2019 -- H 5259 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO LABOR - UNION REPRESENTATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Craven, O'Brien, McEntee, and Caldwell

     Date Introduced: January 31, 2019

     Referred To: House Labor

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 28-9.3-7 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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     28-9.3-7. Certification of negotiating agent -- Payment of service charge by non-

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members.

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     (a) No association or organization shall be initially certified as the representative of

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certified public school teachers except after an election.

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     (b) Teachers shall be free to join or to decline to join any association or organization

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regardless of whether it has been certified as the exclusive representative of certified public

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school teachers.

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     (c) If new elections are not held after an association or labor organization is certified, the

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association or organization shall continue as the exclusive representative of the certified public

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school teachers from year to year until recognition is withdrawn or changed as provided in § 28-

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9.3-5.

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     (d) Elections shall not be held more often than once each twelve (12) months and must be

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held at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date of any employment contract.

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     (e) Where certified public school teachers have selected an exclusive bargaining

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representative organization, all nonmembers of the exclusive bargaining representative

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organization shall pay to the exclusive bargaining organization a service charge as a contribution

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toward the collective bargaining procedures involved in securing a contract and the

 

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administration of any collective bargaining agreement in an amount equal to the regular dues of

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the organization. Any employees in the bargaining unit, who are not members of the exclusive

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bargaining representative organization, may be required by the labor or employee organization to

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pay a reasonable charge for representation in grievances and/or arbitrations brought at the

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nonmember’s request.

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     (f) The employer shall notify the exclusive bargaining unit representative organization of

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the hiring of any employee in the bargaining unit. Said notice shall be given promptly after the

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hiring decision is made but in no event later than the fifth business day following the employee’s

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start date.

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     SECTION 2. Section 28-9.4-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.4 entitled "Municipal

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

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     28-9.4-8. Certification of negotiating agent.

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     (a) No employee organization shall be initially certified as the representative of municipal

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employees in an appropriate bargaining unit except after an election.

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     (b) Municipal employees shall be free to join or decline to join any employee

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organization regardless of whether it has been certified as the exclusive representative of

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municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit.

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     (c) If new elections are not held after an employee organization is certified, the employee

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organization shall continue as the exclusive representative of the municipal employees of the

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appropriate bargaining unit from year to year until recognition is withdrawn or changed as

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provided in § 28-9.4-6.

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     (d) Elections shall not be held more often than once each twelve (12) months and must be

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held at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date of any employment contract.

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     (e) An employee organization designated as the representative of the majority of the

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municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit, shall be the exclusive bargaining agent

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for all municipal employees of the unit, and shall act, negotiate agreements, and bargain

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collectively for all employees in the unit and shall be responsible for representing the interest of

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all the municipal employees without discrimination and without regard to employee organization

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membership.

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     (f) Any employee(s) in the bargaining unit, who are not members of the exclusive

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bargaining representative organization, may be required by the labor or employee organization to

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pay a reasonable charge for representation in grievances and/or arbitrations brought at the

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nonmember’s request.

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     (g) The employer shall notify the exclusive bargaining unit representative organization of

 

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the hiring of any employee in the bargaining unit. Said notice shall be given promptly after the

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hiring decision is made but in no event later than the fifth business day following the employee's

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start date.

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     SECTION 3. Section 36-6-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-6 entitled "Salaries and

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Traveling Expenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     36-6-17. Deductions for union dues.

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     (a) Upon request written authorization of any state employee who is a member of any

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bona fide labor union or who voluntarily elects to pay dues or fees to a union, the state controller

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shall deduct from the employee's salary his or her dues as a member or fees and shall remit,

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together with a list by departments of the members or fee payers whose dues payments have been

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deducted, the amounts so deducted, to the treasurer of the labor union, designated by the

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employee in the request; provided, however, that where a labor union has been certified

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recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative for an appropriate unit, only the

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dues or fees for the sole and exclusive bargaining representative shall be deducted. The state

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controller shall make dues or fee deductions, on an on-going basis, unless the employee files a

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written notice requesting termination of such payments, with the exclusive bargaining

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representative.

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     (b) In the case of an employee employed in an area where there is no certified exclusive

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bargaining organization, the request for dues deductions or fees to a bona fide labor union shall

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be voluntary and shall take effect thirty (30) days after presentation., The deduction shall be taken

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out according to appropriate payroll period and termination of the deduction shall be by sixty (60)

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days' written notice in advance or upon termination of employment; provided, however, that if the

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employer and the selected sole and exclusive bargaining representative have reached an

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agreement requiring membership in the union as a condition of employment regarding the

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payment of dues or fees or the employee on a voluntary basis elects to pay dues or fees, then the

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state controller shall make dues or fee deductions on an on-going basis, in accordance with

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contract provisions or applicable laws with the same being irrevocable until the expiration of the

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agreement between the employer and the exclusive bargaining representative unless the employee

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files a written notice requesting termination of such payments with the exclusive bargaining

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representative.

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     SECTION 4. Section 36-11-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-11 entitled

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"Organization of State Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     36-11-2. Discrimination because of membership in employee organization

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prohibited.

 

LC000962/SUB A - Page 3 of 5

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     There shall be no discrimination against any state employee because the employee has

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formed, joined, or chosen to be represented by any labor organization or employee organization.

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Membership in any employee organization may be determined by each individual employee;

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provided, however, that in areas where employees have selected an exclusive bargaining

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representative organization, all nonmembers of the exclusive bargaining representative

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organization shall pay to the exclusive employee organization a service charge as a contribution

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toward the negotiation and administration of any collective bargaining agreement in an amount

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equal to the regular biweekly membership dues of the organization, with the state controller being

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hereby directed upon certification of the exclusive bargaining organization to deduct biweekly

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from the employee's salary the above amount and remit the amount to the treasurer of the

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exclusive bargaining organization. Supervisory employees shall not endorse any particular

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employee organization or, by reason of membership in any organization, show prejudice or

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discriminate toward any individual employee.

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     (a) There shall be no discrimination against any state employee because the employee has

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formed, joined, or chosen to be represented by any labor or employee organization.

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     (b) Supervisory employees shall not endorse any particular labor or employee

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organization or by reason of membership in any organization, show prejudice or discriminate

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against any individual employee.

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     (c) Membership in any labor or employee organization may be determined by each

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individual employee and each individual member. Membership dues or fees are established in

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amounts as determined by the organization.

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     (d) The state controller shall hereby be directed, upon certification of the exclusive

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bargaining organization, to deduct biweekly membership dues from the employee's salary and

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remit the amount to the treasurer of the exclusive bargaining organization.

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     (e) Any employees in the bargaining unit, who are not members of the exclusive

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bargaining representative organization, may be required by the labor or employee organization to

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pay a reasonable charge for grievances and/or arbitrations brought at the nonmember’s request.

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     (f) The employer shall notify the exclusive bargaining unit representative organization of

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the hiring of any employee in the bargaining unit. Said notice shall be given promptly after the

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hiring decision is made but in no event later than the fifth business day following the employee's

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start date.

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     SECTION 5. 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 - UNION REPRESENTATION

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     This act would clarify the rights and options of government employees who decide not to

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join their employer's exclusive bargaining unit.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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