The Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board (RISLRB)

The Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board (RISLRB) is an autonomous Board created within the Department of Labor and Training. The public policy of the State of Rhode Island, as it relates to labor relations, is to encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining, and to protect employees in the exercise of full freedom of association, self- organization and designation of representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining, or mutual aid and protection, free from the interference, restraint or coercion of their employers.

Under the NLRA, you have the right to:

  • Sign or not sign a union authorization card or petition

  • Support or not support a union

  • Campaign for or against a union

  • Help a union (like NEARI) organize your coworkers

  • Engage in union activity (social media posts, etc..)

  • Refrain from engaging in union activity

Regardless of whether you support or choose not to support the union, your rights are protected by State and Federal law. The MET cannot discriminate or retaliate against you in any way because you support a union. Likewise, a union and its organizers cannot discriminate or retaliate against you in any way because you do not support a union.

Resources

Below are links to external, independent websites that can provide you with additional information about unionization, collective bargaining, your rights, and those of the MET and NEARI.