Block Criticizes Fung on Cranston Employee Pay Raises
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
GoLocalProv News Team
Former Rhode Island Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Block blasted Cranston Mayor Allan Fung on Monday for recent pay increases in the City of Cranston.
Fung beat Block 55% to 45% in the Republican primary in September 2014, before losing to Democrat Gina Raimondo in the general election.
Block had endorsed Fung in the general election following his loss -- but said this week that recent contract moves by Fung is "why so many RI towns are screwed."
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Statement by Block
Block posted the following statement on his Facebook page on Monday:
When I endorsed Fung for Governor after the 2014 primaries, I was really hoping that something like this would not happen. He just negotiated a new fire contract that explicitly gives a 3% COLA, as well as 6% raises AND increases to the uniform allowances (which were 2nd highest in the state and are now likely the highest).
Fung complained that he was handed awful contracts by his predecessors - with this contract he has completely tied the hands of future mayors to address Cranston's troubled pension plans. This is a prime example of why so many RI towns are so screwed. There is very little in effective taxpayer savings and a huge long term cost to this contract. Sigh.
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