Providence, RI – Over 100 Twin River Casino workers gathered inside the Rhode Island state house on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 30. The workers, who are members of UNITE HERE Local 26, gathered there to announce that they are prepared to strike if necessary to win a fair contract. The union represents nearly 400 food and beverage workers at the Lincoln, Rhode Island casino.

The Twin River workers have been faced with concessionary demands from the company, despite continuing increases in gaming revenues and large payouts to shareholders. The most noteworthy element of the management attack has been a unilateral cut to the workers' health insurance. The union reports that this change could lead to a tripling of out-of-pocket costs for the workers.

During the rally, workers held up placards containing hundreds of photos of Twin River workers who have said that they are ready to strike. Union member Julie Procaccini told the crowd gathered inside the state house that the health insurance cuts have forced her to get a second job. “I don’t want to strike, but when Twin River wants to nickel and dime my family into poverty, you better believe I’m going to fight back,” said Procaccini.

Members of Teamsters Local 251 stood with the Twin River workers during the rally and pledged to continue standing with them. Business Agent Matt Maini of Local 251 drew loud cheers from the crowd when he denounced the “corporate greed” displayed by Twin River management. Maini declared “if Local 26 walks out, Local 251 stands with you, and we're going to honor your strike!”

The rally closed with the halls of the state house echoing with chants promising Twin River management that, until workers have a fair contract, they will have “no peace.”

#ProvidenceRI #Labor #Healthcare

Thousands march to protest teacher firings

By an American Federation of Teachers national delegate

The city of Providence, R.I., sent termination letters Feb. 23 to all of its 1,926 teachers. Newly elected Mayor Angel Taveras claimed he was doing this to guarantee flexibility in addressing the budget deficit. He is also going to close an unspecified number of schools.

On March 2, thousands of teachers, including contingents from other Rhode Island cities, members of other unions, and community and progressive organizations flooded the streets around Providence City Hall to protest Tavares’ attack on the Providence Teachers Union. The protest was part of a nationwide response to attacks on public education.

Teachers and union members pointed out that this was a direct attack on the seniority and collective bargaining rights of the PTU. This attack was done unilaterally by management with no consultation with the union. (Providence Journal, March 3).

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers — the national affiliate of the PTU — said in a Facebook statement that the union and the school board have been cooperating on “improving low-performing schools, developing an innovative hiring process and revamping the teacher evaluation system.” The PTU is the only AFT local to endorse President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top Program, which promotes privatizing education. But this “cooperation” didn’t protect the PTU from a mass firing.

In contrast to what is happening in the Midwest, where Republican governors have targeted public sector unions, Taveras is a Democrat who has decided to use an iron fist to take on other unions beside the PTU. Tavares is also proposing to sell off parts of Providence’s public “crown jewel,” Roger Williams Park.

A giant orange and black banner at the March 2 rally reading “Save our schools, Defend public education!” was held by members of the SOS (Save Our Schools) Coalition. That group just finished a hard-fought community struggle in 2010 against seven school closings attempted by former Mayor David Cicilline and School Superintendent Tom Brady. Together, students, parents and teachers mounted a struggle strong enough to save five of the seven schools.

The SOS Coalition says there is plenty of money for public education, jobs and other human needs if trillions of dollars are no longer poured down the rat-holes of tax-breaks for the rich, bank bailouts, corporate welfare, wars and ever-expanding military budgets.

Weingarten stated at the Providence rally: “Something insane is going on. I thought the only insanity was in Wisconsin.” But it is not really “insanity” for the rich and powerful in this country to attack unions. They are driven to remove restrictions on how public funds for education are spent.

Providence may be the first major system to fire teachers, but much larger school districts in both New York City and Los Angeles are considering such moves.

Bill Bateman, a long-time Providence activist, contributed to this article.

#ProvidenceRI #EconomicCrisis #MayorAngelTaveras #AmericanFederationOfTeachers