The bill proposes amendments to Chapter 28-9.4 of the General Laws, titled "Municipal Employees’ Arbitration." It clarifies that municipal employees have the right to organize, be represented, and bargain collectively, but do not have the right to strike. The bill introduces a method of arbitration for resolving disputes, intended as an alternative for employees who cannot strike. It also modifies the recognition of bargaining agents, the arbitration hearing process, and the appeal process, making a majority decision of the arbitrators final and binding. The bill includes insertions that emphasize the authority of negotiators, the finality of arbitration decisions, and the prioritization of supreme court review. It removes language regarding nonbinding arbitrator decisions, the previous appeal process, and the requirement for municipal employers to report arbitration decisions involving money to budget agencies.

Additionally, the bill sets new considerations for the interest contract arbitration board when deciding on municipal employee union contracts. These considerations involve comparing wages, hours, and employment conditions with local standards and taking into account the public interest and welfare. The board is also empowered to make decisions on all negotiated matters, including those involving financial expenditures. The bill is designed to be effective immediately upon its passage, with deletions including certain previous appeal processes and reporting requirements, and insertions that grant the arbitration board broader authority and emphasize the binding nature of its decisions.