Stop the Cuts!

RHODE ISLAND

It was the largest rally in Providence in over a decade. More than 3,000 workers from various unions, including a large contingent of AFSCME members, massed in front of the state house on June 1 to deliver a message to Gov. Donald Carcieri (R). In the ringing words of Council 94 Pres. Tom Chellel, "The real reason we are here today is because we are angry that this governor and some politicians give us no respect. We are angry that both state and municipal pensions are under attack! We are angry that this governor constantly tries to cut aid to cities and towns that funds crucial municipal services!" (Chellel died July 13 at the age of 58.)

Donna Chabot, a painter at the Rhode Island Veterans Home and a member of the council's Local 904, also casti-gated the governor for not giving state workers a raise: "This has hurt me and my family. Three years with no raise means that every time I get my pay check it is gone in the blink of an eye. As a single mother, with a 16-year-old son and my mother living with us, I have had to take a second job to make ends meet."

Council 94, which represents 8,000 workers and was in contract negotiations, played a leading role in planning the massive rally.

Just a day after the rally, the governor agreed to accept an outside conciliator's suggested settlement. Two weeks later, members ratified their new four-year contract, retro-active to June 30, 2004. The agreement provides 4 percent raises in each of the first two years and 3 percent hikes over the next two. In addition, it calls for a 3.5-percent retro-active increase on overtime earnings during the past year.