NEWS

Bennett legislation would continue fire, police contracts

By ALEX MALM
Posted 1/12/22

When a firefighter runs into a burning building, or a police officer finds himself in a dangerous situation there is a possibility that they aren’t working under a current …

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NEWS

Bennett legislation would continue fire, police contracts

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When a firefighter runs into a burning building, or a police officer finds himself in a dangerous situation there is a possibility that they aren’t working under a current contract. 

Through legislation reintroduced for a fourth time, Rep. David Bennett of Warwick hopes to change that.

“I think with the dangers of their jobs they should always have a contract in place,” he said. 

The legislation, if passed, would “continue all provisions of expired firefighters' collective bargaining  agreements until a successor agreement is reached between the parties or an interest arbitration award is rendered.”

A second piece of legislation would do the same for police officers’ collective bargaining agreements. 

Bennett explained state law does not require for an expired contract to continue for firefighter or police officers while a new one is being negotiated or is in arbitration. 

Michael Carreiro the President of Local 2748 which represents the Warwick firefighters said there are some rules in the Firefighter’s Arbitration Act to protect rank and file members and municipalities during negotiations but the legislation goes further than what is already in place. 

“This legislation essentially cleans up the existing language in the Firefighters’ Arbitration Act and codifies the well-established obligation of both municipal employers and unions to maintain the status quo while they are in negotiations and interest arbitration,” said Carreiro. “The current language provides that the terms of the expired contract continue in the next contract unless either party demands arbitration.  This legislation just clarifies that both parties will continue to abide by the expired contract until there is a decision from the arbitration panel or an agreement between the parties.”

Bennett said that he thinks most municipalities would allow a union to continue with their current contract while in negotiations or in arbitration but recognizes that it's not a guarantee and is a reason for why he introduced the legislation. 

“Most, if not all, municipalities, including Warwick, continue to abide by the terms of the expired collective bargaining agreement until a new contract has been ratified, but, over the past decade, their have been a few rogue departments that, with their attorneys, that have tried to make a name for themselves by unilaterally changing working conditions while the parties were in negotiations,” said Carreiro. “Those departments not only negatively affected public safety in their communities, but caused taxpayers to incur unnecessary legal fees.  This legislation seeks to prevent the disruption of public safety services while the parties negotiate in good faith for a successor agreement.”

Asked if Warwick has been in a situation where not having the legislation in place was an issue, Carreiro said it happened during the 2018-2019 contract year when the contract was eventually ratified in January of 2020. The contract was backdated for July 1 2019. 

If passed Warwick could become one of the first municipalities affected by the legislation. At the end of June the current firefighters contract expires.

The Warwick Fraternal Order of Police #7 the union that represents the Warwick Police Department and the City agreed to a new three-year contract in 2021. 

Bennett, contracts

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