Common Ground January 2013

JANUARY 2013

Happy New Year!

State House Report Coming Soon!

Ocean State awash in business subsidies

By Common Ground staff Was 38 Studios a case of a rare handout to a business or was it business as usual, perhaps on a larger than normal scale?

A blockbuster investigative story from The New York Times last month suggests the latter. And Rhode Island is not alone. According to the Times report, states, counties and cities grant more than $80 billion in subsidies, tax breaks, and other similar kinds of incentives for businesses on an annual basis. Those businesses benefiting hail from every sector, including oil, coal, tech, Hollywood, big banks, and national retail chains, according to the Times.

The Ocean State may not be alone, but, by many measures, it deals out more incentives than other states in the New England region. Rhode Island state and local governments shell out $338 per capita in various subsidies to businesses, according to the report. As a share of the state budget, that comes out to 11 cents per every dollar—a ratio that puts this state above neighbors Massachusetts and Connecticut, according to an analysis of the Times data done by RIFuture.org.

Tax incentives broke down by type as follows: $272 million in sales tax refunds, exemptions, and other similar

sales tax discounts; $59.9 million in the corporate income tax credit, rebate, or reduction; and $15.5 million in the personal income tax credit, according to the Times. (A state official has disputed counting sales tax exemptions for groceries as an incentive.)

In terms of the top three industries that benefit, they are, in order: food, $156 million; manufacturing $61.6 million; and trucking, $18.4 million.

A question of priorities The amount the state has devoted to such subsidies raises questions about its priorities— and the influence of business on state policymakers, espe-

cially at a time when the state is still somewhat in the throes of pension reform. “Rhode Island, according to the investigation, gives away $356 million in tax subsidies annually,” wrote Bob Plain, editor at the progressive blog, RIFuture. org. “That’s about the same as the state saved by reforming pensions.”

Such questions resonate nationally. In 2011, states slashed public services and hiked taxes by a “collective $156 billion” according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities cited in the Times report.

The sheer extent of the subsidies on a nationwide basis

also raises serious economic questions.

“Despite their scale, state and local incentives have barely been part of the national debate on the economic crisis.

The budget negotiations under way in Washington have not addressed whether the incentives are worth the cost, even though 20 percent of state and local budgets come from federal spending,” Times reporters wrote.

Impact on the recession Such questions may be particularly acute in Rhode Island, a state that has weathered the worst of the economic See Subsidies cont. on page 2

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Common Ground

Common Ground

, Inc.

JANUARY 2013

Subsidies cont. from page 1

TM

downturn, was one of the first states in the recession and one of the last out—and still struggles with a lessthan-stellar local economy and one of the persistently highest unemployment rates in the country.

Another critical question: Are the business subsidies even effective in achieving their intended objection?

As the Times reported: “A full accounting … is not possible because the incentives are granted by thousands of government agencies and officials, and many

do not know the value of all their awards. Nor do they know if the money was worth it because they rarely track how many jobs are created. Even where officials do track incentives, they acknowledge that it is impossible to know whether the jobs would have been created without the aid.”

Unfortunately, more often than not, the wages of failure are easier to identify than success, as is the case with 38 Studios.

THE LIST: Top 30 RI Subsidies to Business

john@ricommongroundnews.com www.ricommongroundnews.com

Amount

Company

Types of Assistance

Years

1. $75 million

38 Studios

Cash grant, loan or loan guarantee

2010

2. $70 million

CVS Caremark Corporation

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2011

3. $19 million

Fidelity Investment Services Inc. Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2011

4. $15.6 million Brotherhood Productions, Inc.

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2010

5. $7.88 million Bank of America

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2010

6. $4.14 million Bridesmaid Productions, LLC

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008

7. $4 million

The Corporate Marketplace

Cash grant, loan or loan guarantee

2011

8. $3.8 million

Hachiko Productions, LLC

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2009

9. $3.46 million Paige Productions, Inc

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2010-2011

10. $2.67 million UTGR Inc. [Twin River]

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2009

11. $2.24 million Social Capital Films

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2009

12. $1.6 million Hasbro

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction, free services

2010-2011

13. $1.5 million

Nu-Life Dental Laboratories, Inc. Cash grant, loan or loan guarantee

2011

14. $1.4 million

Factory Mutual Insurance Co.

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2011

15. $1.19 million General Dynamics

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction, free services

2009-2010

16. $1.02 million Burbank Films RI, Inc.

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2009-2010

17. $1 million

Toray Plastics (America)

Cash grant, loan or loan guarantee

2010

18. $954,945

Warner RI Productions LLC

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2009

19. $941,252

Electric Boat Corporation

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2011

20. $640,185

Loosies LLC

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2011

21. $610,504

Chapel Associates, LLC

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008

22. $607,233 AAA Southern New England

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction, free services

2008-2011

23. $577,700

Gin-Kyung Corporation

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2009-2011

24. $560,000

Yardney Technical Products

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2010

25. $516,336

Perot Systems Corporation

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008

26. $500,000

Utilidata

Cash grant, loan or loan guarantee

2012

27. $435,627

GTech Corporation

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2009

28. $420,000

TD Bank Group

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2011

29. $399,010

Hexagon Metrology

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2009

30. $371,368

I-Tek Realty - Tek Wire

Corporate income tax credit, rebate or reduction

2008-2009

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 3

An iconic presence develops in Providence

By Laurie White

Every day for the last 12 months, more than 120 workers from the building trades have reported to One Hasbro Place in Downtown Providence to build out the new headquarters for Hasbro’s U.S. sales and marketing division. The $22 million project is being managed by Gilbane Building Company.

“There are a lot of smiling faces on the job site,” said John Sinnott, vice president/district manager at Gilbane. For the construction crews, many of whom have been devastated by the economic downdraft, the high-impact project right across from the Convention Center couldn’t have come at a better time. “We are extremely grateful to Hasbro and the City of Providence for making it happen,” said Sinnott.

“Smooth as silk,” is how Senior Project Manager Peter Scalora describes the level of cooperation between the city’s permitting agencies and the construction management team. “We are on pace to meet our completion date of Nov. 23. The relationship between and among all of the parties has been outstanding and

that has led to a great outcome.”

Sinnott and Scalora provided the Providence Chamber with a behind-the-scenes look at the futuristic features of the 136,000 square-foot building. Among its most distinct attributes is the mammoth 18-foot floor-to-ceiling expanses designed to create an openair feel for the creative talent responsible for driving the company’s iconic brands. From an environmental perspective, sophisticated control technology allows the building’s HVAC and digital communications infrastructure to be networked and managed simply by the touch of an iPad. These innovative deployments have earned the project LEED Silver Certification.

During our walkthrough with Sinnott and Scalora, the Gilbane’s commitment to worker safety was very much on display. The active jobsite was clean, clear, and impeccable. Cross-functional teams could be observed coaching one other on best practices and reinforcing key messages and precautions. One practice called “Stretch and Flex” is a morning ritual that

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brings together the entire team, including executive management. Picture one big group exercise class. The idea is to warm up gently before the heavy lifting starts in earnest. “At first, it was a bit awkward, but now they really get into the exercises, and it helps them stay healthy and fit in this demanding environment,” observed Scalora.

Hasbro will use its Providence presence to carry out one of the most essential functions of its business: building relationships with customers. Retailers and merchandisers that carry the legendary Hasbro brands will come from across the world to view the latest product lines and packaging concepts. One Hasbro Place is designed to be a highly effective, experiential R & D lab that will excite and delight.

Hasbro, Gilbane and its subcontractors, and the local Build RI trades are vital contributors to our community and our Knowledge Economy.

Laurie White is president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Page 4

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Keefe re-elected president of SEIU Local 580

By Common Ground staff After winning re-election to his fourth term as president of SEIU Local 580, Philip Keefe has his hands full.

“My plate, to be honest with you, is overflowing right now,” Keefe said in an interview about a month after handily winning an uncontested election, held on November 19. It will be his fourth two-year term at the helm of the 900-member Local 580.

That full plate includes negotiations for a new contract, litigation over the pension reform legislation passed in fall 2011, and implementing changes to the state’s system for classifying employees.

Labor’s position all along has been that the pension changes should have been negotiated, not litigated, Keefe said. As of this writing, hearings had begun on the unions’ lawsuit against the law, bringing added pressure for negotiations as an alternative to seeing the case all the way through in the courts.

The negotiation option was endorsed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee

last month, but opposed by General Treasurer Gina Raimondo.

Keefe: State taking a dangerous gamble “If the state wants to play craps with this and win all or lose all it could be … very devastating to the economy,” Keefe said. He wonders where the state could come up with the hundreds of millions of dollars it needs to cover pension obligations should it lose in court, saying that the specter of such a severe fiscal loss is why he believes negotiation is a better option for everyone involved.

Keefe expressed confidence that negotiations could be done in a fair, balanced, and open way that would lead to good results.

He also expressed dismay over a recent news report that revealed one of the major financial backers of EngageRI— a leading proponent of pension reform—is a former trader for Enron. “What’s his vested interest in this?” Keefe said.

The involvement of an Enron official, he added, is quite hypocritical for the pension reform movement. “An Enron executive of all people—the same people that bankrupted people and forced people to go back to work, they squandered their life savings,” Keefe said.

Contract negotiations Keefe said he is also in the middle of negotiating a new contract for his members with the state. The current agreement expired in June 2012.

Key issues in the negotiations generally revolve around pay and benefits, but Keefe declined to discuss details because of the sensitivity of ongoing talks with state officials.

As of this writing, Keefe said he had received a final proposal, but he said he could not disclose specifics until he had reviewed it with the union’s executive board.

Even though he couldn’t talk about the substance of those negotiations, Keefe was able to say something about the tone,

which he contrasted with the past administration, under Gov. Don Carcieri. “Already with some of the folks we’re dealing with now, [it’s] certainly night and day than dealing with the previous administration,” Keefe said.

He said the previous administration was more interested in dictating the terms of a contract, rather than having serious talks.

And, even if the union doesn’t get everything it wants, Keefe said it will hopefully walk away in the end with an agreement that is satisfactory and was arrived at through a clear and transparent process.

Classification study Another one of his top priorities will be implementing the recommendations of an independent consultant on how to update the classification system for state employees—something that Keefe said had not been done in any meaningful way in roughly three decades.

He said the update should

lead to a classification system that is more fair and equitable, specifically making compensation for state employee positions more fair. “I think it’s ultimately going to benefit the state as a whole,” Keefe said.

A long-term goal As for other goals, Keefe said he would like to see a pay raise for his members.

He said SIEU Local 580 members have not had one in quite some time. When that is tied in with pay reduction days, the elimination of longevity pay, increased contributions for medical insurance, and a decimated pension system, he said the state is faced with a demoralized work force.

A raise, he said, would hopefully lift the spirits of his membership, making them feel appreciated as members of the state workforce.

All told, it’s a full plate indeed.

“That’s an awful lot of stuff to deal with in the next couple of years,” Keefe said.

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 5

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Moving forward with housing in 2013

By Nellie M. Gorbea

In November, voters approved Question 7, a $25 million bond for the development of long-term affordable housing throughout the state. The approval was an important victory and strong testament to the public support for affordable housing. It was a victory won with support from a broad coalition that included labor unions. But while the $25 million housing bond will provide the capital needed to develop affordable housing, Rhode Island also needs a consistent investment in the operation of these homes to address affordability in the state’s rental market.

Essentially, public investment in the operation of affordable housing would allow rents to be set at a level that is both affordable for our lowest income renters and sustainable for owners.

HousingWorks RI’s analysis

of U.S. Census data shows that over 90,000 renter households in the state have at least a $10,000 gap between their annual income and what is needed to afford the average two bedroom rent here.

One in four renter households is spending more than half of their income on housing costs. Such high housing cost burdens result in little money left for other monthly expenses like food and health care, and can lead to housing insecurity.

Several studies show that housing insecurity is an important factor in a child’s educational achievement. Moving among low-income families is often associated with a family’s fragile economic situation. In Rhode Island, 26 percent of individuals with incomes below the poverty level had moved within the last year.

These residential moves make it more probable that children will have to change schools. Student mobility, or having to change schools during the school year, is one of the most documented indicators impacting a child’s performance in school. The public investment in the operation of affordable housing can help increase stability and security at home, and help children perform better in school.

Funding for the operation of affordable housing is a common appropriation for states. For example, Massachusetts is investing $134 million in its current state budget to provide operating support for affordable housing. With a population of 6.6 million, that translates to spending $20 per resident in the Commonwealth.

Currently, Rhode Island does not provide operating support for

affordable housing. A few years back, when it did, the state spent about $5 per resident in Rhode Island.

A state appropriation in the operation of affordable housing would also help move us forward on Opening Doors, Rhode Island’s plan to end homelessness, and save tax dollars in the long run.

Homelessness is an expensive problem for Rhode Island that can be fixed with tried and tested solutions. National research shows that the cost of providing affordable housing with integrated support services is equal to or less than the cost of assisting a person who remains homeless.

In Rhode Island, the cost savings per homeless individual is at least $8,000 annually. State appropriation for operating support of affordable housing is critical to ad-

dressing homelessness in Rhode Island.

Policymakers must make evidence-based decisions when spending public dollars. Unlike our neighboring states, affordable housing in Rhode Island is not yet viewed as an essential part of our state’s infrastructure that is necessary for growing a stronger economy. In 2013, our state leaders have a great opportunity to change that by making strategic investments in affordable housing in the state budget. Appropriating state dollars for the operation of affordable housing will save tax dollars and create vibrant communities that attract businesses. Investments in housing and other infrastructure are investments in Rhode Island’s future.

Nellie M. Gorbea is Executive Director of HousingWorks RI

Page 6

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

15th Annual Rhode Island Labor Union “Kettle” Day Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee and Secretary-Treasurer Maureen Martin, along with hundreds of union members and their families, volunteered last month to be bell ringers and help “stand” the Salvation Army Christmas kettles at stores across Rhode Island. With their help, the Salvation Army raised over $5,000 to help families in need.

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 7

Judge orders mediation on pension lawsuit

By Common Ground staff The state and its major public employee unions have been ordered to enter mediation over the lawsuit labor advocates filed against the new state pension reform law passed one year ago.

Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter ordered both parties submit to mediation by Federal Mediation Services on Dec. 18. TaftCarter is expecting a progress report on those talks by Feb. 1 and both sides have until late May next year to reach an agreement before a trial would start, according to the Rhode Island chapter of the NEA. In a statement, Gov. Lincoln Chafee praised the judge’s order.

“As I have said, it is common practice and a wise approach for settlement discussions to be held while litigation is proceeding,” Chafee said.

Settlement hailed as the better outcome Chafee said a negotiated settlement was in the best interests of both sides—and also necessary to avoid the financial catastrophe of the state losing in court.

“While the state has a strong case, a strong case does not guarantee a win,” Chafee said.

“A negotiated settlement that is satisfactory to both sides could be in the best financial interest of the Rhode Island

taxpayers. Such an outcome would be a favorable alternative to costly, uncertain litigation and—worst of all—the ‘fiscal calamity’ of a potential loss in court.”

“Throughout my time in public office, I have believed in coming together to find common ground and common solutions,” the Governor concluded.

Chafee expressed optimism that mediation talks would be successful, pointing to his experience in settling a dispute between Warwick teachers and the school committee when he was a mayor, and, more recently, brokering an agreement between the City

of Providence and Brown University on payments in lieu of taxes. “I have learned that all-or-nothing is an approach that can bring a tremendous potential downside,” Chafee said. “There simply is no harm in talking.”

The mediation option had already been endorsed by Chafee and was also backed by labor leaders. Both had already started informal negotiations before the judge’s order was handed down in mid-December.

Common Ground.

Frank Flynn, head of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, said it came as no surprise that the judge in a civil case would order mediation, an option that he said he had supported.

The president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO also hailed the move as an encouraging sign.

“I think it’s a positive development,” said AFL-CIO leader George Nee. “I think it’s always a good idea in a lawsuit to see LaborServing leadersthe praise judicial if both [sides] can be brought City of Providence since 1854 order together to see if there’s com Labor leaders also praised mon ground for settlement.”

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

A few tips on applying for financial aid

By Shelley Honeycutt

No wait lists. Quick response time. One call does it all.

As families with seniors in high school come out of the college application frenzy, they quickly find themselves in a financial aid marathon! Organizing the types of applications, as well as tracking deadlines for each college, is no easy feat. Below are a few tips to keep in mind when going through this process.

1. Approximately 500 colleges nationwide require the CSS PROFILE to be filed in order to receive financial aid at their college. Check the list (https://profileonline.collegeboard.org/prf/ PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet/PXRemotePartInstitutionServlet.srv) to see if any of your student’s colleges require this form. Take note of the deadline! Remember the deadline could change if your student applied early action or early decision.

2. Every college nationwide requires the FAFSA form (http:// www.fafsa.ed.gov/) to be filed in order to receive any financial aid at their college. This also includes many foreign colleges.

Additionally, you will not have access to any federal loans if you do not file your FAFSA each year!

3. The FAFSA form now requires you to perform data retrieval via the IRS Web site in addition to filing the form. Watch a short video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W47_YTRVYD4) on how to perform this data retrieval. The data retrieval is performed after you file your 2012 taxes.

4. The FAFSA also has deadlines. It is best to check each college’s financial aid Web page or call their office to find out what their priority deadline is for financial aid. Be sure to file ALL forms prior to these deadlines.

5. In addition to these forms, some colleges may also request an institutional form to be filed. It is best to check each college’s financial aid Web page or call their office to find out if they require any additional forms.

Understanding the types of forms and tracking the deadlines are a large part of filing financial aid properly. Once you have these parts under control it might be a good idea to learn about what will be asked on the FAFSA. The College Prep collaborative will have a live FAFSA demonstration on several dates.

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 9

The Construction Institute of Boston presents Pride in Construction Project of the Year Awards and Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards The Construction Institute (TCI) announced the recipients of TCI’s 2012 Pride in Construction Project of the Year Awards and the Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards. The awards were presented last month at TCI’s annual awards luncheon held at Venezia’s Waterfront Restaurant & Banquet Facility in Boston.

TCI conferred two Pride in Construction Project of the Year Awards recognizing Baystate Medical Center – Hospital of the Future and the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center (ETCI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

The Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards were presented to Harry Carlson, a safety manager with Greenwood Industries, Millbury, Massachusetts, and Rick Carter, Training Coordinator for the Plumbers Local 12 Education Fund, located in Boston.

Pride in Construction Project of the Year Awards “The Construction Institute’s Pride in Construction Project of the Year Awards recognize public and private projects that have been constructed in Massachusetts using union contractors and workers that have had a positive impact on the construction industry, the community in which they are located, and the customer,”

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said TCI Executive Director, Mary Vogel. “We are incredibly proud of the project teams who built Baystate Medical Center’s Hospital of the Future and the Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center at UMass Lowell. These state-of-the-art facilities exemplify the superior value, quality, and integrity provided by union contractors and their skilled union crafts men and women.”

Baystate Medical Center – Hospital of the Future The $296 million Baystate Medical Center Hospital of the Future project is a 641,000 square-foot new clinical facility in Springfield, MA. The first phase of the project, completed in October 2011, built the entire shell and core of the building, and fit out a stateof-the-art heart and vascular center which includes six operating and procedure rooms, 30 critical-care and 96 inpatient rooms, and support functions. The second phase, completed in September of this year, fit out a new Emergency and Trauma Center and Imaging Center. Baystate Medical Center is the only Level 3 trauma center in Western Massachusetts, and at 110,000 patients per year, is the second largest Emergency Department in Massachusetts.

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The Hospital of the Future was designed with guidance from patients, families, and clinical staff for optimum patient comfort and recovery. The facility is predominantly new construction, including multiple tunnels and bridges and tie-ins to two existing buildings, and includes renovation in an existing building for a new main lobby for the entire campus. The construction was completed under a Project Labor Agreement with the local building trades and Suffolk Construction as the Construction Manager. It employed on average 250 construction workers daily, including many local residents, throughout the four-year project.

Accepting the award on behalf of Baystate Medical Center were Michael Moran, vice president of Clinical, Facilities and Guest Services, and Stanley Hunter, project executive.

Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell The opening of the $80 million state-of-theart Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center (ETIC) at UMass Lowell in October will propel new scientific discovery and ground-breaking research in See Awards cont. on page 18

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Page 10

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

21st Annual NEARI Gingerbread Express The National Education Association of Rhode Island Children Fund Gingerbread Express program donated gifts to nearly 2,000 children statewide through the help of volunteer Rhode Island teachers, school, and public employees and others. While most gifts are delivered quietly through the front office of each school, some arrived in a tractor-trailer donated by Teamsters Local 251, with real life “gingerbread” cookies as escorts. The special delivery occurred at the William D’Abate School in Providence, where a schoolwide celebration with juice and cookies, the reading of “The Tale of the Gingerbread Express,” and elves to pass out the presents made the event cough memorable for many children.

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 11

Lt. Gov., Elderly Affairs Director facilitate Alzheimer’s listening sessions Submitted by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor

IN PROVIDENCE:

111 Wayland Avenue Providence, Rhode Island 02902 401•331•1300

IN WASHINGTON:

601 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. Suite 900, South Building Washington, DC 20004 202•220•3013 ADV O C A C Y H r epresen tati on H resul t s

Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Division of Elderly Affairs Director Catherine Taylor have traveled the state to gather input for a comprehensive State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders. In a series of “Listening Sessions,” the pair has posed the question, “Are you or someone you know affected by Alzheimer’s Disease or a related disorder?” A total of six sessions were held in November and December at locations in Portsmouth, Warwick, Providence, Woonsocket, Barrington, and South Kingstown.

The State of Rhode Island is taking bold action to confront the most common form of dementia—Alzheimer’s Disease—and related disorders, affecting more Rhode Islanders every day. In the Listening Sessions, care-givers, health-care providers, family members, and anyone else impacted by the disease were invited to tell their story and provide vital input to a comprehensive State Plan to address this important public health

issue. The sessions were free and open to the public.

Co-chaired by Roberts and Taylor a working group also has been established to inform and create the State Plan. The group is open to participation by the public. A full group meeting is held every other month, while six sub-groups have been formed to tackle the many aspects and challenges of this disease.

Membership for these sub-groups also is open to anyone who is interested in participating.

The Long Term Care Coordinating Council has been designated as the “home” for the work on a state plan by a Joint Resolution, recently passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Lincoln Chafee on May 25.

For more information or to submit input to the plan, e-mail info@ltgov.state.ri.us (write Alzheimer’s in the subject line) or visit http:// www.ltgov.state.ri.us/alz.

Page 12

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

State and federal leaders work with ProvPort to secure shipping future in Rhode Island

By Common Ground staff

Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, the Rhode Island Congressional delegation, and officials at ProvPort announced two new state-of-the art mobile harbor cranes for the Port of Providence have been ordered and are now being manufactured. The two cranes replace two leased cranes from New Jersey that are more than 30 years old, and the cranes are part of a $20 million enhancement project funded by private investment by the non-profit ProvPort and a federal TIGER II grant secured by the Rhode Island Congressional delegation.

“The new cranes are the critical step to protecting the existing jobs and allowing ProvPort to take the next step in growth. The Port of Providence and Boston are the only two deep wa-

ter ports in New England and the new cranes allow ProvPort to expand its services and its efficiency,” said Gov. Chafee.

“These cranes will allow ProvPort to expand its operation and create critical new jobs for Rhode Island,” said Paul Moura, president of the Board of Directors of ProvPort, who added, “The Tiger Grant funding creates a launching pad for the next step in the development of ProvPort.”

The federal TIGER II grant of $10.5 million was secured through the extensive efforts of the RI delegation. The amount of requests was more than 20 times the available federal funds.

“ProvPort is a critical cog in the rebirth of Rhode Island’s economy. The port

is strategically located at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, tied directly to rail and all the major highways of the northeast. There is tremendous opportunity to expand the existing bulk business and augment with wind staging and containers,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).

“The realization of this project shows that teamwork can be successful.

The RI delegation, Governor Chafee and private industry have teamed up to improve the infrastructure of the port.

This can be a true spark to job growth in Providence,” said Congressman David Cicilline (D-1).

The new cranes to be acquired through the TIGER II grant will achieve three goals. First, it will stabilize

the existing port infrastructure. It will also allow for expansion of bulk operations including exports and develop a container operations. This project will sustain the existing employment and allow for job growth moving forward.

“These new cranes will dramatically improve the efficiency of ProvPort and make it more competitive in a global economy. The world of supply chain management and global transportation is getting every more competitive. The transformation at the Panama Canal will have a dramatic effect on global shipping, and ProvPort will be in a competitive situation to compete with other leading ports on the East Coast,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Prov. Port cont. on page 13

Common Ground

Prov. Port cont. from page 12 Adding to Senator Whitehouse’s comments, Moura elaborated, “With the completion of the Panama Canal Expansion due in 2015, it is generally accepted that the East Coast will receive a major increase in containerized cargo. Both ProvPort and the Port of Davisville will now be well positioned to serve a significant role in the Marine Highway plan under consideration.”

“This grant will allow the Port of Providence to enhance freight efficiencies—ultimately furthering the integration of waterborne transportation into the region’s overall transportation system, expand their port services, and contribute to the wellbeing of both the maritime industry and the local economy,” said David Matsuda, federal Maritime Administrator.

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In wake of Newtown, Conn. shooting, MTA, NEA speak out for change The Massachusetts Teacher’s Association (MTA) President Paul Toner offered his statements regarding the recent school shootings in Newtown, CT on the MTA’s web site, massteacher.org: “Words cannot express how shocked and saddened all of us at the MTA are about the tragic shooting deaths in Newtown, Connecticut.

We know that you share our grief over the senseless loss of life, share our pride in the brave educators who defended their young students, and share our desire to take a stand against violence in our schools and our communities.

Below are MTA and NEA Resolutions concerning the regulation of deadly weapons. In the coming days and weeks, we will be exploring options for taking positions consistent with these resolutions.

Many have written and called to ask how they can support the affected families and the Newtown community in this time of need and how we can come together to make sure this type of senseless violence does not occur again.

We will be reaching out to the NEA, the AFT and other national organizations—and to political leaders—to channel our collective anger, sadness and desire for positive change.”

Additionally, Toner outlined the resolutions made by both the MTA and National Education Association (NEA) in the days following the tragic shooting: MTA Resolution - I-13 Gun-Free Schools and the Regulation of Deadly Weapons The Massachusetts Teachers Association believes that all students and education employees must be allowed to learn and work in an environment free

of unauthorized guns and other deadly weapons. Severe penalties should be enacted and strenuously enforced for criminal actions involving guns and other deadly weapons, especially in school settings, and for those who profit from the illegal sale, importation, and distribution of these weapons. The Association also believes that individuals who bring guns or deadly weapons to school should be excluded from school and school grounds until such time as the mandated prescribed intervention under both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Massachusetts law has been conducted.

The Association further believes that strict prescriptive regulations are necessary for the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and resale of handguns and ammunition magazines.

The possession by the private sector of automatic weapons and military-style

semiautomatic assault weapons should be illegal, except for historical and collection purposes, which must be strictly regulated. A mandatory waiting period for a background check should occur prior to the sale of all firearms. The Association believes that minors shall not be allowed to buy, own, or sell firearms.

The Association also believes that gun owners should participate in educational programs that stress responsible ownership, including safe use and storage of guns. (82, 99, 01) NEA Resolution - I-34. Gun-Free Schools and the Regulation of Deadly Weapons The National Education Association believes that all students and education employees must be allowed to learn and work in an environment free of unauthorized guns and other deadly weapons.

See Newtown cont. on page 16

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Page 16

Common Ground

Newtown cont. from page 15 Severe penalties should be enacted and strenuously enforced for criminal actions involving guns and other deadly weapons, especially in school settings, and for those who profit from the illegal sale, importation, and distribution of these weapons. The Association also believes that individuals who bring guns or deadly weapons to school should be excluded from school and school grounds until undergoing mandatory prescribed intervention.

The Association further believes that strict prescriptive regulations are necessary for the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and resale of handguns and ammunition magazines. The possession by the private sector of automatic weapons and military-style semiautomatic assault weapons should be illegal, except for historical and collection purposes, which must be strictly regulated. A mandatory background check and a mandatory waiting period should occur prior to the sale of all firearms. The Association believes that minors shall not be allowed to buy, own, or sell firearms.

The Association also believes that gun owners should participate in educational programs that stress responsible ownership, including safe use and storage of guns. (1982, 2003)

JANUARY 2013

Richard Trumka offers his opinion to USA Today Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, recently voiced his opinion to USA Today about the anti-union trend, and how building a strong middle class will result in a strong America.

Attacks on unions, including ‘right-to-work’ laws, grease downward slide.

It’s a tough time to work for a living.

Middle-class families have been losing ground for more than a decade. Today, working people have a smaller piece of the pie than at any time in the past 50 years. During that period, the number of people belonging to unions also declined steadily; in fact, if you look at the decline of the middle class beside the state of union membership, those numbers are parallel. This should concern everyone who cares about a strong America.

Our country is at its best when growth is shared by more families, not fewer.

Yet some people would have us believe that the answer to the weak economy is to continue to downgrade jobs, and to make college, retirement security, and home ownership less affordable. Pundits point to home health care workers, firefighters, and other public-sector workers whose median pension is just over $24,000 a year and say that they have too much, and that we should take it away.

Instead of asking how working people can do better, the critics say middle-class workers with good union

jobs don’t deserve their hard-earned benefits. Attacks on unions, including the “right-to-work” laws, grease this downward slide. Slashing pay and silencing workers are the worst ways for businesses to profit. The right way is to recognize that when workers have a voice, everyone succeeds.

Now, critics are right on one point: The world is changing, and the labor movement hasn’t done enough to adapt.

That’s why we’re working closely with young people and community allies to ensure every worker has a voice on the job.

We’re working with day laborers and advanced manufacturing workers to ensure they know their rights and can join with co-workers to improve their lives. Autoworkers, electricians, and nurses are working with employers to build better business practices and help them thrive.

We’re working to build a movement that speaks for today’s working Americans.

Prosperity for all requires an agile and strong labor movement at its core. As they have for decades, America’s unions believe in building a strong middle class, and we’ll work with anyone to do it.

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 17

Building and Construction Trades and LIUNA Aid in FEED 1,000 The Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council and Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 271 joined forces with Priority Management Group to service 1,000 Rhode Islanders at the Rhode Island Convention Center by donating hats and gloves and volunteer time for the event. Rhode Islanders in need were also provided with a hot festive meal, gift bags with toiletries, snacks, toys for children, a coffee station with free thermoses, cookies, a flu shot clinic, and a blood pressure station administered by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

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Common Ground

Awards cont. from page 9 nanotechnology, plastics engineering, biomedicine, and electro-optics at the University. As the first major construction project on the North Campus of UMass Lowell in over 30 years, ETIC resulted in almost 300,000 man-hours of construction work and over 550 construction jobs over the two-year project.

The success of the ETIC project was dependent upon understanding the level of quality that a nanotechnology facility demanded, engaging the highest skilled workforce, utilizing the latest methods in safety, and maximizing the benefit that the final product would have on its local community. The building design meets and exceeds critical criteria for temperature, humidity, and vibration required by leading edge scientific research.

Turner Construction, the Construction Manager on the ETIC project also recently completed the unionbuilt Mass Green High Computing

Center in Holyoke. These facilities will position the UMass system and other Massachusetts universities to be at the cutting edge of high-tech research and attract opportunities for jobs and funding for the University, the State, and the surrounding communities.

Bruce Ventura, Project Executive, Turner Construction, accepted the award on behalf of the ETIC project team.

Volpe-Eagan Construction Safety Awards “Since 1970, the Massachusetts construction industry has honored significant achievements by men and women in advancing safety and health in the workplace,” according to TCI Executive Director Vogel. “The Volpe-Eagan Safety Awards are conferred in honor of Patrick Volpe and Edward F. Eagan, both pioneers in promoting health and safety in the construction

industry, and we are honored to have Harry Carlson and Rick Carter join the 75 men and women who have received this award.”

Harald (“Harry”) Carlson, the recipient of the Volpe-Eagan management award, is the ultimate safety professional. Carlson has over 30 years of safety and risk management experience in a variety of different industries including trucking, construction, marine, petroleum, and distribution. He moved into safety and health after working in the field as a drill rigger. Over the years, he has served as a safety professional for insurance companies, moderate to large contractors, subcontractors, construction management firms, and on wrap-up projects.

Carlson was a lead safety consultant on the Central/Artery Tunnel project and currently works for Greenwood Industries, a large union roofing contractor. He has earned several nationally recognized credentials in the En-

JANUARY 2013 vironmental, Health and Safety field, not to mention the highest respect of his colleagues in the field.

Richard (“Rick”) Carter, the Volpe-Eagan labor recipient, began his career as a plumber in 1993 when he joined Plumbers Local 12 in Boston as an apprentice. Just two years after completing his apprenticeship, he became an instructor for Local 12’s training program and rose to his current position as Training Coordinator seven years later. Clearly a devoted educator, Carter has also maintained a keen emphasis on safety in Local 12’s training curricula for both apprentice and journey worker upgrade courses.

And today, under his leadership, over 95 percent of Local 12 members are OSHA10 trained and 30 percent have completed the OSHA 30 course.

Carter is also a member of the Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 19

13 tips for healthier eating in 2013

By Joy Feldman, NC, JD

1. Build a healthier plate—Try covering your plate with 70-80 percent of cooked veggies. Additionally, you should have a small serving of animal protein, a healthy fat such as olive oil, and a small amount of complex carbohydrates. (No wheat products.)

2. Avoid Wheat—Our most popular grain has been hybridized and inbred for production. As a result, it lacks nutritional value and is considered an allergic food.

3. Eat the good fats—The most beneficial sources of fats are plants and fish. You can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by eating mostly polyunsaturated fats (including vegetable oils and omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, seeds and nuts, and canola oil) and monounsaturated fats (in avocados and many plant-based oils, such as olive oil and canola oil).

4. Say goodbye to the refined grains—Whole grains retain the bran and germ of the natural grain, providing healthful fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

Many of these substances are removed from refined grains, such

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nesium, potassium, sodium phosphorus, sulfur, and iron. These alkaline minerals help soothe and tone the intestinal wall, as well as build bones and teeth.

13. Eat regular, relaxed sit-down meals—Do your best to eat your meals slowly, chew thoroughly, and always have sit-down, relaxed meals.

Do not eat on the run, in your car, standing up, or while working.

eggplants, and all peppers). These vegetables can cause inflammatory side effects, such as arthritis flare-ups in cases of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other joint problems like gout.

11. No junk food or chemicalized food—These foods are of poorer nutritional quality and are toxic and irritating to the body. Keep them out of your diet.

12. Incorporate carrot juice into your daily regimen—This orange-colored drink has one of the highest amounts of beta-carotene as well as a cohort of other carotenes. It not only contains vitamins B, C, D, E, and K; it also is mineral rich, with calcium, copper mag1 LaSaLLe Square, Providence, ri 02903 | Phone: 401-273-5000 | Fax: 401-273-5004

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as white bread and white rice, and are barely present in starches such as potatoes. Starches and refined carbohydrates are digested quickly, causing surges in insulin and blood sugar, boosting triglycerides, and lowering HDL cholesterol. (Focus on brown rice, quinoa, millet, and amaranth.)

Eliminate processed sugars from your diet—Eating processed sugars harms your health. This white poison is harmful because it has no nutritional value, vitamins, or minerals. Furthermore, the body is left with only pure, refined carbohydrates, which it cannot utilize effectively.

Drink plenty of water—Try drinking 3 quarts of spring water each day. This divine liquid will nourish and heal your body.

Minimize alcohol—This unhealthy fuel leads to depletion of specific nutrients including zinc, magnesium, copper, iron, and some Bcomplex vitamins, among others.

Snack attack—A healthy snack can boost energy levels by stabilizing blood sugar while giving you an added dose of healthful nutrients. But unplanned, impulsive snacking often takes the form of cookies, chips, or candy bars. So prepare healthy snacks ahead of time, and keep them handy at home or in your office. Examples include almonds, cashews, or a cup of chicken soup.

Have a breakfast of champions— Many of you are in a rush in the morning to get out the door to work or school, making it easy to skip breakfast. But a healthy morning meal makes for smaller rises in blood sugar and insulin throughout the day, which can lower your risk of overeating and impulse snacking.

Avoid nightshade vegetables— Do your best to limit nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes,

Joy Feldman is a writer, author, and lecturer. She is the author of Joyful Cooking in the Pursuit of Good Health and Is Your Hair Made of Donuts? Learn more at www.joyfeldman.com or www. isyourhairmadeofdonuts.com.

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

What does the RI ARA membership mean to retirees?

By John Pernorio

The RI ARA is a charter member of the Alliance for Retired Americans. The ARA has over four million members throughout the United States.

A primary objective of the RI ARA 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 Alliance for Retired Americans will gain recognition as the country’s leading progressive grassroots senior organization.

In pursuit of these values, the Alliance 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 There are Rhode Island-specific benefits negotiated specifically by the Rhode Island ARA for RI ARA retirees: • Union Benefits Plus. Log onto www.ri-ara.org.

• Vision Care Program through Davis Vision, with NO MONTHLY PREMIUM. • Dental Care Program. Discounts of 30-40 per-

cent off usual and customary fees. (To see an actual members’ dental service savings log on to www.ri-ara.org and click on the Dental Discount page.) The Dental Discount Program is provided to members with NO MONTHLY PREMIUM. • Hearing Aid Discount Program with Ocean State Hearing Aid Centers. Again, with NO MONTHLY PREMIUM. • Participation in the HealthLink Wellness Program at no cost.

We hope this information will encourage local union and community-based organization leaders to support the RI ARA For more details contact John Pernorio, president of RI ARA, at japernorio_riara@hotmail.com. Visit us at www.ri-ara.org or call 401-722-2770.

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Common Ground

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Page 21

Pension cont. from page 7 Both labor leaders, however, indicated that it’s too early to forecast how mediation talks will go. Flynn said the state and labor leaders have a long road to go before a settlement will be in view. “I think it will be a very steep hill to climb to get to a settlement that all parties will agree to,” Flynn said.

He added that he believes it’s certainly important to make the attempt and that the Rhode Island AFT will be

making a good faith effort to reach an agreement with the state.

Nee said formal mediation talks have not begun, so it’s too early to tell how it will go.

Raimondo had opposed mediation Mediation had been opposed by General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, one of the chief architects of the pension reform law.

In a separate statement, she said she’d nevertheless abide by the judge’s ruling. “I have great respect for the judicial system and it is important to let this process unfold in an orderly and transparent way. We owe that to the people of Rhode Island and to our public employees,” Raimondo said.

“We continue to believe the state has a very strong case and a terrific legal team. As I have consistently said, we

will participate in court-ordered mediation in good faith.”

Raimondo again emphasized that the new law was the outcome of 11 months of “thoughtful, fact-based analysis and input from retirees, employees, taxpayers, municipal leaders, and union leadership.” And, she also pointed out that the law had overwhelming passed both chambers of the General Assembly in November 2011.

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Christopher J. Jannitto Executive Board Representatives: Joseph P. Moreino Christopher J. Jannitto Hans Ramsden Joseph P. Moreino Wayne C. Oliveira Hans Ramsden Zachariah Kenyon Wayne C.Toro Oliveira Anthony Zachariah Kenyon Anthony Toro

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Richard Brown steps down from president of Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO CLC in MA Richard M. “Rick” Brown is leaving his position as President of the Pioneer Valley AFLCIO Central Labor Council (the CLC) after 17 years, leaving behind an incredible list of accomplishments that have left an indelible mark on Greater Springfield’s labor movement.

Brown’s presidency kicked off with a hard-fought win with Senator Kerry defeating Governor William H. Weld.

That same year President Bill Clinton came to Springfield, Massachusetts, on a campaign stop at City Hall where Brown had the honor of speaking on behalf of workers before the 35,000 person crowd. Though there were dozens of campaigns that Brown worked on

over the years, none were more exciting and historic than our taking Ted Kennedy’s former seat away from the wily Republican Senator Scott Brown and returning it to a rightful heir, Democratic Senator-elect Elizabeth Warren. The Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO ran a fullcourt press from the beginning to the end of this campaign, including door knocking, phone calls, literature drops, and mass mailings.

His electoral work was augmented by his tremendous community involvement.

Brown sat on several boards and committees of community organizations. He was a co-founder and board member of the Pioneer Valley Project,

a social justice coalition made up of faith-based organizations and unions. They, amongst many of their works, passed the right to organize as a Civil Right in 1998 in the City of Springfield. Brown also served on the Western Mass. Jobs with Justice Executive Committee and Steering Committee; as an executive board member of the Regional Employment Board; on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Labor Advisory Board; a board member of the United Way; and as a former chairperson and board member of the Western Mass Coalition of Occupational Safety and Health.

Each Workers Memorial Day (April 28), Brown emceed

the ceremony to honor and remember those workers killed and injured as a result of simply going to work including workers such as; Lisa Ziegart, Officer John DiNapoli, the Worcester Fire Fighters, and too many others.

Brown founded the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Youth Sports and Activities Fund which gave out uniforms, equipment, and tens of thousands of dollars to deserving youths, including bringing AAU Basketball to Dunbar Community Center, which culminated in their first team qualifying to play in the National AAU Championship in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The CLC worked with the community group, Alliance to

Richard “Rick” Brown, president of the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO, announced on Friday that he will step down after 17 years. Photo from masslive.com.

Develop Power, under Brown’s leadership to create the first worker’s center to be affiliated with a CLC in the country. Brown also founded the Union Community Fund of Western Massachusetts, which has made 25 grants to organizations and gave out over See Brown cont. on page 23

Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 23

Brown cont. from page 22 $33,000 in grants to 27 victims of the 2011 tornado, wind shears, and floods, as well as providing volunteers to assist in the recovery. The Labor Council and the United Way created a Youth Build in Springfield under Brown’s leadership.

Brown’s efforts brought recognition to the labor movement. In 1997 he was honored by the UMass Amherst Labor Center. In 2003, the Springfield Democratic Committee named him the first “Distinguished Labor Leader of the Year.”

In 2004, he was honored by the Pioneer Valley Project with the MICAH Award.

Highlights of his career at the Labor Council included his success at passing “Union City” resolutions in Springfield,

Massachusetts, and Holyoke, Massachusetts, the first cities in the country to do so.

The CLC also conducted many trainings for union stewards and provided assistance for displaced workers as well as providing ESL classes.

Brown created the first Central Labor Council Women’s Committee and the first Organizers Round Table in Massachusetts. He increased the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Scholarship Program from one $200 scholarship to six $500 scholarships per year. President Brown also helped support unions in the UPS strike, two Verizon Strikes, and many, many more.

Though jobs were lost in the last 17 years, many unions such as SEIU and

UFCW organized tens of thousands of new members as a result of a new approach to organizing which included community involvement. The percentage of union membership remains more than double the national average in the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO’s jurisdiction. And the Labor Council recently grew stronger through the re-affiliation of the Springfield Police and the Springfield Teachers. In 2012, just before stepping down, Brown negotiated a neutrality agreement with a resort casino and is seeking to use it as a model for whichever casino is awarded the contract.

Brown was also a party to saving collective bargaining when then-Governor Mitt Romney attempted to eliminate Chapter

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Under Brown, the Labor Council bought its own building which has a lighted sign serving as a beacon to working families throughout the region. To further its communication efforts, the CLC created a web site along with social media channels.

Brown’s last day as President was December 19, when a new president will be voted on by the Labor Council. He will continue his duties as Secretary-Treasurer of United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) Local 1459 and Vice-President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

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Common Ground

JANUARY 2013

Page 24

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