Demotions boost future pensions ( Government Union )

Journal ^ | December 22, 2010 | Alisha A. Pina

[george76]

PROVIDENCE — Two management-level firefighters are back among the union ranks, at their request, an action decried by two City Council members who say it was done to increase their pensions.

With the lower rank of first-class firefighter, the near-retirement employees can benefit from the 3-percent compounding cost-of-living-adjustments provided to union members hired before July 1, 2010. They will also receive pension benefits based on their higher, management salaries if they retire now. (Pension benefits are based on the highest of the last three years of service.)

“It is quite clear that the voluntary reduction in ranks just granted these two individuals is nothing more than a blatant attempt to circumvent the legislative authority of the City Council,” the letter read. “If allowed to remain, this unprecedented personnel maneuver will establish one of the worse[sic] precedents in recent memory and place Providence taxpayers in the position of footing the bill of exorbitant pensions for individuals who are clearly not entitled to receive this benefit.”

[Leisler]

[Trajan88]

Sadly there’s probably nothing that can be done to “fix” this garbage by those presently taking advantage of the system... however current actions by these firefighters shed light on the practice and hopefully the powers-that-be working for the tax paying public will put in controls to stop this from happening in the future.

[I am Richard Brandon]

“It is quite clear that the voluntary reduction in ranks just granted these two individuals is nothing more than a blatant attempt to circumvent the legislative authority of the City Council"

And which legislative body legislated this set of circumstances into existence? Maybe not this particular person but I will bet it was the City Council. Offer a chance to make a buck and then squeal when they take it.