Chapter 011

2014 – S 2106

Enacted 04/09/14

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

 

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,  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 cases 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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LC003382
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