So said Council President Budget Commission member John Ward on the air Friday to RIPR.

If we can’t get negotiated settlements, we’re simply going to have to do much like Providence did and simply do it by ordinance. And we”ll freeze the COLA and we’ll change the health benefits, and we’ll cut salaries across the board by a fixed percentage.
And if they take us to court, we’re going to fall into the compelling public interest argument, which is the court standard for what you do to make changes where you break contracts.

Any grievances should be filed with the General Assembly.

… because the court can’t order us to go raise taxes when the General Assembly hasn’t authorized it.