2014 -- S 2106

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LC003382

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR RELATIONS - MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' ARBITRATION -

OBLIGATION TO BARGAIN

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Ruggerio, Pearson, McCaffrey, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-9.4-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.4 entitled "Municipal

Employees' Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     28-9.4-5. Obligation to bargain. -- It shall be the obligation of the municipal employer

to meet and confer in good faith with the representative or representatives of the negotiating or

bargaining agent within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice from the agent of the request

for a meeting for negotiating or collective bargaining purposes. This obligation includes the duty

to cause any agreement resulting from negotiation or bargaining to be reduced to a written

contract; provided, that no contract shall exceed the term of three (3) years unless a budget

commission or a receiver has been appointed for a municipality pursuant to chapter 45-9 of title

45, or if a municipality has a locally administered pension plan in “critical status” and is required

to submit a funding improvement plan pursuant to § 45-65-6(2), in which case in either of which

case the contract shall not exceed the term of five (5) years. Failure to negotiate or bargain in

good faith may be complained of by either the negotiating or bargaining agent or the municipal

employer to the state labor relations board, which shall deal with the complaint in the manner

provided in chapter 7 of this title. An unfair labor practice charge may be complained of by either

the bargaining agent or employer's representative to the state labor relations board, which shall

deal with the complaint in the manner provided in chapter 7 of this title.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR RELATIONS - MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES' ARBITRATION -

OBLIGATION TO BARGAIN

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     This act would redefine the circumstances in which a municipal labor contract may

exceed a term of three (3) years.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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