Police union blasts ‘underhanded, despicable’ Taveras, Council
May 7th, 2012 at 5:00 am by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site
By Ted Nesi
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The Providence police union is threatening all-out war on Mayor Angel Taveras and the City Council for freezing retired officers’ pensions, labeling the elected officials “underhanded, despicable and heartless” for holding a crucial vote the night of a fallen officer’s wake.
“Their actions that night and the following Monday showed what we mean to them …………ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, JUST A NUMBER!!!!” the executive board of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #3 wrote members last week in an email obtained by WPRI.com. “The old saying ‘action speaks louder than words’ is so true, and their actions came through loud and clear and it sounded a lot like SCREW YOU!!!”
The City Council voted unanimously to approve the sweeping pension overhaul on April 26, the night before Sgt. Maxwell Dorley’s funeral. ”The audacity of the Mayor and City Council to do such a thing on the night that we waked one of our own, who died in the line of duty for this City is underhanded, despicable and heartless, and a slap in the face to all of us,” the police email said.
In a statement on Friday, Taveras told WPRI.com it had been “a very significant and emotional week for all who work in the city of Providence. Those who serve our city know better than most the history that led Providence into this crisis.”
But the mayor argued the pension changes are necessary. “Actions do speak louder than words, and I believe history will reflect on this week as the moment when Providence acted before it was too late to save the city from bankruptcy and put the retirements of our active employees at the mercy of unilateral action by a fiscal overseer,” he said.
The police union’s board noted the pension changes were signed into law hours before Brown University and Lifespan agreed to pay more to the city, suggesting the two actions were linked and “the Mayor and City Council are merely puppets with no desire to fight them for what is right.”
The union leaders went on to say they are working on “a viable legal and political attack against the City, the Mayor, the City Council and that City [pension] Ordinance.” Police officers, firefighters and retirees “will picket the Mayor’s and City Council Member’s [sic] fundraiser events and other events whenever and wherever they may be and we will fight the legal battles with unwavering determination,” they said.
“Be prepared to participate and stand your ground as this is going to be the biggest fight ever,” they added. “Please be ready when the call to fight comes.” Local 1033, the city’s biggest union, has said it will not join the police and fire unions in fighting the pension ordinance. The police union also opposes Governor Chafee’s municipal relief bills.
Tim White contributed to this report.
• Related: Iannazzi criticizes intransigent Providence police, fire retirees (May 2)
(photo: Bruce Morin/WPRI)
Tags: angel taveras, chapter 9, municipal, pensions, providence, providence city council, providence financial crisis, providence police, unions
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
I have a bigger question. Since the ordinances they passed were illegal, we know for sure it violates the state disability law, the US constitution, the RI constitution…What about the oath of office these duly elected officials took? I promise to up hold the constitution of the US and state of RI? They fail the fairness test miserably. How do you steal from one group, while you let the real illegals run amok in your amnesty city? As for the 1033 scabs, I think the working men and woman will know how to treat them! Retired fire captain.
Again, who does the union represent? Retirees or current employees? If these changes don’t go through what is the alternative? Does that alternative, whether bankruptcy or not, include salary and benefit cuts and layoffs for current employees? If I am a current police officer or fire fighter am I really going to go picket and strike over the COLA benefits being paid to long retired people whose benefits are a major source of the reason my own livlihood is at stake?
Commons Sense Ri….I am a current police officer and believed you should stand up….defending currant and retired members. As this pastor said during World War II
“In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
– by Martin Niemöller, prominent German anti-Nazi theologian and Lutheran pastor, best known as the author of the poem First they came
You went there? Really? You’re not comparing yourself to a Jew under the Nazis are you? Please say you’re not. For your own credibility and that of your co-workers.
u must have been on the job 10 minutes wait till its your turn asshole…and u worked for 20 trs or more for shit u were promised…fuck u…..fight for everyone not just your selfish ass
[...] Providence Police Union plans to protest future fundrasiers for Mayor Angel Taveras. In an email obtained by WPRI, they write: “Be prepared to participate and stand your ground as this is going to be the [...]
What is it with you people thinking you are tough guys but you play the victim card. Too me most of you are nothing but trash. I don’t even know why Americans even let you exist. You people are pathetic and think you are owed a living. Many of you use your ethinicity as a weakness, when what your weakness is your own poor judgment, limited insight, and lack of ethics. Take responsiblity for your own actions.
The talking horse speaks again! Thanks for the show of intelligence.
Who do you speak of Ed? Ethnicity? So Americans should let who exist? These and other unanswered questions on the next Schizophrenia Ed reply.
Really simple to see the tactics used here. Threat in the media by vice president of police union that he is a xxxxxman with a gun and is angry. No let’s picket everything the politicians are doing. Bullies in the classic sense. If I don’t get my way, remember that I have a gun and will stalk you everywhere.
While I hate to say this, let the city go into bankruptcy and let the police officers be the first one to get significant pay cuts. Afterall, if you compare their pay to a military man or woman’s pay, you will find out that many more of the military people are dying for less wages.
the beat goes on. rhode island produces lowlife politicians. i thought taveras was different. apparently he is no different from the previous so called mayor.
I guess the angry black man with a gun remark by Clarence Gough was not despicable right.clarence got that line from an Eddie Murphy movie.
“The audacity of the Mayor and City Council to do such a thing on the night that we waked one of our own, who died in the line of duty for this City is underhanded, despicable and heartless, and a slap in the face to all of us”
Actually, what is “despicable” is that the union is attempting to politicize the tragic death of one of its own. Obviously the vote and the wake/funeral were entirely unrelated. The Mayor is trying to avoid bankruptcy. Maybe he will maybe he won’t. Maybe his methods for doing so are good or maybe they are not. But time is of the essence in all these things and this type of vote couldn’t be put off until the next council meeting simply because of the tragedy of Sgt. Dorley’s death. The union ought to be ashamed of itself in trying to link the two.
common sense, come on! Who in their right mind would not think about the wake for a line of duty death? It could have and should have waited.
There is someone dying in car accidents. How fast was he going and how many taxpayers did he put at risk?
Union leadership sat as pension trustees for decades and never bothered to say to their actuary “is this sustainable”. Now they are shocked, shocked to find gambling going on in the pension trust fund.
In pension land, a plan actuary sits down with the trustees annually to discuss the actuarial report on the health of the plan. I do not think police are really that stupid. It is more likely that it was by strategy to bury this problem from taxpayers with phony baloney actuarial reports.
Now they are all outraged. But their target is the wrong person.
GaryM, funny same actuary that said this was sound, today says what was I thinking????? Same company. Now to answer your question about union leaders sitting on the board, do some research, you will be shocked to find out when union’s dominated the board, returns were in the 20-26% range. As soon as the convict and chief saw this, he grabbed control. Ever since returns are in the toilet, while his campaign contributions went through the roof. But keep listening to him on WPRO. Him and his little rats.
Steve,
Actually, virtually every pension plan in the US, had similar investment results from 1983 to 2007. $1 dollar invested in the state plans in 1983 grew to around $7+ by 2000, then crashed back to $5+ by 2003, then soared to $10.76 by Sept 30, 2007. We all know what happened after 2007. (source Special House Commission Study, Feb, 2008)
Unions sitting on the Pension Boards had nothing to do with fund performance, only the funding levels, or lack thereof, required to meet the benefit levels.
Gary, the union dominated board did have investment control, this was lost when Cianci found a little used ordinance that said all city money will be invested by an investment committee……guess who picked the committee? His dishonor. They also had to live by a ordinance that said risky investments are completely out. This with no funding under Cianci and Paolino has caused the problem. I in no way think 5 or 6% COLA’S are alright, however at the rate of regular inflation, I will be living at Cross roads in 10 years. So which ever side you’re on, knowing ALL the facts I think is important. Thanks for listening. Steve.
Steve,
Thanks for the reply. I remember some of the background when Cianci did make the changes, but you’re closer to the details than I.
I still think the trustee’s got it wrong and should have been more active in pushing the funding issues. If anything, the discovery of “unsustainability” would have been a debate held over a decade ago.
One last point, as far as being on any side, I am on a side that protects what is possible in earned pension benefits. By that I mean that RI needs revenue from the private sector to maintain even what we have scaled back today.
That revenue is not on the horizon, and won’t be until RI becomes business competitive. My goal is to wake RI up to the reality that we aren’t just facing competition from Mass and Ct, we are facing it from places we didn’t even know were a place on any map.
Without taking the right steps, RI will soon become the Central Falls of New England.
Why doesn’t the Mayor and the City Council go after the very group of people who have done the most to make the fiscal problem worse?,the 5 and 6% Coloa pensioners. If the City truely believes they can prevail in court,then don’t stop short. Cut the 5-6% pensions to that of an active worker. This alone would save millions. No one should be making more than active worker in retirement!!! WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE TABLE??????? That together with a reduction or negotiated suspension of coloa would solve the problem.
I also fined it disturbing that the Mayor praises Brown for 3.8 million a year. Should be 10 times that!!!!!!!!!!
Ted, please ask the Mayor.
Another way to show how corrupted this state is!!! Screw the little people who are trying to live out the rest of their days after serving their city to protect those same asses that are cutting off their life lines. Good to see we all can afford to live on nothing while institutions like Brown University and LifeSpan don’t have to pay taxes into the state, only “extra money”. Can I sign on to that plan where I don’t have pay taxes but give extra money here and there every once in a while? Yet, the illegal pieces of crap that run around in this state living off of welfare and SSI and everything else we all have paid into are allowed to screw us more!! All politicians, here and in the US are all corrupted pieces of crap!! It’s all about everybody else but the true American Citizens!! It’s all about how much more money can we put into the bank account and when is the next raise?? Nobody has ever thought of auditing all their bank accounts have they? I bet everything that you will find all our money in those accounts!! RI has been corrupted since the days of Roger Williams and it continues to be corrupted today….Can’t argue history!!! RI is the most corrupted state in the US compared to any other state and that is a proven fact….time for people like to move on and take my money elsewhere where I know it will be used properly and I can see for myself it is….for example, Arizona!!!
You need to check your “proven fact”.
You’re right, that isn’t a proven fact.. They actually did a study on Wall Street, and wrote the following:
“New Jersey, where it seems former and current officials are indicted every year on ethics charges, received the highest grade in the country.”
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2012/03/22/americas-most-corrupt-states/#ixzz1uD5PtuS4
Please DO MOVE TO ARIZONA. And take your RACISM with you! Every chance you people get you want to throw “illegal pieces of crap” under the bus. Newsflash douche-nugget THIS ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MEXICANS
How about, every chance a legal citizen gets they toss the illegal dirt bag scum under the bus! Which is just fine with the citizens. Racism?? Your showing your racism aren’t you? What would Mexico do with illegal’s? think about that dope!
Since when are all illegals Mexicans? Mexicans make up large proportion of illegals in many parts of the country. In New England many are from further down the continent into South America. Also how many are from Cape Verde? In the early part of the 20th century most illegals were from southern Europe.
Ed What are you talking about? I do NOT see anywhere where I said ALL ILLEGAL”S ARE MEXICANS. Please point it out. What I asked was what would Mexico do to illegal’s in their country?
Quoting …”The union leaders went on to say they are working on “a viable legal and political attack against the City, the Mayor, the City Council and that City [pension] Ordinance.””
Think about it Providence TAXPAYERS …. the police (whose pensions are likely 3-5 TIMES yours) want MORE or YORE money. What makes them so “special” ?
Renege on 50+% of their pensions (NOT just the COLAs).
Greed HAS consequences.
It makes for great drama ‘Renege on 50% of their pensions.” What would you be saying of they cut your social security by 50%?. Something Police and fire don’t get.
%
hat
Had Enough,
Did you forget to mention that full career Police pensions are 5-10 times Social Security, and while full retirement age for SS is 65-67, it’s rarely more than 55 (and OFTEN 50 or younger) for police.
Your pensions are outright thievery … of which AT LEAST 50% is unjustified and must be reneged upon. Taxpayers are fed up with being ripped off by all Civil Servants with safety worker pensions being the greatest of the ripoffs.
If the pensions are bloated, and indeed 3-5x more than the average RI’er, and a result of shading dealing, then by all means…the whole state has to tighten their belt, including them. And I wonder, if they choose to picket, will anyone be violating their free speech? Will anyone be pepper spraying them?
What bull, my wifes ss will be about 3/4s of my fire captain pension. Maybe too many working mim wage. And the amount I put in over the same period? 3% more. If you want someone to blame, like I said, call WPRO and ask the convict and chief.
Steve D, I don’t believe you for one second. The MAXIMUM SS is about $2,400/mo or $28,800/yr. and them only if the worker has ALWAYS been at the maximum wage base throughout 35 years of employment.
That means the Fire Captain’s pension would be a MAXIMUM of $28,800/0.75 = $38,400.
With a full-career pension of likely 75% of final pay, that would mean the Captain’s final pay was no greater than $38,400/0.75=$51,200
No way …. your full of it …. and likely you (or a family member) is riding the Civil Servant (pension-ripoff) gravy train.
Thievery??? Tell that to the widows who only get a percentage after an officer or fireman a makes the ulimate sacfrice. Then everyone lines up and says thanks for your service. Your a fraud!
I was expecting one of you sucking at the Tax[payer’s teak to bring up the “HERO card”. Well done !
Had Enough, Gov’t list of the 10 most dangerous occupations:
Fishermen, Logging, Airplane pilots, Farmers and ranchers, Mining machine operators, Sanitation workers, Truck drivers and delivery workers, Industrial machine operators, Police officers.
Police Officers are last and Firefighters are not even on the list.
The ONLY reason Safety worker pensions are so excessive is because your Unions bribes our elective representatives with campaign contributions and election support in return for favorable votes on pension legislation.
A 50% cut is both necessary and eminently fair … to Taxpayers who are now called upon to pay for 80-90% of these absurdly generous pensions.
My wife’s SS will be about 2600. my Pension is around 3650 wow.
Tough love watch what your spewing. In Mass, Fire fighting just moved to number 1 most dangerous job in MA. The reason the deaths went down, (FF;s were number 1 for 50 years) is because of minimum manning and UNIONS. That dirty word. The reason Mass fire fighters way up is budget cuts and cutting manpower. But you are the expert right? Those other jobs, many job deaths are directly related to their own stupidity. Truck drivers driving 20 hrs straight, fishing industry is rampant with drug abusers, construction workers, not watching where the truck is backing up. And look up injuries find out where they stand on that list.
Steve, You logic is twisted to justify absurd pensions for Public Sector safety workers.
Under YOUR logic, America’s soldiers should each get $50 Million pension …. Soldiers (on the front line and exposed to death every day) are real heros, not you guys.
You have just simply succeeded in buying the votes of our elected officials (with campaign contributions and election support) who granted these excessive pensions.
Notice the wording, “a viable legal”. Unlike our elected officals the unions will do things LEGALLY!
What would happen if there were to be a ‘Blue Flu’ during the Dominican Festival this Summer?
A “Blue Flu” should be responded to with a Ronald Regan moment …. where all are summarily fired and replaced with new officers who would appreciate the opportunity, and start off fresh, maybe not thinking they are better and more deserving than those that pay their salaries.
I retired in 2005 and my salary as a captain in the busiest fire dept in RI was 997.00 per week. So your calculations were correct. How much do you think we make? I always worked a second job and paid SS which I cannot collect and I pay full now and still cannot collect. Enjoy your SS on me. LOL
2005 was 7 years ago. What’s the the final pay of a retiring captain today ?
And FYI, other than SS, Private sector pensions are never COLA-adjusted. Taxpayers have little sympathy for ending your COLAs.
As for Public Sector workers getting reduced SS, the SS provision that reduces the benefit is call the “Windfall Elimination Provision” for good reason …. to prevent an unjustified “windfall” that would otherwise be paid. Google it, and if you have an open mind, you’ll understand why it exists.
1033- drop the word UNION from your name, your boss just made you all SCABS. We should have let you guys ROT when you went on strike in ’81. POS’
I love it when you posters just grab numbers and figures out of the sky and make assumptions because, well……it sounds good. NO CLUE as to what you’re talking about and no clue as to actual numbers or what it would take to solve this. Just spew shit cause it sounds good. Why don’t you look to the leadership of this state and city and realize the REAL problems. They’ve got you morons believing that the whole RI economic crisis is because of retirees and what they get (and what they paid for- just like you pay for your social security- except we paid a lot more)when this state is falling apart because all we keep doing is voting in these idiot crooks. When this is all over, regardless of the outcome- this state is still going to be in an abyss, only this time maybe they’ll blame you.
I don’t understand all this anger directed at Police and Fire…I don’t get it, except for the fact that they are union jobs, and Fox News has told many of you to be anti union. Yup, the $30,000 a year pensioner is the problem, not the millionaire who pays almost no taxes. Oh sorry, the “job creator.”
The pension issue needs to be fixed, everyone involved realizes that I think, it seems like the police and fire unions are more upset about how it was done. It’s probably more complicated than people realize since it seems confusing with the retirees not being represented by the active unions but active unions involved in negotiations? Who knows. Something has to be done though.
I can’t stand people making up “facts” about something they are obviously misinformed. Are you really that angry with your pathetic little life that you sit in front of Fox News all day and just make up numbers to make your ridiculous points?
As for 1033…Ever wonder why there is a public test for the Fire and Police Depts. but you never see city jobs advertised in the paper? You don’t become a $50,000 grass cutter because you don’t know anybody. All of 1033 employees are politically connected. I bet you could eliminate half of them and no one would know. See what happens if you eliminate half the Police or Fire Dept.
Bottom line ….. “cash pay” is no lower in the Public Sector. THEREFORE to prevent greater Public Sector “Total Compensation” (pay + pensions + benefits) which is both unnecessary and unfair to taxpayers …. public Sector pensions and benefits (as a % of pay) should also be no greater than what Private Sector workers get from their employers.
Well, those pensions and benefits are a whole lot higher today … and that needs to change.
So what does a private sector police officer or firefighter make?? There is nothing to compare it to. Just saying