FMCS Congratulates Both Sides In Final Settlement for Rhode Island Pension Case

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Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Jul 01, 2015, 05:01 ET

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Acting Director Allison Beck congratulated Rhode Island state officials and union negotiators on the implementation of a settlement agreement to Rhode Island's longstanding public employee pension dispute.

Ms. Beck led a team of FMCS mediators who worked with the parties to craft a settlement agreement last year that provided the foundation for resolving the statewide pension dispute. Provisions of the negotiated agreement are part of the Rhode Island state budget signed into law on June 30, 2015 by Governor Raimondo and are to be implemented with the state's new fiscal year.

"On behalf of the FMCS mediators who assisted in this important negotiation, we are gratified that the dedication and hard work of the retiree and union negotiating teams, and by the negotiators for the Administration and the Treasurer's office in this complex and lengthy process have achieved a successful resolution. Their professionalism and perseverance were the keys to ultimately gaining a consensual resolution to what had been an intractable legal dispute. I especially want to commend FMCS Boston and Providence mediators, Commissioners Josh Flax and Joseph Kelleher, for their tireless assistance to the parties. Theirs was a tremendous effort, and they have my personal thanks as well."

The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and more than 60 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.

SOURCE Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service