Welcome all Rhode Island

Retirees - Active Teachers - State Workers - MERS

Mission Statement

The functioning of our Advocate group represents the founding of a meeting place and platform for those of us (retired and current state workers and teachers, as well as members of the Municipal Employees Retirement System) who were so brutally robbed of our Cost of Living Adjustment in 2011 by then State Treasurer, Gina Raimondo, in what appears to be her quest for National recognition. We continuously make known, by way of news media, that this aspect of our retirement plan had been contractually guaranteed, as well as having been purchased by us for approximately 10% of our yearly salaries for the entirety of our careers.

Because of the inflationary increase in the national cost of living— over 35% since 2011— what began as an injustice has morphed into a crisis. Our efforts also involve the undoing of the unnecessary pension reforms instituted through RIRSA which have undermined worker morale and created a significant shortage of those qualified to enter state and teaching positions.

Our efforts include returning Pension regulations and practices to their pre 2011 status, removing age requirements for retirement, future COLA percentages based upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and applied to full pension increments, with the elimination of caps in determining payment.

Sandra Paquette

Founder, Advocates for Cola Restoration and Pension Reform

WHAT HAPPENED TO R.I.’s COLA’S ?

RI’s retired and current teachers and state workers have been dealing with the aftermath of the 2011 Pension Security Act, causing them to lose their contractually binding Cost Of Living Adjustment, a provision instituted to offset the trauma of inflation during their retirement years. For 13 years this group of lifetime workers have been struggling to remain financially solvent in a time of historically rising inflation, responsible for a drastic undermining of purchasing power.

Through the efforts of the current General Assembly, urged on by Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform, an initial breakthrough was at last achieved pertaining to the COLA in June of 2024. Legislation was unanimously passed to initiate the process of a reinstated Cost of Living Adjustment.

The Advocates group will continue our efforts until full reform is achieved.

Meet your Advocates planning team !