Earl Ledoux

To the Pension Advisory Working Group, this is my testimony in the form of a letter regarding the effect the Retirement Security Act of 2011 had on me. I worked for the Woonsocket Police Department from February 25, 1985 to January 5, 2009 .While on the job I received an associates degree in 1988 from Bryant College. A bachelors degree of Administration of Justice in 1990 from Roger Williams University. And a Masters degree of Administration of Justice in 1997 from Salve Regina University. I was two and a half years into retirement when the colas were unlawfully and illegally taken from the retrees. The last 15 or so years on the job an extra 1% of my pay was taken out to ensure a promised Cola raise every year. I retired under a valid contract that I thought ensured me of a 3% cola each year. You would think that the elected politicians at the time would have at least made some efforts to have the retirees be reimbursed for the 1% extra they paid in for the cola. This would have been in light of the fact that we were no longer receiving our promised colas. Our elected officials made no effort to help the retirees.

As you know the person that initiated this was Gina. I refuse to address her as Mrs, past general treasurer, past Governor or US Commerce Secretary. I would have to possess some respect for the woman to address her with a title prior to her name. So to me she simply is Gina. Gina never once showed a drop of concern, worry or empathy to any of the retiree's lives she would be adversely effecting. She now has her high paying politically appointed job in Wasington D.C. and is probably laughing all the way to the bank. I feel the actions of Gina and then elected officials include all of the following emotions for me. The actions were deceitful, unethical, broken promises and just plain wrong, and borders on Larceny. Two years after our colas were taken from us the City of Woonsocket came after the police retirees for copayment for our Health insurance coverage. In our contract with the city I worked for we were supposed to have free health insurance for life. In 2013 I became one of 52 plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Woonsocket. We now had to face another injustice and did not have any union protection as we were now retired from the job. We hired a labor attorney to represent us in court. The judge presiding over the case and hearings was Superior Court judge Jeffrey Lanphear. At the first hearing at Providence Superior Court I was one of 5 retired Woonsocket Police Officers asked to give testimony on the witness stand.

At this point in my life my father Earl G. Ledoux a retired Woonsocket fire fighter with 35 years of service was on his last leg and on his death bed at a nursing home in North Smihfield. My mother and other family members were with him as I knew he only had days to live. I left that to respond to Superior Court to testify. Our labor atorney asked me very intelligent questions that were factual and made sense. The city of Woonsocket's Attorney had the right to cross examine me. While on the stand she asked me who lives with me at my home on Angell Rd in Lincoln and how much my National Grid bill is a month ? As you could imagine it took every ounce of energy to maintain my composure. Here I was 28 years after being appointed to the job and four and a half years into retirement. And I am on a witness stand under oath getting asked who lives with me on Angell Rd in Lincoln and how much my electric bill is a month. Naturally I felt like screaming " What does this have to do with valid contracts ensuring me of 3% colas and free health care for life." I am simply trying to point out the absurdity and utter nonsense I and other Woonsocket Police retirees had to endure after ritiring from a difficult, stressful and dangerous job. For 2 years Woonsocket Police retirees now had to pay for co shares for their insurance coverage. This along with not getting a Cola and attorney fees for our lawsuit against the City.

In 2014 I became very ill and was unable to work for over 1 year. It took some time for medical profesionals to diagnose what exactly what I had. During this one year period I endured the following. I was at a location in Woonsocket where I became violently ill and was transported by rescue to Landmark Medical Center where I was admitted for 3 nights. Some nonths later I became very ill while at home. I was transported by Lincoln rescue to Miriam Hospital where I was admitted for several nights. I also was driven to Rhode Island hospital where I was admitted there for several nights. I was under the care of an Oncologist and a Gastroenterologist. I was finally diagnosed wth MALT Lymphoma and had stomach Cancer. I then endured over 30 bouts of Oncology Radiation at Rhode Island hospital Cancer Center. During this period that lasted for over oneyear I was too ill and weak to work a job to supplement the only income that I had which was my pension. During this period of my life I could have used every last dollar I should have received from lost Colas I should have received in January 2012, 2013 and 2014.

I am asking at thgis time if your findings and report that will be genereated to state lawmakers conclude with all retirees colas being reinstated. Gina failed us and lied to us. She was probably worried too much about political advancement, her own personal gain or lining the pockets of her husbands various businesses that he is alinged with. The then General Assembly failed us and the courts also failed us. I feel that all retirees should be given a lump sum in some agreed upon amount to make up for at least some of the lost thousands of dollars from no Cola's for over a 12 year period. Another idea could be to give effected members a 4 or 5% Cola for a period of years to help right this injustice. Once we are made whole the cola could then go back to the agreed upon 3% cola. I am hoping and praying that these Pension advisory working members will not get influenced by the political people in power that could care less about us retirees. After all this is Rhode Island and we are known as one of the most politically corrupt states in the Country for a reason. Please do what is the right and just thing to do. Do not do this just for Earl Ledoux. Do it for all retirees that held up their end, paid their dues and served the State with Honor. Do it because it is ethically right, morally correct, legally correct and simply the right thing to do.

Respectfully Submitted Earl P. Ledoux

CC / State Senator David Tikoian State Representattive Gregory Constantino

Submitted via online webform