Loading chat...
RI H7082
Bill
Status
1/14/2026
Primary Sponsor
David Bennett
Click for details
AI Summary
-
Expands binding arbitration for municipal employees to cover all negotiated matters, including those involving the expenditure of money, removing the previous limitation that made monetary decisions non-binding
-
Requires designated negotiators for both employee organizations and municipal employers to have authority to enter into and conclude effective and binding collective bargaining agreements
-
Establishes specific factors arbitrators must consider: wage comparisons with similar jobs in the local area, comparisons with similarly-sized municipalities, public interest and welfare, and job-specific factors like hazards, qualifications, and required training
-
Maintains that all terms and conditions in expired collective bargaining agreements remain in effect during negotiations and dispute resolution, with wages and benefits (except layoff provisions) continuing until a successor agreement is reached
-
Takes effect upon passage and amends Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 28-9.4 governing municipal employees' arbitration
Legislative Description
Recognizes that municipal employees have the opportunity to utilize binding arbitration and establishes new factors for the arbitrators to consider. These factors include comparisons of wages/hourly conditions of employment in similarly skilled jobs.
Labor And Labor Relations
Last Action
Introduced, referred to House Labor
1/14/2026