E-News: May 9, 2025

“The labor movement was built for moments like this.”

– President Patrick Crowley

FROM THE RI AFL-CIO

“Rhode Island is facing a serious and growing budget deficit, worsened by the threat of historic federal cuts to vital programs like Medicaid and SNAP… Our members work in the sectors most at risk under austerity budgets. We’ve already seen job losses in the state workforce as a result of cuts by the DOGE. RIPTA workers are staring down a $32 million budget gap that threatens service and jobs. Front-line healthcare workers face funding reductions in hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers. These workers are the backbone of our state—and they are at risk if we fail to act.” Stated Erica Hammond, RI AFL-CIO Legislative Director, on Tuesday in House Finance, testifying on a bill to tax the top earners in our state.

It’s time that the 1% pay their fair share.

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Join us for a Tax the Rich labor lobby day

Tuesday, May 13th at 3pm

SB-0329 and HB-5473 would create a fairer tax system by requiring the top 1% of highest earners in the state to pay a little more in taxes. This legislation would generate $190 million in annual revenue for Rhode Islanders by taxing the state’s top 1% of income earners with a 3% surtax on incomes above $625,000 (after all deductions).

This would not affect the first $625,000 in income. This affects only 5,700 out of more than 500,000 tax filers — only the top 1% of all tax filers – and provides much-needed revenue for healthcare, schools, childcare, senior services, RIPTA, and roads and bridges.

Contact Autumn Guillotte for more details: autumn@riaflcio.org

IN THE NEWS

Smiley, Local 1033 reach 3-year agreementPROVIDENCE – Mayor Brett. P. Smiley announced Friday the city has reached an agreement with the Laborers Local Union 1033. The three-year agreement includes wage increases, more benefits and updated workplace policies for city employees.

Attorney General Neronha secures preliminary injunction to protect libraries, workers, and small businesses

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Neronha today released the following statement after a Rhode Island court granted a preliminary injunction filed by his office and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and small businesses nationwide.

“Today’s preliminary injunction is a critical win for the public interest,” said Attorney General Neronha. “When the Trump Administration attempts to dismantle these agencies, it is making a targeted, concerted effort to prohibit everyday people from accessing their full potential. They know that these agencies represent opportunities for the American people to better themselves through free access to knowledge through their local public libraries, to protect their labor and employment rights, and to help their small businesses grow. This Administration also knows that through suppressing and stifling access to opportunity, they can maintain and expand their power. We won’t let them, and neither should you.

“This year, I have traveled across the state and listened to Rhode Islanders who are concerned about what the future holds. While I don’t have all the answers, I often point to days like today as examples of attorneys general across the country taking swift, aggressive action in the face of unlawful federal behavior, and our courts ultimately upholding the rule of law. We’ve won many times before; we won today; and we will win in the future.”

Attorney General Neronha co-led this lawsuit with Attorney General Letitia James of New York and Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawaii. Joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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Read Full Article Here.

LOCAL ORGANIZING UPDATE

From top left to bottom right: President Patrick Crowley with Speaker Joe Shekarchi at US Senator Jack Reed’s 36th Annual Family Breakfast; union leaders and allies, Paul MacDonald, Kevin Braga, Joe Walsh, Scott Duhamel, Rep. Jenni Furtado, Justin Kelley, Alvin Reyes, and Autumn Guillotte; President Crowley with Erica Hammond and Kevin McElroy; President Crowley and Rep. Jenni Furtado connecting over shared priorities.

FROM AFL-CIO

Bluesky:

Take Action Now. Click Here.

Act Now. Click Here.

SOLIDARTITY REQUEST

A Second Info Picket for UNAP members will be held May 20 from 3-5 pm at Brown University Health Urgent Care- Warwick, 17 Airport Road, Warwick.

Stand in Solidarity with our healthcare workers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

REGISTER HERE.

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RSVP HERE.