§ 28-9.4-8 - Certification of negotiating agent. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 28-9.4-8

   § 28-9.4-8  Certification of negotiatingagent. – (a) No employee organization shall be initially certified as the representativeof municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit except after anelection.

   (b) Municipal employees shall be free to join or decline tojoin any employee organization regardless of whether it has been certified asthe exclusive representative of municipal employees in an appropriatebargaining unit.

   (c) If new elections are not held after an employeeorganization is certified, the employee organization shall continue as theexclusive representative of the municipal employees of the appropriatebargaining unit from year to year until recognition is withdrawn or changed asprovided in § 28-9.4-6.

   (d) Elections shall not be held more often than once eachtwelve (12) months and must be held at least thirty (30) days before theexpiration date of any employment contract.

   (e) An employee organization designated as the representativeof the majority of the municipal employees in an appropriate bargaining unit,shall be the exclusive bargaining agent for all municipal employees of theunit, and shall act, negotiate agreements, and bargain collectively for allemployees in the unit and shall be responsible for representing the interest ofall the municipal employees without discrimination and without regard toemployee organization membership.