The bill amends various sections of the General Laws in Rhode Island to clarify the rights of public sector employees regarding collective bargaining and the right to strike. It explicitly grants the right to strike to certified public school teachers, which was previously prohibited. The bill also establishes that municipal employees, specifically firefighters and police officers, do not have the right to strike, and any such actions by these groups would be deemed illegal. Additionally, it specifies that organizations representing state employees, including firefighters, correctional officers, 911 employees, and police officers, will not have the right to strike.

The amendments include new legal language that emphasizes the rights of public sector workers while maintaining restrictions on certain groups for the sake of public safety and operational continuity in essential services. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7042: 28-7-45, 28-9.3-1, 36-11-6