§ 28-9.4-10 - Unresolved issues submitted to mediation or arbitration. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 28-9.4-10

   § 28-9.4-10  Unresolved issues submitted tomediation or arbitration. – (a) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent and the municipalemployer are unable after thirty (30) days from and including the date of theirfirst meeting to reach an agreement on a contract, either of them may requestmediation and conciliation upon any and all unresolved issues by the directorof labor and training or from any other source. After a request for mediationand conciliation has been made by either party, it shall be the duty andobligation of each party to participate in the mediation and conciliation. Ifmediation and conciliation fail or are not requested at any time after thethirty (30) days, either party may request that any and all unresolved issuesshall be submitted to arbitration by sending the request by certified mailpostage prepaid to the other party, setting forth the issues to be arbitrated.

   (b) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent andthe municipal employer 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 ortown to cover the first year of the contract period, then any and allunresolved issues shall be submitted to the director of labor and training forcompulsory mediation until the date upon which the money is scheduled to beappropriated. The director of labor and training, or his or her designee, maywaive this requirement upon the mutual agreement of the parties.

   (c) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent andthe municipal employer are unable within ten (10) days of the expiration of thecontract to reach an agreement on a contract, any and all unresolved issuesshall be submitted to the director of labor and training for compulsorymediation, except where the municipal employer is a school board. In the eventthat the negotiating or bargaining agent and the municipal employer schoolboard are unable within thirty (30) days of the scheduled opening of school toreach an agreement on a contract, any and all unresolved issues shall besubmitted to the director of labor and training for compulsory mediation.

   (d) If the parties cannot mutually agree upon a mediatorwithin twenty-four (24) hours, the director of labor and training shall selecta mediator from a panel previously established by the director comprised ofpersons knowledgeable in the field of labor management relations to mediate thedispute. The department of labor and training is empowered to compel theattendance of all parties to any and all meetings it deems necessary until thedispute is resolved.