Lawmakers hear arguments over binding arbitration

PROVIDENCE—The House Labor Committee heard arguments Wednesday over a proposal that would allow arbitrators to resolve contract stalemates with teachers’ unions.

The Rhode Island Statewide Coalition took a public stand against the arbitration bill and held a press conference before the hearing started. The group then packed the hearing room leaving unions in favor of the proposal on the defensive.

“I don’t think that we are pigs at the trough. I think that we are working people. I think that we are working-class professionals,“ said Marcia Reback, president of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers & Health Professionals.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Al Gemma, D-Warwick, said arbitration is the only way to settle disputes.

“This has to happen to end this reign of terror that we’ve been living under, under the so-called status quo,“ he said.

A Connecticut lawyer who represents school boards said it’s been her experience that arbitration is expensive.

“We saw a real impact on the entire bargaining process,“ said Patrice McCarthy of the Association of School Boards. “It’s not just the cases that go to arbitration, but it influences the behavior of the parties throughout negotiations. I’ve had numerous school board members tell me that they agreed to a settlement, particularly in a salary area, that they felt was more that their community could pay. But given the cost of arbitration, they’d rather avoid that cost.“

Gov. Don Carcieri agreed.

“I’m adamantly opposed to binding arbitration to resolve teachers’ contracts. I think that’s going entirely the wrong way. We’ve got to get costs under control. Our spending per pupil is among the highest in the country. If we got contract issues, these are the decisions that should be made by cities and towns and not by arbitrators.“

A vote was not scheduled.

The full General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene for two days next week and it’s unclear if the issue will be addressed.