Taveras Budget: Accuses Unions of Not Helping with Deficit
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Mayor Angel Taveras took a direct swipe at several Providence unions last night—saying they had not done their part in helping the city to close a $110 million deficit next year.
While the Laborers’ Local 1033 had stepped up to the plate and struck a new deal with the city—saving $26 million over four years—Taveras said the other unions—namely, police, fire, and the teachers—had not done the same.
“While all other unions have come to the table to negotiate and try to help the city, we have been unable to come to agreement on their share of the sacrifice,” Taveras said. “To be honest, this has been very disappointing. I am disappointed that they have not yet joined with the rest of us, and with their brothers and sisters in 1033 who have indicated their willingness to be a part of the solution.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOne union leader said his members were being unfairly blamed. Another told GoLocalProv he thought the remarks were “inappropriate” and went on the offensive, objecting to the fact that the city continues to employ an official whom he said is the architect of the city’s financial breakdown.
Taveras issues warning to police, fire
Taveras issued a specific warning to the police and fire unions, saying each union would need to agree to saving $6 million—equal to roughly 10 percent of their department’s budget. The savings are close to what Taveras got out of Local 1033, which agreed to $4.6 million in cutbacks for the fiscal year—not counting $2.2 million in the current year.
“[W]e will continue to negotiate with the Fraternal Order of Police to agree on savings so we can avoid drastic cuts to the police department. But make no mistake about it, I will do whatever is necessary to get our city through this fiscal hurricane,” Taveras said.
Police union official: ‘I don’t like to be threatened’
“I think he blamed us and I don’t like to be threatened,” said Taft Manzotti, head of the Providence police union.
Manzotti did not think the comparison to Local 1033 was fair, saying police officers were still stuck at 2007 wage levels and are the only union that does not currently have a contract. “We’re still on 2007 …. We’re behind,” he said.
He noted that Taveras himself had praised police officers for working around-the-clock to protect residents and added that police officers deserved credit for helping to keep the city crime rate low.
“We’ve negotiated fairly with the city of Providence and we will continue to negotiate fairly,” Manzotti said. But, the city has a deadline: if no agreement is reached by July 11, the contract will go to arbitration. Manzotti said the date was mutually agreed upon by the new administration and the union.
Fire union official: remarks ‘inappropriate’
Taveras didn’t mince words with the fire union either. “Like our city’s police officers, the city needs you to do more. We cannot put out this fire without you,” Taveras said. “How we get to this reduction is in your hands. I ask you to join us to save our city and avoid legal wrangling. But make no mistake about it, I will do whatever is necessary to get our city through this fiscal hurricane.”
Paul Doughty, head of the firefighter union, objected to the remarks—especially Taveras saying he was disappointed in the unions. “I thought it was a little harsh considering what we’ve talked about,” Doughty said. “I think that the tone was inappropriate.”
He said the union has been in negotiations with the city, but added that it would have been irresponsible to agree to cutbacks until it knew what the full budget would look like.
Says City Finance Director 'lied' in budgets
Doughty also strongly objected to Richard Kerbel, the former Director of Administration under David Cicilline, playing a role in the current administration as the acting Finance Director.
“One of the most incomprehensible things is that Richard Kerbel is currently the Finance Director and from reading the report that the mayor’s office conducted and the report that the city council conducted, there were a lot of shenanigans and they seem to lie clearly on Richard Kerbel’s desk,” Doughty said.
“So I really have to think about the person I’m dealing with on the other side of the table when they would continue to employ someone who was the architect of the worst financial breakdown since M.C. Hammer handled his own finances and then expect us to sit there and be forthcoming and negotiate,” Doughty added. “The reports don’t say it, but he lied. He lied in those budgets. I just have a real difficult problem figuring out if he is lying now and then or just then.”
The current fire contract expires in 2013, meaning that the city will have to reopen it to get the savings it wants.
Neither Manzotti nor Doughty said they could discuss what savings are currently being discussed in contract negotiations. Steve Smith, head of the Providence Teachers Union, did not respond to a call for comment in time for publication.
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