Woonsocket Radio News Room

RI Council 94 & Local 2873 RI Airport Corporation Employees Union Announce Vote of No Confidence and Call for End of Hostile Work Environment

 

North Providence – Today, Rhode Island Council 94, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO and Local 2873, RI Airport Corporation announced a unanimous ‘No Confidence’ vote by Airport Police Officers and Firefighters against Iftikhar Ahmad and airport management.     

 

Steven Parent, president of Local 2873, stated, “After my illegal termination, Local 2873 has continued to negotiate in good faith to obtain a new contract.  Despite our best efforts, RIAC has continued to act in bad faith.  The recent resignation of Public Safety Director Joseph M. Perkins, speaks to the hostile work environment created and condoned by CEO Iftikhar Ahmad.  Under CEO Ahmad’s tenure over sixty non-union employees were terminated or left RIAC, had over 4 different police chiefs, and the police department is running ten officers short in violation of a grievance settlement.  CEO Ahmad’s hostile churn and burn management must cease.”

 

Local 2873 President Parent continued, “Yesterday, after the unanimous No Confidence by RIAC’s public safety employees, the union filed a class action grievance to contest the Airport Police Department’s persistent understaffing.”

 

 Michael McDonald, President of Council 94, concluded, “CEO Ahmad’s illegal acts of releasing confidential personnel records, termination of a union president, unfounded accusations against employees, and bad faith are unacceptable.  While Local 2873 members will continue working so that Airport operations run smoothly, the union will increase communicating RIAC’s bad faith actions to the public, RIAC Board members, and political leaders.  Council 94 will continue to fight to ensure CEO Ahmad provides a fair contract, dignity, and respect to our members in all available forums.”

 

Council 94 represents over 10,000 active and retired state, municipal, and private sector employees.

 

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