Catherwood LibraryILR School

Rhode Island public employees, including fire fighters and correctional officers, protested changes to the pension system at the State House. A new proposal would raise the retirement age for workers and suspend cost of living adjustments for those receiving a pension. The state says that the changes are necessary, but opponents say that they only hurt workers who cannot afford the cuts. The state says that the proposed changes would save $3 billion over the next decade. Currently, Rhode Island has only 49% of the funding to needed to cover the benefits that employees have already earned, with 80% being considered stable.