RI EMT Starts Boycott of Cumberland Farms Over Free Coffee Policy
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
RI EMT Starts Boycott of Cumberland Farms Over Free Coffee Policy
“I was a paramedic most recently with a private ambulance company,” said Evan Kidd. “We’re not contracted with any town, and that’s fine. But going to Cumberland Farms regularly, they put us aside like we're nobody. Not only do EMTs do critical transports, we go to people's houses, we’re on the front line. So it’s kind of sad, and we certainly don't get paid what we should be getting paid.”
Evan said he felt frustrated enough that he reached out to Cumberland Farms, and said he got the following response.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding your concern about the free coffee, here is the exact wording from our policy handbook. ‘Policy allows for only 1 cup per (uniformed) police, fire, prison guards, or military personnel, who must be present in the store at the time it is ‘comp’d.” This comes up often but EMTs are not included in this. I am sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask. "
Kidd said he wanted to do something after talking with colleagues and friends, which led to the idea of a boycott.
“Look, there’s a lot going on right now, I don’t know if this will even catch on,” said Kidd. “But we’re out there, working just as hard to save lives — it didn’t seem right.”
Convenience Chain Counter Claims
Cumberland Farms, however contested the response that Kidd received.
Kidd, however, said he'd never been offered a free coffee, despite being in an EMT uniform, which he said was reflected in the response he said he had gotten when reached out.
"I've worn my EMT uniform countless times to multiple Cumberland Farms across [Rhode Island] and have never gotten a comped coffee," said Kidd. "Sure, I could get coffee elsewhere. But I like Cumberland Farms coffee. I just think they should be consistent in their recognition of first responders across the board."
Larger Audience
Kaleb Bajakian who started the group “No ST8 Revolt” posted the initial response — and call to action — on his Facebook page this week.
“It’s bad enough EMTs don’t get paid as much a cops or firefighters because the favoritism of 1st responders in Rhode Island is obscene. Firefighters and police officers do save lives from time to time but apparently in the eyes of Cumberland Farms, EMTs who save lives at least twice as much don’t deserve the same respect?” wrote Bajakian.
Bajakian said that he started the No ST8 Revolt page calling 2016 a “revolutionary year” with a focus on politics — and electoral change.
“People who step up when it matters are usually who you don’t expect. So thanks to 200ish friends who support No ST8 Revolt. However, lack of support from others in my life is a rude awakening to the 2 party system destroying what little good the world has left & divided almost everyone around me with the exception of a handful of people clever enough to read between the lines," he wrote.
"2016 is revolutionary year with an all time high Independent vote. The choice is literally between freedom or blood on your hands. A vote for Republicans or Democrats is theft and violence to fund mob rule wolves in sheep’s clothing,” he said.
Bajakian said he felt strongly about Evan’s fight for EMTs to bring the issue to light for others.
“The pay inequality for EMTs is awful,” said Bajakian. “It’s disgusting how little they get paid.”
GoLocal’s Top 15 Stories of 2015
#15
Johnston Blocks Black Church Says Reverend, City Official Calls Him “F___ing Black Owner”
In a video tape exclusively obtained by GoLocalProv, a Johnston town official is heard making a racially charged statement regarding a church pastor’s attempts to rehabilitate a historic church in town — and the reverend is calling the town’s treatment of his efforts racist. (Starting at the 2:25 mark of the video).
In a meeting with his supervisor and the contractor on the project that was taped, Johnston building inspector Ben Nascenzi can be heard referring to Reverend Dr. Chris Abhulime as “the fucking black owner” of the former historic Belknap Church.
#14
Top 20 Salaries in Governor Raimondo's Office
Here are the salaries for the top twenty paid staffers in Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's office.
In total, a recent Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request shows that the recently selected staff of 30 has a salary range between $35,756 and $167,118.
#13
EXCLUSIVE: New PawSox Stadium Location Emerges in Providence
A new stadium location in Providence emerged as an alternative to the proposed 195 Commission land, GoLocalProv exclusively learned.
The eight-acre parcel at the location of the former Victory Plating company offers a number of potential benefits over the park land proposed by the new ownership group of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Jim Skeffington,
President of the PawSox, has been asking for state for highly valuable land as part of $120 million in concessions the PawSox are demanding from the state of Rhode Island and the City of Providence.
#12
Prov. Municipal Judge Caprio's Cars Registered in Narragansett
Frank Caprio, the Chief of Providence’s Municipal Court, registers six luxury cars to his home in Narragansett at a fraction of the tax payments of registering them in Providence where he claims to live.
The six vehicles include: two Mercedes, two Lincolns, and Infinity G37 and a Toyota Highlander and all of the vehicles are late model.
Combined, Caprio’s vehicles are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and by registering them in Narragansett versus his claimed home in Providence he has saved tens of thousands of dollars over the past few years.
#11
EXCLUSIVE: President's Daughter Malia is Scheduled to Tour Brown Next Week
GoLocalProv has exclusively learned that Barack and Michelle Obama’s oldest daughter was visiting Brown University k as part of her college tour.
According to press sources, she has previously visited NYU, Columbia, Stanford and Cal Berkley.
If the first daughter selected Brown University it would be the second President’s daughter to attend Brown - Amy Carter attend in the 1980s. John Kennedy Jr., the son of John F. Kennedy, attended Brown as well.
#10
Rhode Island’s 50 Wealthiest and Most Influential - 2015 Edition
GoLocalProv's 2015 Edition of the 50 Wealthiest and Most Influential Rhode Islanders looks at those individuals who combine wealth, influence, and philanthropy in our state.
This list is not of simply those with the greatest wealth. Or those with political muster - this list are those exclusive few who have the combination of both.
Represented are many of the public business leaders of Rhode Island - and some are more private - but all get their phone calls returned.
#9
50 RI School Cafeterias with the Most Health Code Violations
A review of over 350 cafeterias in Rhode Island by GoLocalProv has found thousands of health violations at schools and facilities across the state over the past three years.
Inspectors noted at some cafeterias observations that included lack of adequate hand washing facilities, accumulation of food and debris on equipment, improper food storage -- and open holes in doors and flooring, which is an infraction under "insects, rodents, and animals not present."
#8
Big Radio Companies Facing Bankruptcy - WPRO and WHJY’s Parent Co’s in Financial Turmoil
Most of Rhode Island's favorite radio stations may be impacted by a building Wall Street financial meltdown in the radio industry.
The two biggest radio companies in the United States are on the verge of massive restructuring or bankruptcy, as they each have billions of dollars in debt and little chance of managing the building financial obligations.
How bad is the situation? According to one leading radio analyst, the problem is catastrophic. “$20.5 billion in debt for iHeart — billions more than the city of Detroit when it went bankrupt."
#7
EXCLUSIVE: Star RI Startup Nabsys Closes in Providence
Providence-based startup Nabsys -- who had raised over $40 million and was considered a rising rock star in the genome-mapping world -- has closed its downtown office.
The company, which had been most recently located at 60 Clifford Street in Providence, was shuttered with a For Lease sign in the window. A parking lot attendant across the street said that the forty plus employees had previously parked there were gone.
#6
Vendors Claim RI Commerce Corp Board Member's Club Owes Tens of Thousands
Vendors who worked on Manchester 65, the West Warwick club owned by a Rhode Island Commerce Corporation board member, have told GoLocal that they never were paid for services they provided.
The club faced an eviction hearing as the result of a lawsuit filed by the building landlord against Manchester 65,which is owned by the Commerce Corp's Vanessa Toledo Vickers, and de facto run by her husband Jim Vickers.
#5
Providence Pension Watchdog Riley Releases Report, Calls for More Answers
Financial analyst and GoLocal MINDSETTER Michael Riley has released a report entitled "Providence Fraudulent Accounting and Theft," following multiple columns in which he addressed a number of issues which he said pertained to city pension payments -- and what he claims was a $66 million dollar pension fund payment that was due by June 30, which the city said Tuesday will be paid instead next month.
Writes Riley in his report, "Providence, Rhode Island is misleading its municipal bond investors and has been for as many as 20 years. Misleading municipal bond Investors is a violation of Federal securities laws."
#4
EXCLUSIVE: Dunkin' Donuts Worker Writes '#BlackLivesMatter' on Police Officer's Cup
A Providence Police officer went to purchase a coffee on Friday night and his cup had a message from the Dunkin' Donuts employee writen on the cup, "#BlackLivesMattter."
The event happened at the Dunkin' Donuts located on Atwells Avenue at the corner of Bradford Street. William "Billy" O'Donnell posted a picture of the cup and a description of the events.
#3
The Top High Schools in Rhode Island 2015
The grades are in — GoLocalProv’s sixth annual Top High Schools in Rhode Island has determined that East Greenwich is head of the class for 2015.
Based on a formula developed at Babson College to assess and weight each school's latest NECAP and SAT scores, plus per pupil funding, student-teacher ratios, and graduation rates, GoLocal has provided a comprehensive performance list of the state's public, charter, and technical high schools.
#2
Providence's Dancing Cop Denied Holiday Work Over #BlackLivesMatter Comments
Providence's Dancing Cop has been denied the chance to dance this season by the City of Providence, following his outspoken comments after a Dunkin' Donuts worker wrote "BlackLivesMatter" on a police officer's cup.
Retired Providence Police officer Tony Lepore, Sr, who usually "dances" during the holiday season in the city, provided the following message on his Facebook page after meeting with the City.
Photo/Flickr: Jef Nickerson
#1
Moses Brown Cancels School for Blizzard Juno with Hilarious Video
Moses Brown Head of School Matt Glendinning took to YouTube for a special message to the students of the Providence prep school to announce a school closure due to snow. Set to the tune of Frozen's "Let it Go", here's Glendinning's rendition of "School is Closed."
