2023 Our Year in Review
Legislation
In 2023, Chapter 94 intensified its efforts at the State House with bill H6295, introduced by Representative Pat Serpa. The bill sought relief for retirees, a 3% stipend on the first $30,000 of pension benefits, effective July 2023, and subject to annual appropriation by the General Assembly. Ours was one of 13 proposals to restore COLAs or offer stipends. The legislature took the path of least resistance and passed the RIPERC-backed fractional COLA bill. Our work for pension relief will continue in 2024.
Pension Advisory Working Group
The State legislature created the Pension Advisory Working Group to draft options to offset the impact of the 2011 pension reform. We attended all the public meetings, and on December 14, members presented their testimonies, sharing how the suspension of COLAs affected their livelihood. Members re-capped their retirement decisions based on receiving annual COLAs as part of their pension equation, often after consulting with Retirement Board counselors. Many had to claim Social Security benefits earlier than planned. Chapter retirees, unable to attend the Working Group hearing at the CCRI Warwick Campus, submitted testimony online, including all members of the Executive Board.
Watch Chapter 94 members testify here, and scroll to the 25:30-minute mark.
Charity
Chapter 94 extended charitable giving and supported several union-friendly non-profit organizations. The local Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention received proceeds from the 50/50 raffles held during the Summer outing and the Christmas and Holiday bash. Additionally, we supported organizations such as NAMI of Bristol County, a mental health advocacy group, the London-Riley Scholarship fund for students surviving cancer, and EcoRI News, a non-profit environmental news site. We donated to St John’s (and its affiliated parishes) soup kitchen that provided meals to many in need, plus helped the Button Hole Kids golf program.
Legal
The West Warwick pension transfer to MERS was finalized after seven years of organizing and lobbying by Chapter 94, WWPERC, and a coalition of unions representing active workers, police, and fire. Our legal team helped Newport School retirees and their spouses receive healthcare buy-backs.
Benefits
We maintained and expanded various benefits to ease the strain on members’ finances. We offered a new vision care benefit called DeltaVision, which lowered monthly premiums by nearly 50%. With our sister affiliates in RIPERC, we partnered with Start Hearing to provide hearing aids and related services for 2024.
At The State House
State Treasurer Diossa and his legislative director met with the leadership of Chapter 94 to discuss the negative impact of pension reform on our members. Arranged by our lobbyists, Stephen Alves and Robert Jacquard of Capitol Strategies, the meeting validated our increased visibility on Smith Hill. We contracted Capitol Strategies for 2023 and 2024.
Social Security and Medicare
At the request of the national union, Chapter vice presidents Russ Marsocci and Ron Pepin traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress on HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, a bill to end WEP and GPO, two federal programs that reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for many public sector retirees.
Special Events
The member-friendly December party and Summer outing became must-attend events. Nearly 300 members and guests attended the Summer outing at Wright’s Farm in Harrisville. We enjoyed a family-style traditional chicken and pasta meal, highlighted by a 50/50 raffle to fund our designated charity. The annual Holiday and Christmas Gala at Rhodes drew more than 200 members and guests. We listened to feedback and varied the menu, adding appetizers, a vegetarian option, and two desserts. The 50/50 raffle winner, Rucha Sachin Tawde, was overwhelmed by her good fortune. We gave away 12 Stop and Shop $25 gift cards.
Delta Dental
Upon retirement, many public sector workers lose dental coverage. With a Chapter 94 membership, retirees and their spouses can enroll in Delta Dental at discounted premiums.
Membership must be maintained to renew coverage for this most popular benefit.
Vision Care by DeltaVision
DeltaVision, now administered by Delta Dental, is coverage that helps manage eye care and vision-related expenses.
AFSCME Advantage and Union Plus
Members are eligible for discounts on insurance, prescription and OTC meds, credit cards, credit counseling, scholarships, rental cars, travel, computers, cellphones, cash-back shopping, and more.
Legal Services
This pre-paid program allows members to receive attorney advice without worrying about unpredictable legal costs. These include consultations, document review, preparation of wills, legal representation in court, and more from a network of attorneys.
Legacy Benefits Advisors, LLC
A local benefits consultant and brokerage firm, LBA helps municipalretirees navigate Medicare and Social Security. Members may consult LBA for information but must use VIA, the marketplace for State retiree healthcare, to sign up for retiree healthcare.
Start Hearing
Hearing loss can significantly affect a person's quality of life by causing communication difficulties, social isolation, and cognitive decline. That's why we have partnered with Start Hearing.
Beginning in 2024, our members can purchase high-quality, made-in-the-USA hearing aids at reduced prices.
Chapter Awards
We gave the 2023 Bronstein-Gillis Award to Jim Racine, a former Executive Board member, for his exceptional work for the Chapter. Jim played a crucial role in producing our monthly newsletter and coordinating the efforts of member volunteers to deliver the news to our mailboxes. In 2023, Jim retired from the Board, and the award expressed the Chapter’s appreciation for his invaluable service.
Our Chapter President, Mike Connolly, was recently honored with the prestigious John H. Slaven, Jr. Award for his tireless advocacy for retirees and unwavering support for workers and the labor community. Dressed in green AFSCME attire, Mike often stood in solidarity with his brothers and sisters on picket lines or at rallies in the fight against injustices faced by workers and their families. Mike thought union, bought union, and fought for unions and the rights of all workers. Mike also carried his passion for justice to retired workers as a legacy member of RIPERC and long-time Chapter 94 President.
Meetings*
- Our guest speaker lineup was varied and included Secretary of State Gregg Amore, State Representatives Rebecca Kislak and Scott Casey, lobbyists Stephen Alves and Robert Jacquard, Greg Brailsford, the creator of Bill Buddy, an online legislative tracker, and well-received Channel 12 investigator reporter Ted Nesi.
- We continued hybrid meetings and saw increased requests for Zoom access.
- We contracted Amos House to provide pre-meeting light lunches.
- In April, we met at the Warwick Central Library, and after this well-attended meeting, members were invited to join the Executive Board for lunch.
- Remote meetings remain in our plans for 2024.
*The Executive Board voted to amend our weather cancellation policy. We reschedule the Chapter meeting to the third Tuesday of the month if the Town of North Providence declares a parking ban or North Providence Schools are closed due to inclement weather.
Forward
Our goal for 2024 is to maintain the momentum established last year. But, we need members to continue our pace, share the work, increase our membership, and make Chapter 94 the leading voice for retirement security in Rhode Island.
