Why?
For the first time in decades, all of the municipal unions will be picketing this event. And, since I believe in a strong American middle class, I do not cross picket lines.
Why are the unions picketing?
Well, pretty much everyone knows about the Providence Firefighter's contract dispute. President Paul Doughty is quoted in N4N saying that this is "the first time in modern history that all six unions have been on the same page, at the same place." Note, in recent months, Cicilline has been censured by the International Association of Fire Fighters and, in 2006, Cicilline was censured by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.
Background: I have been a supporter of the Firefighters in this dispute. I think the City has wasted short-term and long-term taxpayer dollars in paying millions of dollars to labor lawyers who keep losing more and more in arbitration. What exactly has the City won in these years of obstinate fighting? I believe in running a cost-effective and efficient city government. I believe in hiring more Providence residents and more women and people of color into city jobs. I also believe in collective bargaining and worker's rights. These three beliefs can co-exist. They are currently not co-existing in Providence City Hall.
And, the reason that the other city unions are joining the Firefighters starting at 500pm outside of Waterplace restaurant this afternoon is because of the City's switch in health care plans from Blue Cross to United HealthCare and the subsequent possible gaps in coverage for workers and higher costs for retirees. Health care. It's a big deal for working families.
While the city unions have applauded the City's action in seeking competitive bids and have supported all cost saving measures, they have maintained their request to secure all of their current coverage.
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