reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-7 - Certification of negotiating agent - Payment of service charge by non-members.

§ 28-9.3-7. Certification of negotiating agent — Payment of service charge by non-members.(a) No association or organization shall be initially certified as the representative of certified public school teachers except after an election.(b) Teachers shall be free to join or to decline to join any association or organization regardless of whether it has been certified as the exclusive representative of certified public school teachers.(c) If new elections are not held after an association or labor organization is certified, the association or organization shall continue as the exclusive representative of the certified public school teachers from year to year until recognition is withdrawn or changed as provided in § 28-9.3-5.(d) Elections shall not be held more often than once each twelve (12) months and must be held at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date of any employment contract.(e) Any employees in the bargaining unit, who are not members of the exclusive bargaining representative organization, may be required by the labor or employee organization to pay a reasonable charge for representation in grievances and/or arbitrations brought at the nonmember's request.(f) The employer shall notify the exclusive bargaining unit representative organization of the hiring of any employee in the bargaining unit. The notice shall be given promptly after the hiring decision is made but in no event later than the fifth business day following the employee's start date.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 54, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 95, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-8 - Request for negotiation or bargaining.

§ 28-9.3-8. Request for negotiation or bargaining.Whenever salary or other matters requiring appropriation of money by any city, town, or regional school district are to be included as a matter of negotiation or collective bargaining conducted under the provisions of this chapter, the negotiating or bargaining agent must first serve written notice of request for negotiating or collective bargaining on the school committee at least one hundred forty (140) days before the last day on which money can be appropriated by the city or town to cover the first year of the contract period which is the subject of the negotiating or bargaining procedure, and the time limit shall be strictly adhered to and shall not be waived. A copy of the written notice of request for negotiating or collective bargaining shall be sent to the director of labor and training.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 379, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-9 - Unresolved issues submitted to mediation or arbitration.

§ 28-9.3-9. Unresolved issues submitted to mediation or arbitration.(a) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee are unable, within thirty (30) days from and including the date of their first meeting, to reach an agreement on a contract, either of them may request mediation and conciliation upon any and all unresolved issues by the director of labor and training or from any other source. If mediation and conciliation fail or are not requested, at any time after the thirty (30) days, either party may request that any and all unresolved issues shall be submitted to arbitration by sending the request by certified mail postage prepaid to the other party, setting forth the issues to be arbitrated.(b) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee are unable to reach an agreement on a contract thirty (30) days before the last day on which money can be appropriated by the city and town to cover the first year of the contract period, any and all unresolved issues shall be submitted to the director of labor and training for compulsory mediation until the date upon which the money is scheduled to be appropriated. The director of labor and training or his or her designee may waive this requirement upon the mutual agreement of the parties.(c) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee are unable within ten (10) days of the scheduled close of school in June of the last year of the contract in effect to reach an agreement on a contract, any and all unresolved issues shall be submitted to the director of labor and training for compulsory mediation.(d) If the parties cannot mutually agree upon a mediator within twenty-four (24) hours, the director of labor and training shall select a mediator from a panel previously established by the director comprised of persons knowledgeable in the field of labor management relations to mediate the dispute. The department of labor and training is empowered to compel the attendance of all the parties to any and all meetings it deems necessary until the dispute is resolved.(e) For any mediation pertaining to unresolved issues that are submitted to compulsory mediation between the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee, pursuant to the provisions of this section, the state shall pay up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) of the cost of the mediation expenses. Any costs above five thousand dollars ($5,000) shall be shared equally between the bargaining unit and the school committee.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 379, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 43, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 410, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 415, § 1; P.L. 2002, ch. 65, art. 15, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-10 - Arbitration board - Composition.

§ 28-9.3-10. Arbitration board — Composition.(a) Within seven (7) days after arbitration has been requested as provided in § 28-9.3-9, the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee shall each select and name one arbitrator and shall immediately notify each other in writing of the name and address of the person so selected. The two (2) arbitrators selected and named shall, within ten (10) days from and after their selection, agree upon and select and name a third arbitrator. If within the ten (10) days the arbitrators are unable to agree upon the selection of a third arbitrator, the third arbitrator shall be selected in accordance with the rules and procedure of the American Arbitration Association.(b) If the negotiating or bargaining agent agrees with the school committee to a different method of selecting arbitrators, or to a lesser or greater number of arbitrators, or to any particular arbitrator, or if they agree to have the board of regents for elementary and secondary education designate the arbitrator or arbitrators to conduct the arbitration, the agreement shall govern the selection of arbitrators. However, if the board of regents for elementary and secondary education is unwilling or fails to designate the arbitrator or arbitrators, an alternative method of selection shall be used.(c) The third arbitrator, whether selected as a result of agreement between the two (2) previously selected arbitrators, or selected under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, or by the board of regents for elementary and secondary education, or by any other method, shall act as chairperson.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-11 - Hearings.

§ 28-9.3-11. Hearings.(a) The arbitrators shall call a hearing to be held within ten (10) days after their appointment and shall give at least seven (7) days notice in writing to the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee of the time and place of the hearing. The hearing shall be informal, and the rules of evidence prevailing in judicial proceedings shall not be binding. Any documentary evidence and other data deemed relevant by the arbitrators may be received in evidence.(b) The arbitrators shall have the power to administer oaths and to require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production of books, records, and other evidence relative or pertinent to the issues presented to them for determination.(c) Both the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee shall have the right to be represented at any hearing before the arbitrators by counsel of their own choosing.(d) The hearing conducted by the arbitrators shall be concluded within twenty (20) days of the time of commencement, and within ten (10) days after the conclusion of the hearings, the arbitrators shall make written findings and a written opinion upon the issues presented, a copy of which shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to the negotiating or bargaining agent or its attorney or other designated representative and the school committee.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-12 - Appeal from decision.

§ 28-9.3-12. Appeal from decision.While the parties are engaged in negotiations and/or utilizing the dispute resolution process as required in § 28-9.3-9, all terms and conditions in the collective bargaining agreement shall remain in effect. The decision of the arbitrators shall be made public and shall be binding on the certified public school teachers and their representative and the school committee on all matters not involving the expenditure of money. Should either party reject the nonbinding matters in the decision of the arbitrators, the binding matters shall be implemented. Following the conclusion of the dispute resolution process as required in § 28-9.3-9, should the parties still be unable to reach agreement, all contractual provisions related to wages and benefits contained in the collective bargaining agreement, except for any contractual provisions that limit layoffs, shall continue as agreed to in the expired collective bargaining agreement until such time as a successor agreement has been reached between the parties. Nothing contained in this section shall prevent the representative of the certified public school teachers and the school committee from mutually agreeing to submit all unresolved issues to binding arbitration pursuant to the procedures set forth in §§ 28-9.3-10 — 28-9.3-12. In that case the decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on all matters so submitted, including those involving the expenditure of money, and cannot be appealed except on the ground that the decision was procured by fraud or that it violates the law, in which case appeals shall be to the superior court. The school committee shall within three (3) days after it receives the decision send a true copy of the decision by certified or registered mail postage prepaid to the department or agency that appropriates money for the operation of the schools in the city, town, or regional school district involved, if the decision involves the expenditure of money.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 1986, ch. 379, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 15, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 16, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-13 - Fees and expenses of arbitration.

§ 28-9.3-13. Fees and expenses of arbitration.Fees and necessary expenses of arbitration shall be borne equally by the negotiating or bargaining agent and the school committee.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-14 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-14 - Plural and singular usage.

§ 28-9.3-14. Plural and singular usage.Whenever the word "arbitrators" is used in this chapter it also means arbitrator where applicable.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-15 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-15 - Severability.

§ 28-9.3-15. Severability.If any provision of this chapter, or its application to any person or circumstances, is held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the remaining provisions of this chapter and the application of the provisions to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected by the invalidity.History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.3-16 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.3 - Certified School Teachers' Arbitration|Section 28-9.3-16 - Short title.

§ 28-9.3-16. Short title.This chapter may be cited as the "School Teachers' Arbitration Act."History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-1 - Declaration of policy - Purpose.

§ 28-9.4-1. Declaration of policy — Purpose.It is declared to be the public policy of this state to accord to municipal employees the right to organize, to be represented, to negotiate, and to bargain on a collective basis with municipal employers, covering hours, salary, working conditions and other terms of employment; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to accord to municipal employees the right to strike.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-2 - Definitions.

§ 28-9.4-2. Definitions.(a) "Employee organizations" means any lawful association, labor organization, federation or council having as a primary purpose the improvement of wages, hours and other conditions of employment among employees of municipal employers.(b) "Municipal employee" means any employee of a municipal employer, whether or not in the classified service of the municipal employer, except:(1) Elected officials and administrative officials;(2) Board and commission members;(3) Certified teachers, police officers, and firefighters;(4) Confidential and supervisory employees;(5) Casual employees, meaning persons hired for an occasional period to perform special jobs or functions;(6) Seasonal employees meaning persons employed to perform work on a seasonal basis of not more than sixteen (16) weeks, or who are part of an annual job employment program;(7) Employees of authorities except housing authorities not under direct management by a municipality who work less than twenty (20) hours per week. The state labor relations board shall, whenever requested to do so, in each instance, determine who are supervisory, administrative, confidential, casual, and seasonal employees.(c) "Municipal employer" means any political subdivision of the state, including any town, city, borough, district, school board, housing authority, or other authority established by law, and any person or persons designated by the municipal employer to act in its interest in dealing with municipal employees.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 58 § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-3 - Right to organize and bargain collectively.

§ 28-9.4-3. Right to organize and bargain collectively.(a) The municipal employees of any municipal employer in any city, town, or regional school district shall have the right to negotiate and to bargain collectively with their respective municipal employers and to be represented by an employee organization in the negotiation or collective bargaining concerning hours, salary, working conditions, and all other terms and conditions of employment.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), for those municipal employees who are employed by school districts, collective bargaining agreements shall not provide for benefits for health care ("benefit plans") for school district employees unless such benefit plans are authorized in accordance with chapter 73 of title 27. School district employees whose collective bargaining agreements expire on or after September 30, 2011 may, upon expiration of such collective bargaining agreements, receive benefit plans including, but not limited to, those recommended in accordance with chapter 73 of title 27.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 374, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 383, § 2; P.L. 2010, ch. 301, § 3; P.L. 2011, ch. 124, § 3; P.L. 2011, ch. 133, § 3.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-4 - Recognition of bargaining agent.

§ 28-9.4-4. Recognition of bargaining agent.The employee organization selected by the municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit, as determined by the state labor relations board, shall be recognized by the municipal employer or the city, town, or district as the sole and exclusive negotiating or bargaining agent for all of the municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit in the city, town, or school district unless and until recognition of the employee organization is withdrawn or changed by vote of the municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit after a duly conducted election held pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. An employee organization or the municipal employer may designate any person or persons to negotiate or bargain in its behalf.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-5 - Obligation to bargain.

§ 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 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 either 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.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 241, § 6; P.L. 2012, ch. 241, art. 22, § 5; P.L. 2014, ch. 10, § 4; P.L. 2014, ch. 11, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 512, art. 1, § 15.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-6 - Determination of negotiating agent - Elections.

§ 28-9.4-6. Determination of negotiating agent — Elections.(a) The state labor relations board, upon the written petition for an election signed by not less than twenty per cent (20%) of the municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit as determined by the state labor relations board of a city, town, or regional school district indicating their desire to be represented by a particular employee organization or to change or withdraw recognition, shall call and hold an election at which all municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit shall be entitled to vote.(b) The employee organization selected by a majority of the municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit voting in the election shall be certified by the state labor relations board as the exclusive negotiating or bargaining representative of the municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit of the city, town, or regional school district in any matter within the provision of this chapter.(c) Upon written petition to intervene in the election signed by not less than fifteen per cent (15%) of the municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit indicating their desire to be represented by a different or competing employee organization, the name of the different or competing employee organization shall be placed on the same ballot.(d) If the majority of those voting desire no representation, no employee organization shall be recognized by the municipal employer as authorized to negotiate or bargain in behalf of its municipal employees in the appropriate bargaining unit, and in all elections there shall be provided on the ballot an appropriate designation of such a choice.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1.
RI Gen L § 28-9.4-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 28 - Labor and Labor Relations|Chapter 28-9.4 - Municipal Employees' Arbitration|Section 28-9.4-7 - Supervision of elections.

§ 28-9.4-7. Supervision of elections.The state labor relations board shall prescribe the method of petitioning for an election, the manner, place, and time of conducting the election, and shall supervise all elections to insure against interference, restraint, discrimination, or coercion from any source. Complaints of interference, restraint, discrimination, or coercion shall be heard and dealt with by the labor relations board as provided in chapter 7 of this title. All unfair labor practices enumerated in § 28-7-13 are unfair labor practices for a municipal employer.History of Section.P.L. 1967, ch. 44, § 1.