Susan Lusignan

My name is Susan Lusignan and I have worked for the City of East Providence since I was 16 years old. After a semester in college, I decided I needed to earn money and left to pursue employment. In 1996, I began working full time for the East Providence Library however, for two years I did not have any benefits because, at that time, the council had implemented a job freeze. In 1998, at the age of 21, I officially began working as a full-time employee.

I was young and unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. Coming from a blue-collar family, my parents encouraged me to work for the city that I was raised in and that I would be part of the United Steelworkers' Union. They believed in strong benefits and a living wage.

Over the last 25 years, the benefits have slowly dwindled. When I started working full time, I did not contribute to my excellent health care plan. As with most municipal employees, I now pay a co-share for average healthcare coverage with higher copays. Between 2011-2012, the Budget Commission came into East Providence and the Pension Reform was implemented. In 2012, I was 14 years into my employment with the city, about halfway to retirement after 30 years. However, because I did not have 20 years in, I was placed in the hybrid pension plan. It was intimidating and overwhelming because I am not well versed in financial investments. While I am grateful to still have benefits and a pension plan, I now have to work an additional 9 years to collect my pension at 60 years of age and/or reach the Rule of 95.

I am not oblivious to the fact that the pension was insolvent, and a plan was needed, however, I feel there was a large group of MERS members that were caught between a rock and a hard place. I had too many years invested into the city to leave. I like my job and the PTO I have earned over time. Ideally, I would like the Pension-Advisory working group to propose that once a member has put in their 30 years, they should be able to collect their pension regardless of age and without penalties.

I planned on giving my testimony in person, however with the 195 bridge closure, I am unable to attend.

Thank you for your time.

Submitted via online webform