Authority
This Regulation is promulgated pursuant to the authority granted in R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 28-7.
The public policy of the State of Rhode Island, as it relates to labor relations, is to encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining, and to protect employees in the exercise of full freedom of association, self organization and designation of representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining, or mutual aid and protection, free from the interference, restraint or coercion of their employers.
Composition
The composition of the RI State Labor Relations Board is defined pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-4.
The RI State Labor Relations Board is an autonomous Board created within the Department of Labor and Training. However, neither the Director of the Department of Labor and Training, nor any board or other agency shall in any way review, modify or reverse any decision or finding of the Board, or supervise or control the Board, in its exercise of its powers, or performance of its duties, as defined by law.
The Board is comprised of seven members who are appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Three members of the Board are appointed to represent labor, three members are appointed to represent management, including at least one representative of local government, and one member of the Board is appointed as a representative of the public generally. The Board Member's appointments are for terms of six years; the Governor designates one member to serve as Chairperson of the Board. Two members of the Board constitute a quorum.
Jurisdiction
State law does not expressly limit the Board’s jurisdiction over employers; however, the Board’s jurisdiction is preempted as to certain employers, by Federal law. As a practical matter, for many years, the Board’s cases have been limited to Municipal, State, quasi-Municipal and quasi-State (various “authorities”) employers. |
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Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board RISLRB