R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9 (2026)

Rules and regulations

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) The board shall have authority from time to time to make, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations that may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter including the determination of the life of the selected representatives. The rules and regulations shall be effective upon publication in the manner that the board prescribes.

(b) The rules and regulations for state and municipal employees shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The board shall require a labor organization to submit cards of interest signed by at least thirty percent (30%) of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit indicating a desire to be represented by the labor organization so designated. Cards of interest signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit shall be required to intervene. The board shall certify the authenticity of all cards of interest submitted.

(2) The board shall not consider a petition for representation whenever it appears that a collective bargaining agreement is in existence; provided, that the board may consider a petition within a thirty-day (30) period immediately preceding sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date of the collective bargaining agreement.

(3) A petition for unit clarification may be filed at any time with the board by:

(i) An exclusive bargaining agent;

(ii) The applicable municipality; or

(iii) The state where appropriate.

(4) In addition to the provisions of § 28-7-22, the board is empowered to order complete relief upon a finding of any unfair labor practice.

(5) All charges of unfair labor practices and petitions for unit classification shall be informally heard by the board within thirty (30) days upon receipt of the charges or petitions. Within sixty (60) days of the charges or petition the board shall hold a formal hearing. A final decision shall be rendered by the board within sixty (60) days after the hearing on the charges or petition is completed and a transcript of the hearing is received by the board.

(6) The board shall establish standards for deferring a pending unfair labor practice charge to allow for the grievance and arbitration process to move forward pursuant to the charging parties’ collective bargaining agreement.

(c) Insofar as the provisions of this section are inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 11 of title 36 and chapter 9.4 of this title, the provisions of this section are controlling.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent or limit the board or its agents by direction of the board, consistent with published rules and regulations, from dismissing, after investigation and informal hearings, the unfair labor practices charge. All unit classification petitions shall receive a formal hearing if requested by either party. The board or its agents shall maintain a written record of any dismissals.

(e) The board shall promulgate the appropriate rules and regulations allowing for the electronic filing of cards of interest, decertification signature cards, signature affirmation documents, and designation of bargaining agent and waiver of right-to-vote forms.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases, 1994–2012 · leading case: Local 400, Int'l Fed'n of Technical & Prof'l Engineers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 747 A.2d 1002 (R.I. 2000).
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Local 400, Int'l Fed'n of Technical & Prof'l Engineers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 747 A.2d 1002 (R.I. 2000). · cites it 6× “It is our opinion, however, that there is no conflict between § 28-7-9(b)(5) and § 28-7-9(d). The latter statute does not “prevent or limit the board” from considering unfair labor practice charges and unit classification petitions “after investigation and informal hearings.”
Martone v. Johnston Sch. Comm., 824 A.2d 426 (R.I. 2003). · cites it 2× “At that point, however, *430 the union complained to the state Labor Relations Board, which heard the case pursuant to G.L.1956 § 28-7-9(b)(5). DEM, 799 A.2d at 276 .”
State Dep't of Corr. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 703 A.2d 1095 (R.I. 1997). · cites it 2× “We quash the judgment of the Superior Court and remand the ease with directions that the Superior Court issue an order requiring the board to hold hearings pursuant to § 28-7-9(b)(5), which reads as follows: “All charges of unfair labor practices and petitions for unit…”
State, Dep't of Env't Mgmt. v. State, Labor Relations Bd., 799 A.2d 274 (R.I. 2002). · cites it 2× “Finally, DEM argued that the complaint was not adjudicated in a timely manner, as required by § 28-7-9, and therefore should be dismissed.”
United Serv. & Allied Workers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 969 A.2d 42 (R.I. 2009). · cites it 2× “The board granted this motion, relying upon the contract-bar doctrine, codified in G.L.1956 § 28-7-9(b)(2), which provides that the board shall not consider an intervenor union’s petition for an election while a collective-bargaining agreement remains effective between an…”
Rhode Island Pub. Telecomm. Auth. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 650 A.2d 479 (R.I. 1994). “1956 (1986 Reenactment) § 28-7-9(b)(3)(A), as amended by P.L.1987, ch.”
In re Town of Little Compton, 37 A.3d 85 (R.I. 2012). · cites it 2× “18 *94 Additionally, in accordance with G.L. 1956 § 28-7-9(a), the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board’s General Rules and Regulations allow nonlawyers to represent unions and employers in unfair labor practice proceedings.”
State Dep't of Corr. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 658 A.2d 509 (R.I. 1995). “The defendants, Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board (board) and Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (union) appeal the granting by a justice of the Superior Court of a stay of the decision of the board requiring the inclusion of the position of security…”
RI Pub. Tel. Auth. v. RI Labor Rel. Bd., 650 A.2d 479 (R.I. 1994). “1956 (1986 Reenactment) § 28-7-9(b)(3)(A), as amended by P.L. 1987, ch.”
State, Dept. of Env. Mgmt. v. Labor Bd., 799 A.2d 274 (R.I. 2002). · cites it 2× “Finally, DEM argued that the complaint was not adjudicated in a timely manner, as required by § 28-7-9, and therefore should be dismissed.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(a) — 1 case
In re Town of Little Compton, 37 A.3d 85 (R.I. 2012). “18 *94 Additionally, in accordance with G.L. 1956 § 28-7-9(a), the Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board’s General Rules and Regulations allow nonlawyers to represent unions and employers in unfair labor practice proceedings.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(b)(2) — 1 case
United Serv. & Allied Workers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 969 A.2d 42 (R.I. 2009). “The board granted this motion, relying upon the contract-bar doctrine, codified in G.L.1956 § 28-7-9(b)(2), which provides that the board shall not consider an intervenor union’s petition for an election while a collective-bargaining agreement remains effective between an…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(b)(3)(A) — 2 cases
Rhode Island Pub. Telecomm. Auth. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 650 A.2d 479 (R.I. 1994). “1956 (1986 Reenactment) § 28-7-9(b)(3)(A), as amended by P.L.1987, ch.”
RI Pub. Tel. Auth. v. RI Labor Rel. Bd., 650 A.2d 479 (R.I. 1994). “1956 (1986 Reenactment) § 28-7-9(b)(3)(A), as amended by P.L. 1987, ch.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(b)(5) — 5 cases
Martone v. Johnston Sch. Comm., 824 A.2d 426 (R.I. 2003). “At that point, however, *430 the union complained to the state Labor Relations Board, which heard the case pursuant to G.L.1956 § 28-7-9(b)(5). DEM, 799 A.2d at 276 .”
Local 400, Int'l Fed'n of Technical & Prof'l Engineers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 747 A.2d 1002 (R.I. 2000). “It is our opinion, however, that there is no conflict between § 28-7-9(b)(5) and § 28-7-9(d). The latter statute does not “prevent or limit the board” from considering unfair labor practice charges and unit classification petitions “after investigation and informal hearings.”
State Dep't of Corr. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 703 A.2d 1095 (R.I. 1997). “We quash the judgment of the Superior Court and remand the ease with directions that the Superior Court issue an order requiring the board to hold hearings pursuant to § 28-7-9(b)(5), which reads as follows: “All charges of unfair labor practices and petitions for unit…”
State, Dep't of Env't Mgmt. v. State, Labor Relations Bd., 799 A.2d 274 (R.I. 2002). “Finally, DEM argued that the complaint was not adjudicated in a timely manner, as required by § 28-7-9, and therefore should be dismissed.”
State, Dept. of Env. Mgmt. v. Labor Bd., 799 A.2d 274 (R.I. 2002). “Finally, DEM argued that the complaint was not adjudicated in a timely manner, as required by § 28-7-9, and therefore should be dismissed.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(b)(6) — 1 case
State Dep't of Corr. v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 658 A.2d 509 (R.I. 1995). “The defendants, Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board (board) and Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (union) appeal the granting by a justice of the Superior Court of a stay of the decision of the board requiring the inclusion of the position of security…”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-7-9(d) — 1 case
Local 400, Int'l Fed'n of Technical & Prof'l Engineers v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Bd., 747 A.2d 1002 (R.I. 2000). “It is our opinion, however, that there is no conflict between § 28-7-9(b)(5) and § 28-7-9(d). The latter statute does not “prevent or limit the board” from considering unfair labor practice charges and unit classification petitions “after investigation and informal hearings.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.