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Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

Contact Our Team

Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

Contact Our Team

Contact Our Team

Welcome to Our Advocates Community

Engage with purpose, unite with resolve, and join us as we pave the way for change.

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 !

Sandra Paquette, Founder

M.Ed Boston College

BS.Ed RIC

Aldo Palazzo CDR USN (Ret)

M.A. National Security Affairs / Strategic Studies

M.S. Managment

Debi Catamero, M.Ed. U.R.I.

M.Ed. Providence College

Retired Elementary School Principal

David Shallcross

College of William & Mary

MS - Physics

Brian Kennedy, M.Public Admin.

John Breguet

Former Labor Relations Administrator, State of R.I.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The COLA Advocates group was founded on Facebook

*In one years time, we have 4,500 advocates and counting!

Our own advocate leaders, Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo, were successfully elected in 2024 to the ERSRI Retirement Board

Strong & widespread support to restore our COLAS;

from our

Rhode Island Representatives

Established a supportive, working relationship with

Speaker Shekarchi

For the 1st time (in 13 YEARS!) the COLA PENSION REFORM BILL was brought to the house floor, 100% of our state reps. VOTED YES TO PASS THE BILL

We made it happen !

We made it happen !

Primary Candidates

Supporting “ADVOCATES” goals

Listed below are the Primary Candidates who have pledged their support for “ADVOCATES” goals.

Unopposed, incumbent supporters, will be posted AFTER the Primary election

Legislative Updates

ERSRI

BOARD UPDATES

Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo

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Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo -

Member Resource Hub

TESTIMONIALS

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL

Is to work together to

RESTORE OUR PENSION SYSTEM.

*To its pre- 2011 status,

which includes ALL retired state employees, teachers, & MERS.

Join our cause

to fully restore ALL COLA’s

Check out & Join our FB group

Email questions here;

ColaAdvocatesOnline@gmail.com