The public safety professionals who protect Rhode Island’s largest airport have lost confidence in management.
Members of AFSCME Local 2873 (Council 94) are police officers and firefighters at T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick. Last week, they unanimously passed a no-confidence vote amid contentious contract negotiations with the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC).
These AFSCME members are holding management accountable for what they say are illegal actions by RIAC’s chief executive officer, Iftikhar Ahmad. That includes firing Local 2873 President Steven Parent.
“Under CEO Ahmad’s tenure, over 60 nonunion employees were terminated or left RIAC, we’ve had over four different police chiefs, and the police department is running 10 officers short in violation of a grievance settlement,” Parent said in a press release. “CEO Ahmad’s hostile churn and burn management must cease.”
Their collective action followed the sudden resignation of the airport’s chief of police after only 90 days on the job. Former Director of Public Safety Joseph Perkins said he decided to quit after witnessing “incompetence” and “serious leadership failures.”
In addition to the no-confidence vote, Local 2873 filed a class action grievance citing management’s persistent short-staffing at the airport police department.
Council 94 President Michael McDonald reaffirmed that union members will continue to bargain in good faith with management and “ensure CEO Ahmad provides a fair contract, dignity and respect.”
Public safety professionals are increasingly turning to AFSCME to build power at work, advocate for safety, secure better wages, improve health care benefits and ensure a stable retirement. AFSCME members in corrections, law enforcement and emergency response defend our freedoms and those of the communities we serve.
Visit the AFSCME Public Safety website to get involved and learn more.