US mayors arrive in Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Mayors from across the country arrive in Providence this week for an annual meeting, but they face a union picket that drove away Vice President Joe Biden.

The first arrivals for the 77th meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors are expected Thursday for the five-day session focusing on economic development and the federal stimulus plan.

Key Obama administration officials decided not to come because of a planned picket by a local Providence firefighters’ union protesting a long-running contract dispute with Providence Mayor David Cicilline, the conference’s host.

The firefighters have said the picket allows them to voice their displeasure since they cannot strike.

Cicilline calls the picket “political extortion” and said he won’t cave to the union’s demands.