Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

This sends the bickering parties on the fast track towards possible resolution. Justice Williams has made a fair and equitible ruling to try and coax these two parties to settle their differences for the best of all involved, the workers and the taxpayers. I just wish that Justice Willaims could have made this binding, but he would have been overstepping his bounds. A least then everyone would know where the stand without more appeals and the Governor and his cronies could implement what they next plan to do to allegedly save us while making their friends even richer.

So isn't this what the union asked for right after they rejected the latest offer?

The Governor is clearly angry because ALL judges in this case ask him to follow the law. He has made some very difficult decisions and I believe
he feels as if the rest of this deficit SHOULD
be balanced on the backs of more state workers.
I am not surprised that his decisions to cut the deficit on the backs of the poor and disinfranchised happened...he did that because he could. Some laws are made to rectify situations like this...apparently
he feels as if he's above the law....my answer to that is...if you don't like the law...WORK TO CHANGE IT. The "little people" have to...why shouldn't he?
Same as it ever wuz.

I have a hard time understanding why it even needs to go to mediation.

Why not just go to Superior Court?

Carcieri is clearly in the right and Council 94 continues to poke at butterflies.

I feel for the people of Council 94 because they apparently are being headed by someone who doesn't mind gambling with their paychecks and livelihoods.

If the Governor doesn't save the $10M here, he'll save it in other ways.

Carcieri is nothing but a bully! Most Rhode Islanders cant even afford 1 house, let along 4! It's time YOU, Don take the pay cut!

The governor shows time and time again, he is going to do what he wants!!! Two more years of this guy!!

Already the submliminal threats and scare tactics. Although King Don is "hopeful", I am willing to bet he will try to push the same (or worse) agreement down the state employees' throats. The "good faith" is a crock, as I am sure we will see. He has not shown much good faith all along in this, why would he start now. I hope the state employees do not cower to his bullying and scare tactics and stand their ground. Do not take anything unacceptable (as in the last agreement). You can see this through--let it go all the way. If the plan is changed to a percentage of salary, rather than percentage of premium it would be fair to everyone. Even though King Don vows that he wants to save the state money, he has already shown through this that it is more of a power thing for him than anything. And the state employees should not think that they have to take it.

Imagine instead of state workers, the governor decided to impose a tax on 5000 RI taxpayers of a certain income bracket and no one else like it's all our fault and say "this is what I need to balance the budget" this is what he imposed on state workers the plan was unfair to start, we all knew we would pay more for our health care and I fully expect to pay the same amount as in the governors plan, only it has to be based on income rather than premium, the lower income individuals should not pay the same as people making twice their salary it's just not right. It took the Supreme Court and god know how many thousands of "taxpayer dollars" in legals costs for the Gov. to do what he should have done in the first place

I hope they don't allow the increase premium because as soon as that happens Carcieri can fire 1,000's of the workers and get rid of them. They won't have to worry about a co-share when they are out of a job. Good luck trying to find a new job with state employee on the resume.

WHAT? The governor is not ABOVE THE LAW? Who knew?

Something isn't right when you get to sit in a big swivel chair with a big pension and tell people who worked 29 years for a 30 year pension that they can't have it.

Clearly we are in denial as to the need for a modification and very necessary reform in the collective State Behavior. That is citizens, institutions, unions, and even pockets embedded in state government are apparently utilized as tools resisting a continuation of policy change in State government, as reflected by the Lawful and approved state budget!!

We appreciate the efforts of Governor Carcieri to implement the approved state budget moving this state into the 21 st Century and reality of a global economy. Moreover create an environment where Rhode Island could participate in innovation and technology developments. This is the engine that drives an economy creating wealth and adding value. Yes, jobs and the prosperity that provides funding for education, public works et al.

We must all ask ourselves why is it so difficult for us to first understand the obviousness second why is it becoming increasingly difficult to make the very necessary and mandatory changes?

First we have a "Policy Decision" generated by our State of RI Government in the form of a budget constructed / approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor.

This budget acknowledges / reflects the need for some real modifications in behaviors in the State of Rhode Island so to speak. This is intended to continue the multi year task getting our house back in order.

The budget identified several areas for modification.

Basically the size and cost of state government is no longer affordable. Moreover one of many corrections required is that our state is paying well above market value for State Employee total compensation. Specifically to start gradually addressing this situation towards an eventual reform - employees are expected to start paying towards a fair share of their benefits cost. I note still not yet approaching market value for other public sector employees in total pay and benefits, but a start.

Yes, I would think this means gradually even further corrections in the future. Accordingly such communicated to ALL state workers in advance. Subsequent contract renewal talks had such on the agenda etc. This reform is not negotiable but rather mandatory. The State is not obliged to over pay and has the obligation to start a corrective process where eventually continued reform parity with market rates is realized.

Today we are still focused on only one of the budget items e.g. the State Employee Labor Union Council 94.

While this is only one small element of much larger change it has become a flash pont and in fact identifies a fundamental flaw in implementation of the budget in its totality!
We must accordingly address this flaw.

We in RI must understand the difference in a "POLICY change" legally adapted after due deliberation and its implementation VS the very necessary "processes and methodologies" / policies and procedures in place in any long standing institution e.g. how they have traditionally done business. Couple to this the semi or quasi independent boards created to facilitate such.

Finally the rules of the game e.g. "rule of law". This dispensed by a state legal system that apparently exhibits some difficulty and issues plus many similar behavior short falls as the other State government institutions?

What this means is that the in place government institution itself is being utilized to resist the necessary changes e.g. new policy (already LAW) in this case approved budget)! Again - This very dangerous situation must be corrected.

Based on the behaviors of our state labor union & their "leadership" and even certain institutions of government We apparently cannot seem to comprehend or elect to be in denial as to the social economic realities of today.

Yes, where embedded institutions e.g. the court System and even pockets in the general assembly might still be clearly ignorant or in denial of today's realities?

Unfortunately today we have eroded to both a RI State Environment where the cost of government is exceptional high and the cost of doing business is much less competitive. This budget continued to address modifications that were intended to improve the State for ALL citizens.

What this means in part is that jobs in buggy wip industries evaporate and are not replaced by new jobs. Hence we spiral at an increased rate into an under educated and under trained work force. This causes even additional jobs to erode.

Today the size of the tax paying work force to total population and a ratio to state employees is dangerously low. Or to express it another way to few paying the cost of government and a high ratio of state workers with compensation packages much better than market value / private sector.

The General Assembly and Governor have a State of Rhode Island Budget already approved and signed into law. This budget must be implemented with dispatch. Those elements in or outside of government resisting the over due paradigm shift must be corrected. As such government facilitates the necessary implementation of the approved budget.

Yes, access of "a timely & due process of law" and not rewriting law or attempting to Govern from the bench or appointed board.

We offer that the State has a right, duty and obligation to correct this situation. We may all debate the results but the changes must be implemented with dispatch.
WE encourage the Governor and General Assembly to stay the course and now get on with the totality of the budget implementation.

This budget acknowledges / reflects the need for some real modifications in behaviors in the State of Rhode Island. This is just one of several actions intended to continue the multi year task getting our house back in order.

Clearly we are in denial as to the need for a modification and very necessary reform in the collective State Behavior. That is citizens, institutions, unions, and even pockets embedded in state government are apparently utilized as tools resisting a continuation of policy change in State government. Yes, as reflected by the Lawful and approved state budget!!

Clearly Union compensation e.g. pay and benefits are out of alignment with prevailing market rates for both public and private sector.

We must all ask ourselves why is it so difficult for us to first understand the obviousness second why is it becoming increasingly difficult to make the very necessary and mandatory changes.

While this is only one small element of much larger change it has become a flash point and in fact identifies a fundamental flaw in implementation of the budget in its totality!
We must accordingly address this flaw.

Yes, access of "a timely & due process of law" and not rewriting law or attempting to Govern from the bench or appointed board.

We in RI must understand the difference in a "POLICY change" legally adapted after due deliberation and its implementation VS the very necessary "processes and methodologies" / policies and procedures in place in any long standing institution e.g. how they have traditionally done business. Such Couple to this the semi or quasi independent boards created to facilitate such.

Finally the rules of the game e.g. "rule of law". This dispensed by a state legal system that apparently exhibits some difficulty and issues with change plus many similar behaviors short falls as the other State government institutions?

We must ask - is the in place government institution itself is being utilized to resist the necessary changes e.g. new policy (already LAW) in this case approved budget)! Again - This very dangerous situation must be corrected.

Based on the behaviors of our state labor union & their "leadership" and even certain institutions of government We apparently cannot seem to comprehend or elect to be in denial as to the social economic realities of today.

Yes, where embedded institutions e.g. the court System and even pockets in the general assembly might still be clearly ignorant or in denial of today's realities?

Unfortunately today we have eroded to both a RI State Environment where the cost of government is exceptional high and the cost of doing business is much less competitive. This budget continued to address modifications that were intended to improve the State for ALL citizens.

Today the size of the tax paying work force to total population and a ratio to state employees is dangerously low. Or to express it another way to few paying the cost of government and a high ratio of state workers with compensation packages much better than market value / private sector.

The General Assembly and Governor have a State of Rhode Island Budget already approved and signed into law. This budget must be implemented with dispatch. Those elements in or outside of government resisting the over due paradigm shift must be corrected. As such government facilitates the necessary implementation of the approved budget.

We appreciate the efforts of Governor Carcieri to implement the approved state budget moving this state into the 21 st Century and reality of a global economy. Moreover create an environment where Rhode Island could participate in innovation and technology developments. This is the engine that drives an economy creating wealth and adding value. Yes, jobs and the prosperity that provides funding for education, public works et al.

Wfh
Middletown, RI

Simply cut the wages of all state employees earning over 100 k per year by 10%. There are well over 1500 state workers paid over 100 thousand dollars or more a reduction of 10% would be 15,000,000 five million more than what the Governor is looking for.

Oh wait those are his appointed jobs we can't cut them.
Cut the people making 25 k he thinks they are nothings anyway

Another dubious opinion from a State Supreme Court rated as one of the lowest in the country by most legal schools.

The court has no role in this matter other than to: Uphold or overturn the governor's decision.

Mediation etc etc is not the role of the court.

The gov. clearly has the power to do what he did.

It is an outrage when we have a State who cannot come to grips with the fact that the entire workforce in Rhode Island cannot continue to pay the full load of a State Worker's benefits. What the Governer is trying to implement is something the rest of the workforce has been dealing with their entire employment history. NO MORE FREE RIDES FOR STATE WORKERS!!!! The rest of us have to help pay for our benefits and the State Workers should have to do the same!!!

Hey George, the unemployed state workers would love to hire you for toilet latrine work. I would give you benefits and lots of bowls to work on. Cant wait to hear what you do for a living besides whine and complain, maybe collect some type of benefits from the taxpayers with the check late or something.

Another example of this governors arrogance and clear misunderstanding of how the public sector works. The only thing that has happened during this administrations initiatives is failure. Maybe a vote of no confidence is long overdue. What do all of us taxpayers say. This business mans time is long overdue. No new businesses, old businesses leaving (can.t even hang on to American Express!@#$

Nice job "Don"