PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Two of the state's top labor leaders exited Governor Chafee's office shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, quickly walked down a flight of stairs and left the State House.
Asked if they had met with the governor to talk about negotiating changes to the state pension system, George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL/CIO, and Robert Walsh, executive director of the National Education Association Rhode Island, offered little comment.
Nee said the meeting was just a "discussion." Asked if there will be more discussions, he said yes but nothing is scheduled.
Chafee spokeswoman Christine Hunsinger said the reporter who saw Nee and Walsh leave the governor's office "did not observe a meeting with the governor" and added that she could not say whom Nee and Walsh "met with."
The governor has hinted recently that he would like to negotiate a settlement to a union legal challenge of pension changes lawmakers made in 2011 with the support of Chafee and state General Treasurer Gina Raimondo.