§ 28-9.3-9 - Unresolved issues submitted to mediation or arbitration.
SECTION 28-9.3-9
§ 28-9.3-9 Unresolved issues submitted tomediation or arbitration. – (a) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent and the schoolcommittee are unable, within thirty (30) days from and including the date oftheir first meeting, to reach an agreement on a contract, either of them mayrequest mediation and conciliation upon any and all unresolved issues by thedirector of labor and training or from any other source. If mediation andconciliation fail or are not requested, at any time after the thirty (30) days,either party may request that any and all unresolved issues shall be submittedto arbitration by sending the request by certified mail postage prepaid to theother party, setting forth the issues to be arbitrated.
(b) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent andthe school committee 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 andtown to cover the first year of the contract period, any and all unresolvedissues shall be submitted to the director of labor and training for compulsorymediation until the date upon which the money is scheduled to be appropriated.The director of labor and training or his or her designee may waive thisrequirement upon the mutual agreement of the parties.
(c) In the event that the negotiating or bargaining agent andthe school committee are unable within ten (10) days of the scheduled close ofschool in June of the last year of the contract in effect to reach an agreementon a contract, any and all unresolved issues shall be submitted to the directorof 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 the parties to any and all meetings it deems necessary untilthe dispute is resolved.
(e) For any mediation pertaining to unresolved issues thatare submitted to compulsory mediation between the negotiating or bargainingagent and the school committee, pursuant to the provisions of this section, thestate shall pay up to five thousand dollars ($5,000) of the cost of themediation expenses. Any costs above five thousand dollars ($5,000) shall beshared equally between the bargaining unit and the school committee.