2017 -- H 6154

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LC002537

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS

     

     Introduced By: Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2017

     Referred To: House Labor

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-9-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9 entitled "Arbitration of

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Labor Controversies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-9-7. Selection of arbitrators.

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     If in the contract for arbitration or in the submission, provision is made for a method of

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naming or appointing an arbitrator or arbitrators or an umpire, that method shall be followed, but

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if no method is provided in the contract, . The the parties to the contract or submission shall agree

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to the method of naming or appointing an arbitrator or arbitrators or an umpire. If the parties fail

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to agree, then the director of labor and training, upon application of either of the parties after due

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notice to the other party, shall appoint either a retired Rhode Island judge or magistrate as an

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arbitrator to hear the dispute.

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     SECTION 2. Section 28-9.1-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.1 entitled

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

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     28-9.1-8. Arbitration board -- Composition.

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     Within five (5) days from the expiration of the thirty (30) day period referred to in § 28-

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9.1-7, the bargaining agent and the corporate authorities shall each select and name one arbitrator

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and subsequently shall immediately notify each other in writing of the name and address of the

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person selected. The two (2) arbitrators so selected and named shall, within ten (10) days from

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and after the expiration of the five (5) day period mentioned in this section agree upon and select

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and name a third arbitrator. If, on the expiration of the period allowed, the arbitrators are unable

 

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to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected by the

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director of the department of labor and training and they shall make the selection of either a

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retired Rhode Island judge or magistrate in accordance with the rules and procedures of the

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American Arbitration Association. The third arbitrator, whether selected as a result of agreement

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between the two (2) arbitrators previously selected or selected by the American Arbitration

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Association director of the department of labor and training, shall act as chair of the arbitration

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board.

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     SECTION 3. Section 28-9.2-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.2 entitled "Municipal

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Police Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-9.2-8. Arbitration board -- Composition.

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     Within five (5) days from the expiration of the thirty (30) day period referred to in § 28-

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9.2-7, the bargaining agent and the corporate authorities shall each select and name one arbitrator

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and shall immediately thereafter notify each other in writing of the name and address of the

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person so selected. The two (2) arbitrators so selected and named shall, within ten (10) days from

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and after the expiration of the five (5) day period mentioned in this section, agree upon and select

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and name a third arbitrator. If, on the expiration of the period allowed, the arbitrators are unable

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to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected by the

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director of the department of labor and training and they shall make the selection of either a

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retired Rhode Island judge or magistrate in accordance with the rules and procedures of the

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American Arbitration Association. The third arbitrator, whether selected as a result of agreement

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between the two (2) arbitrators previously selected or selected by the American Arbitration

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Association director of the department of labor and training, shall act as chairperson of the

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arbitration board.

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     SECTION 4. Section 28-9.3-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.3 entitled "Certified

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School Teachers' Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     28-9.3-10. Arbitration board -- Composition.

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     (a) Within seven (7) days after arbitration has been requested as provided in § 28-9.3-9,

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the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee shall each select and name one

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arbitrator and shall immediately notify each other in writing of the name and address of the

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person so selected. The two (2) arbitrators selected and named shall, within ten (10) days from

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and after their selection, agree upon and select and name a third arbitrator. If within the ten (10)

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days the arbitrators are unable to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator, the third arbitrator

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shall be selected by the director of the department of labor and training and they shall make the

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selection of either a retired Rhode Island judge or magistrate in accordance with the rules and

 

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procedure of the American Arbitration Association.

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     (b) If the The negotiating or bargaining agent agrees may agree with the school

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committee to a different method of selecting arbitrators, or to a lesser or greater number of

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arbitrators. , or to any particular arbitrator, or if they agree to have the board of regents for

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elementary and secondary education designate the arbitrator or arbitrators to conduct the

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arbitration, the agreement shall govern the selection of arbitrators. However, if the board of

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regents for elementary and secondary education is unwilling or fails to designate the arbitrator or

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arbitrators, an alternative method of selection shall be used.

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     (c) The third arbitrator, whether selected as a result of agreement between the two (2)

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previously selected arbitrators, or selected under the rules of the American Arbitration

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Association, or by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education by the director of

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the department of labor and training, or by any other method, shall act as chairperson.

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     SECTION 5. Section 28-9.4-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.4 entitled

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

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     28-9.4-11. Arbitration board -- Composition.

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     (a) Within seven (7) days after arbitration has been requested as provided in § 28-9.4-10,

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the negotiating agent and the municipal employer shall each select and name one arbitrator and

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shall immediately thereafter notify each other, in writing, of the name and address of the person

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selected.

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     (b) The two (2) arbitrators selected and named shall within ten (10) days from and after

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their selection agree upon and select and name a third arbitrator. If within the ten (10) days the

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arbitrators are unable to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be

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selected by the director of the department of labor and training and they shall make the selection

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of either a retired Rhode Island judge or magistrate in accordance with the rules and procedure of

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the American Arbitration Association.

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     (c) If the negotiating or bargaining agent agrees with the municipal employer to a

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different method of selecting arbitrators, or to a lesser or greater number of arbitrators, or to any

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particular arbitrator, or if they agree to have the state director of labor and training designate the

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arbitrator or arbitrators to conduct the arbitration, the agreement shall govern the selection of

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arbitrators; provided, that if the state director of labor and training is unwilling or fails to

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designate the arbitrator or arbitrators, an alternative method of selection shall be used.

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     (d) The third arbitrator, whether selected as a result of agreement between the two (2)

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previously selected arbitrators, or selected under the rules of the American Arbitration

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Association director of the department of labor and training, or by the state director of labor and

 

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training or by any other method, shall act as chairperson.

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     SECTION 6. 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 AND LABOR RELATIONS

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     This act would replace the American Arbitration Association, as the selector of labor

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arbitrators, in non-grievance contract matters, with the director of the department of labor and

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training. The director shall select retired Rhode Island judges and magistrates for firefighter,

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police, teacher and municipal employee matters.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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