Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-16 (2026)

Labor disputes

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) An individual shall not be entitled to benefits if he or she became unemployed because of a strike or other industrial controversy in the establishment in which he or she was employed. This section shall not apply if it is shown to the satisfaction of the director that the claimant is not a member of the organization or group responsible for the labor dispute and is not participating in or financing or in any way directly interested in the labor dispute.

(b) Lockouts.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), an individual shall be entitled to benefits if his or her unemployment is the result of his or her employer’s withholding of employment for the purpose of resisting collective bargaining demands or gaining collective bargaining concessions, unless:

(1) The claimant’s employer is a member of a multi-employer collective bargaining group and the lockout is in response to a strike at another member of that multi-employer collective bargaining group; or

(2) The claimant’s employer establishes to the satisfaction of the director that it has offered to the labor organization representing the claimant an extension of then existing wages, hours, and working conditions, including enforceable no strike and no lockout prohibitions, for up to three (3) days and the lockout is in response to the labor organization’s refusal to execute the extension.

(c) If the unemployment continues more than one week following the conclusion of a labor dispute, an individual who is otherwise eligible under the terms of this chapter shall be entitled to benefits.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1965–1990 · leading case: Fontaine v. Bd. of Review of Dep't of Emp. Sec., 210 A.2d 867 (R.I. 1965).
Fontaine v. Bd. of Review of Dep't of Emp. Sec., 210 A.2d 867 (R.I. 1965). · cites it 9× “At the hearing before the board, claimants contended that the facts established a strike or other labor controversy within the meaning of §28-44-16 and that therefore they were subject to the penalty period therein prescribed.”
Newman-Crosby Steel, Inc. v. Fascio, 423 A.2d 1162 (R.I. 1980). · cites it 4× “” He also concluded that even if the board was correct in its conclusion that the work stoppage was a lockout, the six-week waiting period specified in § 28-44-16 would still be applicable because a lockout is in fact an “industrial controversy” within the meaning of § 28-44-16.”
Ranone v. Dept. of Emp. Sec., Bd. of Rev., 474 A.2d 748 (R.I. 1984). · cites it 6× “On appeal the following issues are presented to the court: (1) whether plaintiffs are entitled to unemployment-compensation benefits pursuant to the provisions of § 28-44-16; (2) whether the Department of Employment Security had jurisdiction to make a finding of misconduct; and…”
New England Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Fascio, 254 A.2d 758 (R.I. 1969). · cites it 3× “1956, §28-44-16, denied their application for benefits.”
Robert Derecktor of Rhode Island, Inc. v. Emp. Sec. Bd. of Review, Dep't of Emp. Sec., 572 A.2d 58 (R.I. 1990). · cites it 8× “*60 The controlling statute in this case is § 28-44-16, which reads in pertinent part: “Labor disputes.”
Grinnell Corp. v. Hackett, 344 F. Supp. 749 (D.R.I. 1972). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 28-44-16. Following expiration of their collective bargaining agreement and of several months of negotiations, the 585 employees of the plaintiff, Grinnell Corporation at the Cranston, R.”
Almacs, Inc. v. Hackett, 312 F. Supp. 964 (D.R.I. 1970). “§ 28-44-16, G.L.R.I.1956, as amended. Pursuant to this statutory provision, no benefits currently are being paid to Almacs employees.”
Grinnell Corp. v. Hackett, 475 F.2d 449 (1st Cir. 1973). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 28-44-16. On May 15, plaintiff filed the complaint in this case, seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction against the defendants Hackett and Affleck, who are the directors, respectively, of the Departments of Employment Security and Social and Rehabilitation…”
Annese v. Bd. of Review of the Dep't of Emp. Sec., 249 A.2d 46 (R.I. 1969). “The statute upon which the board relied, §28-44-16, provides that an employee shall not be entitled to benefits until after the expiration of a penalty period if he became unemployed because of a strike or other industrial controversy in the establishment in which he was…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-16(b) — 1 case
Robert Derecktor of Rhode Island, Inc. v. Emp. Sec. Bd. of Review, Dep't of Emp. Sec., 572 A.2d 58 (R.I. 1990). “*60 The controlling statute in this case is § 28-44-16, which reads in pertinent part: “Labor disputes.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-16(b)(2) — 1 case
Robert Derecktor of Rhode Island, Inc. v. Emp. Sec. Bd. of Review, Dep't of Emp. Sec., 572 A.2d 58 (R.I. 1990). “*60 The controlling statute in this case is § 28-44-16, which reads in pertinent part: “Labor disputes.”
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