AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT (Provides for the right to strike for public sector workers in Rhode Island, including teachers, with exceptions for police officers, firefighters, 911 employees, and correctional officers.)

S2172

2026 -- S 2172
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LC003447
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT

Introduced By:
Senators Bell, Ciccone, Gallo, Thompson, Appollonio, Urso, Bissaillon,
Murray, Burke, and Gu

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Labor & Gaming
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 28-7-45 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-7 entitled "Labor
2
Relations Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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28-7-45. Employees exempt from chapter.
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(a) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply: (1) To the employees of any employer
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who concedes to and agrees with the board that the employees are subject to and protected by the
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provisions of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947, 29 U.S.C. § 141 et seq., or the Railway
7
Labor Act, 45 U.S.C. § 151 et seq.; (2) Except as provided in Chapter 11 of title 36 as to employees
8
of the state; (3) Except as provided in chapter 9.4 of this title as to employees of any political or
9
civil subdivision or other agency thereof; (4) Except “firefighters” as defined in chapter 9.1 of this
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title and “police officers” as defined in chapter 9.2 of this title; or (5) Except “school teachers” as
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defined in chapter 9.3 of this title; provided, that in the case of firefighters, police officers, and
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healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care
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centers, and orphanages, the provisions of this chapter shall apply, but nothing contained in this
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chapter shall be deemed in any manner to grant to any firefighters
,

or
police officers
, or healthcare
15
provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and
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orphanages,
the right to engage in any strike. Any strike by any firefighters
,

or
police officers
, or
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healthcare provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care
18
centers, and orphanages,
shall be illegal.
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(b) When an impasse is reached by an employer and a union representing healthcare

1
provider employees, including those of hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care centers, and
2
orphanages, the mediation services of the department of labor and training shall be utilized for
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mediation and factfinding. If the issues remain unresolved, then the parties shall proceed to
4
arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
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SECTION 2. Section 28-9.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.3 entitled "Certified
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School Teachers’ Arbitration" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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28-9.3-1. Declaration of policy — Purpose.
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(a) In pursuance of the duty imposed upon it by the constitution to promote public schools
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and to adopt all means necessary and proper to secure to the people the advantages and
10
opportunities of education, the general assembly declares that it recognizes teaching as a profession
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that requires special educational qualifications and that to achieve high quality education it is
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indispensable that good relations exist between teaching personnel and school committees.
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(b) It is declared to be the public policy of this state to accord to certified public school
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teachers the right to organize, to be represented, to negotiate professionally,
to strike,
and to bargain
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on a collective basis with school committees covering hours, salary, working conditions, and other
16
terms of professional employment
; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be
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construed to accord to certified public school teachers the right to strike
.
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SECTION 3. Sections 28-9.4-1 and 28-9.4-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-9.4
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entitled "Municipal Employees’ Arbitration" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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28-9.4-1. Declaration of policy — Purpose.
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It is declared to be the public policy of this state to accord to municipal employees the right
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to organize, to be represented, to negotiate, and to bargain on a collective basis with municipal
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employers, covering hours, salary, working conditions and other terms of employment
; provided,
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that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to accord to municipal employees the right
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to strike
.
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28-9.4-16.
Strikes by municipal employees illegal
Strikes by municipal firefighters
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and police officers illegal.
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Municipal
employees

firefighters and police officers
covered by the provisions of this
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chapter shall not have the right to engage in any strike, work stoppage, or slowdown strike; and any
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strike, work stoppage, or slowdown strike
by municipal firefighters or police officers
shall be
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illegal.
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SECTION 4. Section 36-11-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-11 entitled "Organization
33
of State Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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36-11-6. Powers of representative organizations.

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Organizations representing state employees, firefighters as defined in § 28-9.1-3, and
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police officers as defined in § 28-9.2-3, shall enjoy all the benefits of and be subject to all the
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provisions of chapter 7 of title 28, except that
those employees

firefighters, correctional officers,
4
911 employees, and police officers
shall not have the right to strike.
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SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- LABOR RELATIONS ACT
***
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This act would provide for the right to strike for public sector workers in Rhode Island,
2
including teachers, with exceptions for police officers, firefighters, 911 employees, and correctional
3
officers.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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