Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PFD are a bunch of whining sissies. Will the Canteen Truck be bringing you snacks and coffee while you are picketing?

Any sympathy I had for these firefighters is totally gone. Their selfish behavior is in stark contrast to their comrades in San Diego, another city where there is large budget deficit, where tthe firefighters took a voluntary 6% pay cut.

799 are a bunch of Spoiled Brats.

Who cares who comes to this "rub and tug" event. I'm glad that national leaders may have time to do something useful. Only political junkies of the lowest order get excited about a mayor's conference.

Cicciline lies again. He has had plenty of time to show real leadership and get this contract settled. Presidential candidate Edwards canceled an appearance here as well. When will this mayor do his job?

This is 2009.

How is it even POSSIBLE for any little union negotiator to plead that the union members not pay at least half of their health coverage?

Lay them off...one by one.

I'm so glad they're not getting a penny of MY tax dollars.

Are YOU happy?

Hey Ed, WHY is it up to the city to cave into the FF's demands in order for the Mayor to look like a leader? Why shouldn't the FF's contribute to their health care?

As far as the VP and the other cronies go... what a bunch of cowards?? You haven't got the nerve to cross a picket line in order to address the leaders of the cities in this country while we are in economic crisis?? What a bunch of BABIES!!

These union leaders don't get it. Thanks for ruining it for the rest of us... A selfish firefighter, doesn't sound safe at all. Grow up and lead by example. Thank you Mayor for standing your ground and being a leader against today's scandals.

I am sick and tired of these thugs trying to extort unreasonable demands from the taxpayer. I am thrilled that Ciciline is syaing no to them. They shjould be ashamed of themselves - and so should Biden for siding with them against us.

David Cicciline nothing but lies again...compare Providence fire contracts to others in new england you will find our's is lacking. It is no different than almost any fire department in the country as far as retirement goes...and we pay more for it. every other fire department in the state gets the same pension with less wait for their cola however the buisiest and the best will get left behind...We want fair contracts...don't let davey fool you he won't even talk to us. We have to rely on tactics such as this to even get his attention! Dont be fooled by the biggest lying mayor this city has ever had. support the men and woman who continue to give their all for you.

how dare they call thuis a press confrence he puts the dam thing on utube because no one from the real press wants to talk to this guy anymore unless it has to cleaning courption from what he says is from 8 years ago from buddies watch lol lol loll what jerk you get what you vote for,

The Mayor is exactly doing his job, Ed, protecting the taxpayers from greedy employees.

We'd make a good start on fiscal sanity in this state if we fired all public employees and started over.

The bullying of the PFD has to stop. As a taxpayer, I am grateful to Mayor Cicilline for trying to undo the damage done by Mayors Cianci and Paolino.

The PFD are a bunch of crybabies, rude SOBs who care only about their benefits and not the city taxpayers. I've seen them strutting around Stop & Shop on Branch Ave. buying their food on the city's time while their trucks burn expensive gas. And their silly practice runs up and down Cypress Street forced me to leave the city. Not that I think the mayor is any better, mind you. Oh, he must be stomping his tiny little feet in his office this afternoon!

Thank God at least someone in this city will stick up for all of us who don't get the ridiculous attention of the self-serving firefighters and their union

This is outrageous. The firefighters are an embarrassment. If these people don't attend the conference, less work for other union members -- particularly the hotel & resaurant workers. How do the firefighters spell solidarity?

The mayor is clearly doing what he can in these difficult circumstances.

The union's actions embody the dark, twisted side of democracy in this country, displaying the extent to which lobbying groups and unions wish to hijack the political process. Sadly enough, they are successful in their attempts way too often. Anyway, glad to see someone standing up for the taxpayers.

I'm a strong supporter of organized labor and a former shop steward and union organizer, but these Providence firefighters are an embarrassment to the city and to the labor movement. It's because of workers like them that people have turned against unions.

Maybe privatizing firefighting isn't such a bad idea after all - at least in Providence.

Pa..lea..se! Waah! Waah! Waah! Who does little David think he is fooling. This was nothing more than a grandstand on his part. He knew that Democrats were not going to cross a picket line just as they had refuse to in the past. If he had negoitiated contracts for the past several years instead of dumping it off to Arbitration every year, perhaps the members of Local 799 would be willing to make concessions to help the city through. Arn't they currently in Arbitration for 2007? He continues to make false statements to the media after breaking a promise to help get him elected. He can trash talk the firefighters and the union officials all he wants, but the truth will prevail. This was nothing more than a self-confidence boost for this little man who cannot tell the truth. Hang tough Local 799 and congratulations to once again holding David's feet to the fire of truth. Guess he didn't like that crimping his style!

I agree make sure the canteen truck is there.

Someone please FIRE all the Providence firefighters. Those crybabies make me sick. Rhode Island has the HIGHEST firefighting cost per capita of any state in the USA and the PFD still whines! That's complete BS.

Building codes and safer methods of lighting have made firefighters almost obsolete anyway. This PFD situation is completely ludicrous and is making me lose all respect for firefighters.

there are many things i do not agree with the mayor on but this is not one of them - we pay some of the highest tax rates in the country and PFD is one of the best paid fire departments in the country - they should be ashamed of themselves - in the middle of a fiscal/financial crisis of global proportions everyone needs to do their part - WAKE UP YOU SHMUCKS - the rest of this country makes co-pays and most of us do not have a pension period - you have it pretty good

Cicilline & Doughty--I don't see either of them wearing a white hat. What a sad, sad city. It's too bad.

Do waht Reagan did with the air controllers. Fire them. You cannot have mission critical workers extorting a city.

Also, invesigate this union and all ranking officials. Who are they, what members of the general assembly are doing their business, lobbying for thier interests?

The mob is alive and well in Rogue's Island and nowhere is the 'Black Hand' more visable than in certain municpal unions. The percentage of people out on full injured pay is absurd. This is a corrupt group of scaliwags - they're likely stealing as much from the union members as from the City!

Let's put together a volunteer PFD

It is amazing how low these unions will go. Dont they realize that unions have played a large part in the failure of many american idustries? Without the unions the USA would still be number 1 in the car industry. Firefighters do a dangerous job, but lets be honest here, they think they are above everything. Fire them all and get some people who really care about saving lives, and less about bankrupting the state.

If cicilline has indeed negotiated in good faith why has the city lost a dozen straight arbitrations and millions of tax payers dollars paying for his losing personal battle. How can the firefighters be seen as the unreasonable party when the neutral arbitrators, whose selection is agreed upon by both, continually agree with 799. David is lying to you..,

Good for the Obama Administration to respect the workers of the country and not cross a picket line. I applaud their stand. The only one to blame for the administration not coming is Ciciline and his corrupt family (friends too). He is unwilling to deal with the unions for to long and has put all problems relating to city goverment on the backs of the workers. Yet he has made poor judgements and takes no accountability. Let's look over his career anytime there is questionable doings someone gets fired yet they all say Ciciline told them to do it. So once I hope that the firemen of Providence do picket as well as other Firemen of this state and Mass, as well as Police Officers. I'll be there to support them if they do.

"Rhode Island has the HIGHEST firefighting cost per capita of any state in the USA" ? I'd like to see those figures. Providence FF's provide the finest fire protection in the state, and it is one of the top departments in New England. Let me ask a question: Some municipalities used to use RI Blue Cross to cover/supplement health care costs in case of an on duty injury - does Providence engage in this practice? If they do, it is suddenly not such a clear cut issue. Would you want to contribute out of pocket for your workers comp coverage? This issue is much more complex than politicians would have the taxpayers believe.

The facts are not getting out. The union has offered to co-pay on health care several times, but the mayor will not bring them up to date on their contract. They are working at a 2004 pay rate. They have not had a raise in 5 years. The mayor makes it sound like they refuse to co-pay, but in reality, they have agreed to co-pay several times, but the mayor won't give them a signed deal. Don't be fooled by Cicilline. He only lies when his lips are moving.

Say whatever you will .... stand beside either side of this issue....but please.....
We all know that whatever you say here behind the screen is NOT what you would say to any of these Firefighters as they run into a burning building to save the life of your daughter...son....grandchild...wife or even you yourself.
So as they are in the middle of your street in the dark of night rain snow and such doing whatever is necessary to save your life.....will you have the nerve to look one of them in the eyes and tell him/her that you were one of the ppl that bashed the day lights out of them today....
I say you may well have a totally different outlook on who they are and what they do every day.
In your happy little job w/ 2 15 minute breaks and you 1 hour lunch in a corporate lunch room w/ a cappuccino machine bashing firemen because deep inside you wanted to be one..isn't it true that most lash out at what they do not understand?..remember that at any second of any day a Firefighter is putting his/her life on the line for a perfect stranger....would you do that....really?
And I have the nerve to say my name......
Dave Mason and in live off Reservoir Ave. by the Cranston line.

Rhode Island's economy is in sad shape. Obama and his administration are embarking on some ambitious overhauls of health care, banking, taxes, etc. etc. And this event where the mayors of our country would get to meet and strategize with them would have some symbolic, if not practical, value. And even if that weren't the case, it least it will help with convention dollars and national tv time and prestige for the city. But the firefighters see possible tv cameras and decide to make this about THEM.

I think it's shameful that the union had to hijack this event. It's looks lousy for Rhode Island and doesn't help our reputations with some very powerful politicians across this country. The firemen have their grievances and have aired them again and again and again... but at this point, it's just hurting the city and the very tax rolls that pay their salaries. It's sad they have no respect for the very city they are enlisted to protect.

get your facts

Great job Local 799! Fire Cicilline! Score one for the god guys!

Only 20% of US companies offer any pension benefit and 100% have no COLA adjustment...the whole public sector benefit system is collapsing.

I use to sympythize with you firefighters, but now I have no respect for you at all.
Your selfish act is unforgivable.
Why cant you firefighters give it a rest, and do your picketing on another day?
Like many other rhode islanders, I am happy to have high ranking officials to come visit our beloved state.
This is the second time you guys scared them off. The first time I remembered was when Hillary Clinton was running for president, and now this. Thanks alot firefighters. So much for being a hero.

Dont you firefighters get it? The city cannot afford your proposal. WE are in a recession.
Take whats offered to you and move on. When the economy is better then you can sit down again and talk. You should be grateful you're getting something while others cant even get an interview.
Stop hurting everybody else with your selfish act.
WE are not amuse. Lets all ban any donations that goes toward the fire fighters of providence.

Keep the faith Mayor and keep your stance against the firefighters union. I witnessed along with my children their behavior outside a fundraiser last night, one word-rude. Many of them were overweight , out of shape(comments from my 10 year old daughter-Mom -how could that man run into a burning building and save lives???) My two older boys noticed many a MA plate-how many protestors were from Providence or just brought into protest??? Local 799 you should be ashamed of yourselves, look around you everyone else is contributing to their fair share-what's your excuse.
PS My youngest daughter thinks that many of you need to get in shape!!!!
fzmcje

I find it disturbing that Mayor Cicilline is unable to settle the firefighter’s contract with a membership of less then 500. There are other labor unions in this country with thousands of members and much bigger issues at stake and they get settled. It seems that the Mayor is lacking the skills needed to get the job done. I blame the leaders of the City of Providence for this embarrassing stalemate.

Listen; assign a key member of the staff to sit down EVERYDAY with the firefighters union until the damn contact gets settled. From what I've read, the arbitrator awards in favor of the Providence Firefighters Union every time. This does not say much for the City and the Mayor. Mr. Cicilline’s inability to put this longstanding labor dispute to bed, speaks volumes of his lack of leadership abilities. By the Mayor merely taking a "firm stand" against the firefighters, it does not settle a contact, but rather, displays a weak and stubborn Mayor who can’t get the job done.

Greg I could agree with you more!!!The providence journal selects a few working hard individuals and suddenly everyone is making huge money. The mayor is a disgrace and a union buster.
The things the mayor wants the union to agree to (for you idiots) will bring the standard of living down for the ff. Why should they agree.
One comment "Fire them all," and I am sure if a building burns you will be the first in there. Right???

Local 799 should be ashamed. Not only can they not pay part of their healthcare, they are making it more difficult for others to make a buck. Conferences bring much needed money to RI and provide a boost to hospitality workers. With so many unemployed in our state, how can they do this? Union labor needs to recognize that EVERYONE needs to pay for a portion of their own healthcare. By refusing to do this, they taint all their other demands. This situation is ridiculous. I support Cicilline in not backing down.

Local 799.............pay part of your health care like everybody else in this country. Waaaaah!
If you don't like it get another job. Just do your job. I am pissed at the union. I am going to picket the firefighters!!!!!yqjx

Well, I guess that little martinet in Providence City Hall now knows who his friends are. You know little David, the Obama administration has been throwing billions at the UAW in a futile effort to save the American automobile industry, so the AFL/CIO is not a group that you should be tangling with. You liberals have thrown money at the big labor for so long that it's finally come back to bite you in the butt! This is really comical you phoney!

I don't know why we even need any of our elected leaders here in RI.
They are just a bunch of needless middlemen who cost us a lot of money.
It's clear the unions run the state and towns.
It's time to call a spade a spade.
Look at Cranston and & E Providence, their elected leaders can't even choose who will run the police department.
Isn't that why we elect them, to make executive decisions? But those cities gave that right/responsibility away to the unions.
Nothing new in that, it has been this way in every form of government here in RI for years.
Come on, the unions run the place, lets just be honest with ourselves.
Lets just get on with business, get rid of all elected offices and get out of the way of the unions and let them do what they do best.
Run RI and extort money from the tax payers.

When will RI Officials realize that the unions are the leaders in RI? Private businesses have given pay cuts to employees, increased health care contributions and cut work hours. We have all accepted this practice and work together to secure our positions with companies who are being forced to close due to poor revenues in RI. The union has just cost RI businesses much revenue and totally embarassed the mayor who is trying to maintain the reputation of the state. Hopefully, this mayor's conference will be the final chapter of rebellion and our elected officials will fire and replace all the union workers as President Reagan did with the Striking Airline Pilots.

This is the difference between Mayors and other elected officials. They are management and have to cross picket lines. Everyone else who don't have to deal with Unions have the luxury of not crossing.

What the Firefighters are doing didn't work in Boston a few years ago, and won't here. What it will do is hurt the country and specifically Rhode Island. It will actually reduce what the city would have gotten from them conference, and it won't be made up.

Unions around the country are in trouble. Not because they can't get paid well. But because they get paid too well. We can't afford it, and when the economy is going sour, its their members that are more likely to lose their jobs to cut costs.

Obviously this Union hasn't got it yet.

Providence FF's provide the finest fire protection in the state, and it is one of the top departments in New England. Let me ask a question: Some municipalities used to use RI Blue Cross to cover or supplement health care costs in case of an on duty injury - does Providence engage in this practice? If they do, it is suddenly not such a clear cut issue is it? Would you want to contribute out of pocket for your workers comp coverage? This issue is much more complex than politicians would have the taxpayers believe.

Given the economic hardship and financial crisis that our State, as well as much of the country is in, it is shameful to read of the continuing selfishness of the Providence firefighters. If the mayor was as inadequate and incompable as they would paint him, the city of Providence would be in ruin by now. This situation is a microcosm of the self-interest ruination of RI politics. Thank you Mayor Cicilline for doing the right thing.

Too bad the fireman decided to picket this event, it would have been great to have the Obama team in town for this all important event.
The fireman should be ashamed of themselves for destroying this fine event because of their greed.As a Providence taxpayer I have lost all respect for thge fireman of our city.
I wish the Mayor had the ability to fire them all, what we need are fireman who care for the city and a proud of the city, not a bunch of crybabies.
Fireman have been ripping off the city for years, by manuplating the overtime system, by taking advantage of the disability retirement system I say fire them all, they are all worthless.

This isn't an embarrasment to the mayor, or to the firefighters- it's an embarrasment to the city. Great job all around for displaying more of the cities dirty laundry to a national audience.