E-News: March 14, 2024
An updated Union Directory listing union goods and services in R.I. can be found on our website at www.RhodeIslandAFLCIO.org under the “Resources” tab.
Here is the direct link—-> Union Directory
The Boston Globe: More R.I. TV stations face scrutiny after WPRI provides back pay for Sundays, holidays
EAST PROVIDENCE — WPRI 12 this week found itself where no news outlet wants to be — its internal problems written about by a different news outlet — after it gave back pay to staffers who’d worked Sundays and certain holidays but hadn’t been paid time and a half.
It turns out WPRI isn’t alone in facing issues with Rhode Island wage laws.
Rhode Island TV stations WJAR Channel 10 and ABC6 also aren’t paying hourly employees time and a half on Sundays, according to workers there. And Rhode Island PBS, like WPRI, addressed the issue recently, but workers there are pushing for more, according to a union representative.
Hourly employees in Rhode Island are entitled to time and a half on Sundays and state holidays. Some industries are exempt from that law, but TV stations aren’t among them, the state’s labor department says.
And in recent months, workers at other stations around Rhode Island — not just WPRI — have argued they’re entitled to more pay.
“The law is the law,” said Fletcher Fischer, the business manager of the union IBEW Local 1228, which represents workers at stations around New England.
Fischer said the issue of Sunday premium pay came up late last year when the union was in contract negotiations at Rhode Island PBS, where it represents broadcast technicians. The shop steward brought up the issue of Rhode Island PBS not paying time and a half for Sundays, Fischer said. The station eventually agreed to address it with three years of back pay, and has been issuing checks, Fischer said, but the union is pushing for the station to go back further than three years. Rhode Island PBS did not respond to a request for comment.
Climate Jobs RI Twitter:
Last night, @pvdcitycouncil passed a carbon neutral municipal buildings ordinance in its first step toward enacting its #ClimateJobsCity resolution! A big win for the climate, justice, and jobs.
Providence Journal: Providence City Council wants carbon-neutral city buildings by 2040. How will it happen?
PROVIDENCE – The City Council passed a law Thursday night to require that municipal buildings are carbon-neutral by 2040.
The ordinance, sponsored by 10 of the body’s 15 members – including Council President Rachel Miller – encourages energy efficiency, and it includes schools. It urges that buildings are equipped with “electric heating and cooling systems, electric hot water heating, 100% renewable energy consumption, maximum on-site renewable energy production, thermal energy networks and biofuel or battery electric emergency backup facilities.”
Council President Rachel Miller said the first step will be for the city to take inventory of how many buildings need adjustments to go carbon-neutral.
Ordinance gives city’s climate plan teeth
The plan began coming together in September 2023 with the work of Climate Jobs Rhode Island, a coalition attempting to marry the interests of laborers and environmentalists. The group helped create a resolution to make Providence “America’s first climate jobs city,” which entails a long list of changes, from decarbonizing buildings to promoting green infrastructure and providing environmental education.
However, resolutions don’t have teeth, and they tend to be symbolic. That’s where the ordinance on municipal buildings comes in. It would allow the city to enforce part of its resolution. Climate Jobs Rhode Island was tasked with helping the council draft such laws to accomplish the resolution’s goals. Read more here.
General Teamsters Local 251 Facebook:
TEAMSTERS 251 IN PROVIDENCE ST PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
Teamsters walked along with a Teamster training truck in the 2024 St Patrick’s Day parade in Providence this weekend. Organized Labor was well represented in the community event.
Providence Business News: Report: R.I. pension overhaul increased employee attrition
PROVIDENCE – A new report by a Washington, D.C.-based think tank says reforms to the state’s retirement system instituted in 2011 have caused a “consistent pattern” of increased public employee turnover.
Conducted by the National Institute on Retirement Security, the study, titled “Employees’ Retirement System Of Rhode Island: Examination of Turnover Trends Since Retirement Reforms,” found that while “the impact of the changes “varies across professions,” the overall trend “indicates increasing challenges in retaining experienced workers” that “contributes to a workforce with less experience, potentially affecting productivity and the quality of public services.”
According to the study released on Friday, whereas 45% of state employees reached 25 years of service in 2010, current projections are that 29% of employees will reach that same benchmark.
Participation in the “hybrid” retirement plan spearheaded by then- Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo has been mandatory for all new hires since 2012 and to active employees with less than 20 years of service as of June 30, 2012. Read more here.
General Teamsters Local 251 Facebook:
TEAMSTERS 251 NEW STEWARDS TRAINING
IBT Eastern Region Training Coordinator Rina Hatch led a training for newer stewards at the Local 251 Hall this weekend. Stewards from various workplaces discussed important issues and worked on important contract enforcement skills to take back to their jobs.
TODAY!!!
Webinar: Green Cleaning Products
The US Environmental Protection Agency is funding a Green Cleaning venture that partners five state Pollution Prevention Programs (RI, CT, ME, MA, NH,) to review facility operations and recommend safer cleaning and disinfecting products and methods in the burgeoning New England craft beverage industry. This RICOSH free webinar will review principles of assessing hazardous cleaning products and choosing safer alternatives.
When: Thursday, March 14 @ 3 p.m.
Register in advance for this meeting here:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Virtual Lunch and Learn with the team at Climate Jobs RI:
Please join us for this month’s virtual lunch and learn with the team at Climate Jobs Rhode Island. Thursday, March 28th at noon, we will talk about the coalition work done between Rhode Island’s Labor Movement and Environmental Leaders to ensure a just transition to an equitable, pro-worker, pro-climate green economy. With victories such as the Act on Climate, 100% Renewable Energy and labor standards on green construction jobs, CJRI has proven that we are stronger when we work together, across movements and across industries.
Register now at https://bit.ly/CJRIVirtualLunch
Basic/Advanced Steward Training Workshop – In-person
The Institute for Labor Studies & Research Is offering a
Saturday – April 20, 2024
9:00am – 3:30pm
**Being present for the entire workshop is necessary for completion**
Location:
Institute for Labor Studies & Research
1540 Pontiac Ave, Suite A
Cranston, RI 02920
Cost $20 pp
(No charge for RI AFL-CIO affiliated members)
Registration Deadline: April 13, 2024
Contact Denise Cesino – dcesino@riilsr.org
Basic/Advanced Steward Training
This six-hour program delivered by the Institute for Labor Studies & Research is designed to refresh and/or familiarize union officers and stewards with the legal rights and responsibilities in representing bargaining unit members. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will leave with a working knowledge of their collective bargaining agreement.
The workshop covers topics such as the Duty of Fair Representation, Weingarten rights and grievance handling. Program participants will be exposed to effective contract administration of the Agreement from the investigation, development, and processing of the grievance to the elements necessary in the possible case preparation and presentation of the case before an arbitrator.
United Way of RI: 2024 Children’s Book Drive
Providence, R.I. (March 1, 2024) United Way of Rhode Island’s Children’s Book Drive is returning for its twelfth year. In April and May, United Way is once again partnering with Books Are Wings to help Rhode Island children build their own libraries at home.
Rhode Islanders are invited to buy and ship books, drop off new and gently used books at a community collection site, or host a drive with their family, friends, or coworkers.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
United Way of RI: Free Tax Preparation
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For information about site locations and times, please dial 2-1-1.
United Way of RI: 401 GIVES
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NEW EPISODE: RI AFL-CIO LUNCH & LEARN “ALL ABOUT ILSR”
This Labor Vision episode covers the RI AFL-CIO Lunch & Learn on the Institute for Labor Studies & Research. Autumn Guillotte, RI AFL-CIO Field Director, is joined by Robert Delaney, ILSR Executive Director, Haley De La Rosa, Labor Liaison, Fatima Martin, Director of Pathways to Education Professions, and Kevin McElroy, Occupational Health & Safety Program Coordinator to share about ILSR’s history, trainings, classes, and programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQLSWSAmdQ
Visit the ILSR website to learn more: www.riilsr.org
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