(a)  State employees, except for casual employees or seasonal employees, shall have the right to organize and designate representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining with respect to wages, hours, and other conditions of employment. State employees, as used in this chapter, shall include employees and members of the department of state police below the rank of lieutenant.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 36-11-1

  • Casual employees: shall mean those persons hired for an occasional period to perform special jobs or functions not necessarily related to the work performed by the regular employees in the collective bargaining unit. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-11-1.1
  • Seasonal employees: shall mean those persons employed in positions which are part of an annual job employment program. See Rhode Island General Laws 36-11-1.1

(b)  The representatives of state employees are hereby granted the right to negotiate with the chief executive or his or her designee (appointed, elected, or possessing classified status) on matters pertaining to wages, hours, and working conditions.

(c)  The chief executive or his or her designee (appointed, elected, or possessing classified status) is hereby authorized and required to recognize an organization designated by state employees for the purpose of collective bargaining as the collective bargaining agency for its members.

History of Section.
P.L. 1958, ch. 178, § 1; P.L. 1966, ch. 147, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 116, § 1; P.L. 1972, ch. 277, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 356, § 1.