Legislative News

Last week, as part of a national day of action on unemployment and jobs sponsored by the AFL-CIO, the Rhode Island AFL-CIO joined with thousands of union members and community allies across the country to call on

congress to reauthorize the unemployment insurance benefit program. The Rhode Island AFL-CIO and Working Rhode Island thanked our congressional delegation for their leadership and commitment to helping the unemployed who have been hit hardest by the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression and ask for their continued support.

By Jim Baron

Sitting through a House Labor Committee meeting last week, I had a Popeye moment. After listening to as much garbage as I could take, I muttered under my breath, “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more.”

For several years now all we have been hearing about is the business sector boo-hooing about Rhode Island’s so-called hostile business climate. And for the same past few years we have watched the General Assembly, the governor’s office and other agencies of state government bending over backward to kiss the backsides of businesspeople and the wealthiest citizens of the state while at the same time whacking middle-class property tax payers, further beggaring the destitute and disabled and cutting off unionized workers’ benefits at the knees.