After nearly eight months of turbulent negotiations, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport’s unionized airport employees have landed a new three-year contract.
The new agreement valid through July 2027 was approved by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation’s (RIAC) board of directors following a closed-doors meeting Thursday morning. Airport workers organized under RI Council 94 for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) had been working without a contract since the end of last June.
“We are pleased this matter has been finalized and has resulted in a positive outcome for all parties,” RIAC President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad said in a statement. “We value our union employees and the collective role they play in the accomplishments we have had in recent years.”
A tentative agreement between the union representing 103 airport employees and RIAC management was reached on Feb. 28, Local 2873 President Steve Parent told Rhode Island Current. Rank-and-file members ratified the deal in a 67-31 vote between Monday and Wednesday.
“I think it’s a pretty fair deal for both sides,” Parent said in an interview.
The newly approved agreement includes a 5% wage increase retroactive to July 1, 2024, a 4% wage increase starting July 2025, and a 3% increase in July 2026 — along with a one-time bonus of $500.
The deal allows the union to negotiate any changes to workers’ job descriptions, pay, and work hours. Under the prior contract, Parent said, management only had to notify the union and were under no obligation to seek their input.
“There’s been a feeling that management wanted to put everyone under one umbrella,” he said. “Now they have to stay within a specific career field — they can’t have someone from the airfield maintenance department doing plumbing work in the terminal.”
The union represents airport police officers, firefighters, airfield maintenance, building maintenance, operations, and clerical staff.
Thursday’s new contract comes amid a strained relationship between union workers and leadership at the fastest-growing major U.S. airport, according to the latest federal data ranking T.F. Green above Philadelphia International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport for passenger and seat growth.
Parent had no complaints about the airport corporation contracting with private security firms, though he said the union remains concerned RIAC intends to privatize its police force rather than hire sworn officers.
RIAC signed a five-year contract last October with Illinois-based Andy Frain Services for $5.5 million to provide workers who would inspect security badges, inspect vehicles entering restricted areas, and manage traffic outside the terminal. The contract shows contracted workers would earn hourly wages between $23.75 and $25.50 in the first year while a supervisory position paid $30 an hour.
“Andy Frain is kind of new to Green, but contracting security services was normal,” Parent said. “We just used to have more sworn officers.”
The airport currently employs 27 police officer positions, but Parent said only 16 are filled.
Parent, who was a lieutenant in T.F. Green’s fire department was fired by airport officials last October following claims he discouraged people from applying for jobs at the airport and benefited from overtime pay caused by ongoing vacancies.
He has called the termination illegal, which ASCME Council 94 backed with a formal grievance before the state’s Labor Relations Board. Arbitration is expected to happen sometime in June, Parent said Thursday.
RIAC last October announced it had retained a law firm after learning airlines received anonymous letters claiming the airport had a toxic work environment. One letter reportedly sent to airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration had claimed the airport would be closed on Aug.13 due to an employee walkout.
No walkout ever happened.
Roughly a dozen airport employees were warned last November not to destroy records related to any anonymous letters. Parent said the union had absolutely no involvement with any anonymous letter.
The investigation over the letters remains ongoing, said RIAC spokesperson John Goodman.
With the new contract, Parent said he hopes the union and RIAC leaders can patch up their relationship.
“We want nothing more than the airport corporation to thrive,” he said. “When the airport corporation is doing well, my workers are doing well.”
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
