effort dedicated to increasing knowledge and establishing healthy financial habits for all Americans. Here in Rhode Island, we should consider a year-round focus on financial literacy which will help many take control of their money and make it work for them. The state should consider launching a robust, statewide financial empowerment initiative that brings together local non-profits, businesses and government entities to ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to financial education with real-world applications. This initiative would connect individuals with free local workshops on financial topics such as college planning, home buying, small business start-up and retirement planning. Programs on money management and financial responsibility for all ages, from teens to retirees, would offer real tools, knowledge and solutions to help every citizen protect, manage and grow his or her personal financial resources. This program would also connect the state’s most vulnerable citizens with additional tools. For example, about 25,000 Rhode Islanders who are eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit do not apply for it. With the average Earned Income Tax Credit claim per household at more than $1,600, according to the R.I. Community Action Association, our government must ensure that those who could benefit most from this program are aware that it exists and are assisted in applying for these
funds. Money management through quality banking should be another important area of focus. Rhode Island has the highest percentage of households without basic banking accounts in New England. Increasing the supply of starter account products that work for low-income Rhode Islanders – and making sure that those citizens understand and have access to those services – will help managing the family finances simple and safe for Rhode Island families. Education is the cornerstone of a healthy financial life. Fortunately, creating a network of financial education and assistance opportunities for all Rhode Islanders is a standard we can meet. I believe that developing an easy, accessible financial literacy program will build an individual’s confidence to save for college, open a business, buy a home or prepare for retirement. It is essential to our state’s growth that families understand it is within their power to change their financial lives in a tangible way. Together, we can strengthen the economic foundations of our state, support all citizens in becoming financially savvy, and help make Rhode Island an economic leader once again. Gina Raimondo is a Democratic candidate for General Treasurer. A native Rhode Islander, she is a general partner at Point Judith Capital, a venture capital firm she co-founded in 2002. Raimondo serves as vice chair of the Board of Directors of Crossroads RI and is a trustee at Women and Infants Hospital.
JUNE 2010
Common Ground
Eye on RI
Building a better Confessions of a tax system problem activist By Brian Hull, President, RI Future In mid-May, there have been important hearings going on in the House Finance Committee. Testimony was given on key legislation that is of utmost importance to the state’s progressive community. On Tuesday, there were hearings on H7846: combined corporate reporting, H7136: business tax credit/exemption bill that would stiffen reporting requirements for businesses receiving credits and H7727: improving the reporting of information having to do with tax credits, inducements, etc. On Wednesday, there were hearings on several bills either rolling back, freezing, or repealing the alternative flat tax (H7077, H7134, H7137, H7149, H7308), and H7824: 3% surtax on income above $500,000. All these bills are only important because of the way the state currently calculates personal and corporate income tax. Interestingly, though, there seems to be growing consensus that the way the state taxes doesn’t make much sense. Rhode Island relies on an assortment of obscure special tax incentives and corporate subsidies that all emerged because someone at some point convinced lawmakers that X business, Y industry, or Z person were all entitled to a special deal that no one else can get. During a House Finance Committee hearing on Wednesday, May 19, there was consensus about the need to reduce the 9.9% top marginal rate because it places Rhode Island at a “competitive disadvantage” in tax rankings with neighboring and regional states. No one actually pays that rate in personal income tax anyway, so we may as well do away with it if there’s a more rational way to raise the revenue needed to fund government. Luckily there is a better way, and it seems like lawmakers are beginning to understand it as well. Specifically, House and Senate leadership are working toward restructuring the entire personal income tax system, something I’ve been hoping would happen for quite some time. While I agree wholeheartedly that the state needs to rethink the way it taxes, the most critical component is the elimination of ALL the special deals that simply transfer the tax burden onto someone else but do nothing to help the economy. Doing any sort of tax restructuring will surely create winners and losers, but most can understand that the state needs to move away from a system that gives special deals to small groups of businessmen and taxpayers. Rather, lawmakers need to look at what works, what doesn’t work, and what’s best for the economy as a whole – not what’s best for certain people. In an effort to add a Progressive voice to the debate, and come up with a tax system that Progressives could be happy with, let’s look at some data and do some math... The FY2011 proposed budget by the Governor relies on $927.7 million in personal income tax revenue, so that shall be my baseline. Recently, I requested a Statistics of Income report based on the 2008 tax data (the most recent available data). I chose income brackets that closely reflected the ones currently used for the 2009 returns, rather than what’s included in the standard reports so that I could develop a better personal income tax structure. I then took the totals for adjusted gross income for each tax bracket, and used the below marginal tax rates to come up with some numbers. Using the below income brackets with the following marginal tax rates, the state can bring in a little over $997 million in personal income tax revenue (about $70 million more in revenue than the FY 2011 budget projection). • Under $15,000 = 1.5% • $15,000-$32,000 = 2.5% • $32,000-$78,000 = 4.0% • $78,000-$167,000 = 5.5% • $167,000-$350,000 = 6.0% • Over $350,000 = 6.5% Compared with the current income brackets and marginal rates, everyone gets a tax rate reduction! The current rates are as follows: • Under $33,950 = 3.75% • $33,950-$82,250 = 7.0% • $82,250-$171,550 = 7.75% • $171,550-$372,950 = 9.0% • Over $372,950 = 9.9% But wait, there’s more… the $997 million in personal income tax revenue doesn’t even include non-resident tax payers, so the actual revenue that will come into the state would greatly exceed $1 billion, allowing the state to preserve local aid to cities and town, funding for education, and critically important social services. The secret lies in all the special tax incentives the state gives out to wealthy tax payers and special interest groups that most Rhode Island families will never see any benefit from. If we scrap all those special deals and treat everyone the same, the vast majority of people will benefit, our tax system will be more rational, our tax ranking would greatly benefit, and we’ll raise more money. Limitations: I took the total number of returns filed and treated everyone equally. There is an advantage to doing this, although many tax returns are filed jointly. My data does not reflect that and the above revenue projection could vary depending on how people file. The basic point of this exercise, however, was to show that the state CAN raise more money from personal income tax, while simultaneously REDUCING everyone’s tax rate (hard to believe I know). In about 3 hours, I came up with a simple tax structure that raises an additional $70 million in personal income tax revenue (based on the FY 2011 projection), AND gives almost everyone a reduction in their personal income tax rate. Now it’s up to lawmakers to implement these changes and hold the interests of average Rhode Islanders above the interests of those that pay big bucks to State House lobbyists to make sure they don’t have to pay their taxes. Brian Hull is the owner and editor of the progressive news blog Rhode Island’s Future (www.rifuture.org). He can be reached at brianhull@rifuture.org.
By Maureen Martin, Secretary Treasurer, RI AFL-CIO At the Institute for Labor Studies and Research’s annual dinner recently I received the distinguished Dante Mollo Labor Community Service Award. I was thrilled to be getting recognized by the United Way and that my work with the RI Labor Union Kettle Day program was especially cited. For the past thirteen years, hundreds of labor union members and leaders participated in the Labor Union Kettle Day by standing the Salvation Army Christmas kettles at locations all around Rhode Island. Special mention was given to the Teamsters Local 271, and their kettle organizer Dave Demuth who manages to corral enough volunteers to work at a dozen locations each year. But I have a problem. Not that I was recognized with such a prestigious award or for being referred to as a life-long union and community activist. My problem is that I am a problem activist. I became aware of my addiction to activism a very long time ago. I thought I had resolved my issues of overactivism. And although I never shared this with anyone before, I even penned my thoughts many years ago, thinking that that it would help me put my problem behind me. But now I have this lovely plaque staring at me from its perch on my desk, mocking me and my dirty little secret, evidence of a problem I can no longer deny. I have decided to share my story with you. I know I am still a problem activist, but I know I’m not alone. I know there are a lot of you out there who share my pain. As so, I thought it’s time to share this with you, my fellow union activists, in hope that you will recognize yourself and perhaps you will step forward and call me to say “ I am a problem activist, too. Which Salvation Army Kettle location do you need me to be at?” It started out innocently enough. I just stopped by at a union meeting after work one night. There was talk of starting an organizing committee. I raised my hand to volunteer, “to relax” I told myself. Inevitably, of course, there were more meetings. After a while meetings weren’t enough so I started attending rallies. After the rallies wore off, I began signing up for picket lines. I even parachuted onto the White House lawn one day. At work, they started to notice the change in me. I know now that I was in denial. I started to meet and confer over every issue. I had the urge to build coalitions everywhere I went. I talked constantly about doing job actions. Things weren’t going so well at home either. My children were horrified. “Other parents just go shopping at the grocery store, they would say to me, I always had to bring my Boycott California Grapes sign.” The neighbors called their children in when I drove up. They knew it wasn’t safe on the street anymore. Every child was a potential victim if they got in my way. I often drove around in a blind frenzy of leafleting. I tried to keep myself under control. I thought “I won’t attend any rallies during the week. Walking a couple of picket lines on the weekend should be OK!” I was sure it was normal, just to loosen up. Then my parents came over to talk to me one day. My dad was in tears. “I knew we should have warned you, dear, it’s in the genes, your mom was a problem activist too. We were just trying to protect you.” The news should have been devastating to me. But with my disease full blown, I was relieved to be able to blame it all on my parents. They had set me up for this. They knew there was this potential problem, and yet they had allowed me to watch public television. They had seen me get outraged every night during the news. They knew how I felt about Kathy Lee and the child labor scandal. They saw how I cried during the air traffic controllers strike. Sometimes in the mornings, my mouth would be so dry. I knew I had sung one too many verses of Solidarity Forever. But I convinced myself that I was just catching a cold. I thought I had every one fooled. Then one day my union president talked to me. She said she was organizing an AA chapter in the local. Did I want to be involved? My life flashed in front of me. I knew this was going to be my last chance. It was like an angel had touched me. I’m proud to say today that I am a recovering activist. I haven’t missed an Activists Anonymous meeting in years. I have even recruited dozens of others into our group. And I convinced them all to boycott the Saturday night meetings. I was a little worried when we all signed the petition last night. We were protesting the store bought cookies at the meeting. But someone said, “We’re right where we ought to be, so I decided I was just intellectualizing too much.” Last week we filed a group grievance. We even planned a sit-in around the issue. I wasn’t too concerned about that either. I know I need to talk the talk until I can walk the walk. It will come to me in good time. I have my family, my job and my union. It doesn’t get much better than that. Note: I wrote this confession about fifteen years ago and had convinced myself that I was cured. But receiving the Danny Mollo award has dragged me back into the world of reality and forced me to see that I have been in full-blown denial for years. I will be working on the rest of my story and hopefully will be able to come to terms with this issue once and for all. Meanwhile, for Kettle locations, I can be reached at rifthpmaureen@aol.com.
Eye on RI
Common Ground
JUNE 2010
Let’s take the anger out of the conversation By John Houle, President, JH Communications
It seems to me that the unions have unfairly become a scapegoat of the ill-informed. I want to share with these people another perspective, one that is quite personal. First, let me put my cards on the table. My wife is a teacher, my mother is a teacher, my company has helped unions, and we put out this newspaper. We also represent many small businesses, which is the majority of our business. But, the reality is that I would not be able to represent these small businesses if it were not for my union affiliation. If it were not for my mother’s teacher’s salary, which was fought for by her union, I never would have attended college. She and my father, who was a working man, sacrificed so they could pay for me to attend Boston College. And if it were not for my wife’s teacher’s salary, and the family health insurance, I would have struggled to survive during the Great Recession. The fact that my health insurance is paid for
allows me to pay for the health insurance of three of my employees. I feel it is something that all fulltime employees should have. I have been told by other business owners that I am crazy, and that businesses my size do not pay full single health insurance benefits. Call me crazy to make sure the people who work hard for me every day know that they do not have to worry about their health coverage. To me, I think it makes good business sense. The fact is that unions touch many of us. We would not have a 5-day work week, paid holidays, and time off. We have seen what happens when big business runs amuck; do we really think that by weakening unions that big business will swoop to our rescue. Look at Wall Street and the Gulf Coast to see how well removing checks and balances has worked out. I am not saying that we should not look into reforming our institutions. In fact, I think we need to look into reform throughout our Great Society.
But, we cannot do it on the backs of the people who built this country – the teachers, the nurses, the builders, the laborers, the electricians – the workers. We need to start at the top, and maybe the “trickledown” theory can benefit all of us instead of the select few at the top. Let us take a step back, and put the anger aside. This country is great and so is our state. We are the home of the Industrial Revolution, a place defined by our slogan, “Hope.” I’m not naïve to think that we all can easily put aside our stringent beliefs, but perhaps we can start by taking the animosity out of the conversation. This “lively experiment” of our state needs a jolt. We can start on common ground and build again from there.
Make Wall Street pay for the jobs it destroyed By Richard Trumka and George Nee It has been more than 18 months since the financial sector collapsed, exposing rampant Wall Street abuses, sending jobs into freefall and forcing a massive and unpopular taxpayer bailout. George Nee All told, the Great Recession has cost Rhode Island 34,900 jobs. That’s a lot of Rhode Island families’ lives turned upside down. Nationwide, the Wall Street debacle tore an 11 million jobs hole in our economy. But unbelievably, after $700 billion in taxpayer bailout dollars, the big banks are back to business as usual. They are still not lending in their communities, and credit remains tight. They are fighting new taxes on financial speculation and excessive bonuses, even after handing out $145 billion in 2009 executive pay and bonuses. And they are pulling out all the stops to resist new financial
rules that are so clearly necessary. At the same time, the 150 largest banks in the U.S have hired a lobbying group to launch an image-improvement campaign – to build trust in the financial industry. We have a better idea. The big Wall Street banks should begin to earn trust – not through a publicrelations campaign but by changing their behavior in two important ways: (1) resuming lending to help credit-starved communities create jobs, and (2) embracing a small tax to curb destabilizing short-term speculation and pay for the jobs they destroyed. A small tax of about half a penny for every dollar on financial transactions such as stock, option and derivative trades would restore balance in the investment world, and it would raise $175 billion to $350 billion a year to invest in American jobs. Major investors such as Warren Buffett have supported the concept of such a tax to reorient the economy toward long-term investments. And then, following Ronald Reagan’s famous advice (about foreign affairs), we should “Trust, but verify,” by reforming the rules for Wall Street, including creation of an independent consumer
agency that will crack down on abuses by big banks and their CEOs and credit-card companies to protect working families and small businesses. We need jobs in Rhode Island. These proposals would raise the money to invest in the jobs of the future from the big banks that created the current economic crisis and make sure their actions can never bring on financial disaster again. That’s why the AFL-CIO and our community partners are making three demands of the big Wall Street banks: • Pay your fair share to restore the jobs you destroyed. • Stop fighting financial reform. • Start lending in your communities. People in Rhode Island who did nothing wrong and want to work have paid for the misdeeds of the big banks with their jobs, homes and retirement savings. Now it’s time for our government to hold Wall Street accountable and make them pay to create the good jobs they destroyed. Richard Trumka is president of the national AFL-CIO. George Nee is president of the AFL-CIO in Rhode Island.
CommonGround Eye On Rhode Island
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