Mayor accuses union of ‘political extortion’
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Mayors Conference
Over 100 mayors from around the country are expected to attend an annual conference in Providence on Friday. But there may be problems.
NBC 10 News
The mayor said Monday that the firefighters union has repeatedly rejected contract offers that he said were reasonable.
Published: June 8, 2009
Updated: June 8, 2009
PROVIDENCE—Providence Mayor David Cicilline is accusing the city firefighters union of disrupting a national mayors conference this week.
Vice President Joe Biden and other members of the Obama administration said last week they would skip the conference to avoid crossing a picket line.
The union said it would remain silent during the conference if Cicilline agreed not to attend a luncheon with Biden.
He accused the union Monday of “extortion tactics” and says he can’t imagine not taking part in a conference his city is hosting.
The conference starts Friday and runs through Monday.
The mayor says his latest contract proposal is reasonable for both firefighters and taxpayers.
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Reader Reactions
funny most of the firefighters I see are fat!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joyce2 says Mayor Cicilline should fire them all! Retiring after 20 years with health care for life and outrageous pensions paid on the backs of the working taxpayers. No one should be retiring until the “normal” age of at least 62. Where do they think this money is coming from????? They sit around all day most of the time cooking, talking, and heaven knows what else. Get a “real"job you bums!!!!!
So Joyce??? you do not think that a Firefighter has a real job??
And Joyce who do you think they are protecting ( hint) YOU
and Joyce do you think that they do not deserve their retirement after 20 years of getting up at all hours of the night and responding to who knows what and protecting the said taxpayer of the City of Providence.
Remember there was someone on the other side of the table when contracts were signed representing the taxpayers for the city ( i.e. The MAYOR)
Look at the Total picture of what it took to become a firefighter and all of the training and requirements they need to maintain each year.
If it was so easy as you would like to think then everyone would be a firefighter
Thank you!
Mayor Cicilline should fire them all! Retiring after 20 years with health care for life and outrageous pensions paid on the backs of the working taxpayers. No one should be retiring until the “normal” age of at least 62. Where do they think this money is coming from????? They sit around all day most of the time cooking, talking, and heaven knows what else. Get a “real"job you bums!!!!!
I think they are all an embarrassment
I know a couple of Prov Firefighters who mind you work other jobs and never seem to work fires
I don’t know what the deal is don’t care
this mayor sucks but I didn’t vote him in he is all about glam
get buddy back he will clean the city up
The City and the State are so deep in debt now that these kinds of contracts are simply unsustainable in today’s economy.
Free health care for life, 3% colas, retirement in your 50’s ? forget about it.
With more and more people living into their 80’s and beyond the States simply can’t afford these deals without raising taxes on the rest of us.
And as a comparison these people will retire with better benefits then the wounded and disabled vets will get coming back from the Middle East Wars. Now which of the two has the more dangerous job?
What comes around goes around. This is what Chickalini gets because he fails to negoatiate in good faith. He does not give the firefighters the respect they deserve. Serves him right. He should have learned from the last time with Edwards. Get moving and agree to their terms!!!
throw his butt to the wolves?
doesn’t he need that?
Walk off the job and hand the Mayor a bucket of water and tell him Good Luck. Thats what it seems like he is doing to these fine people who put their lives on the line every day 24-7. All the stories I read about the Mayor is that he is corrupt. Is he taking advice/lessons from Buddy? Next election throw his butt to the wolves and don’t vote for him, that will fix him.
I haven’t heard of any fire or police positions going unfilled because of lack of applicants. There are reasons why generation after generation of the same family answer the call to serve. They are on the public’s gravy train, do their 20 and get a state job next.
Posted by ( justaviewer ) on June 08, 2009 at 12:29 pm
The mayor refuses to publicly admit that the firefighters have agreed to many changes in the contract. In fact, the “binding” arbitration should have already resulted in a new contract, but the mayor refuses to agree to it. These men and women put their lives on the line daily to protect us, yet the mayor treats them horribly and refuses to give them a contract that they deserve. He should be ashamed of himself. This is a complete injustice. They deserve raises after 5 years of this insanity. Give them a contract, mayor. You clearly have something against the firefighters, or you would agree to the contract the arbitrator has put forth. Isn’t that the whole point of binding arbitration? The firefighters have conceded on many terms, but you continue to lie to the public and tell them they’re not giving in. It’s simplyl not true, and the truth should be known.
Right on
The only thing that seems the mayor is doing for the TAXPAYERS is costing them MORE MONEY>
When will he learn that it cost taxpayer money to go to arbitration and continue to loose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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