Record of Testimony

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.

I feel our Colas should be returned to us. We entered into a contract with the State of RI when we retired and it included our COLA’s. It is shameful that this was done to so many dedicated employees that thought what the State had agreed was theirs, then taken away. No way is that legal.

The changes made by the “Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011” are unjust for many reasons. Chief among them is that many workers like myself took lower pay for future promised benefits that are now greatly diminished.

I feel I was wronged I will have 30 years of service with the city of East providence when I will be 52 years old and I will have to work another 11 years after that to avoid major penalties. With Costs. The pension reform happened when I had 13 years in and was already vested for 3 years.

Hello- I began my career with the State of Rhode Island in 1987, what I signed up for back then is no longer in existence.

I was hired in 2000, was promised a certian pension after 10 yrs. That's when you get vested. You should have changed it for new hirires. I had a 20 year plan when I got hired, I'm on 4yrs overtime have to do another 5yrs to get the same money I would have got after 20 yrs.

Enclosed please find a list of Points to Consider to support the restoration of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the group previously referenced.

Good Afternoon,

Dec 12, 2023

How the Loss of COLA affected This Retiree

Colleen Kelly Mellor

Pension Education: 3 facts that have not been brought to your attention

Madams and Sirs,

The three new inputs: