Rhode Island House Bill H5227

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/25
• Refer: 1/29/25
• Report Pass: 6/10/25
• Engrossed: 6/16/25
• Enrolled: 6/18/25
• Passed: 6/26/25

Caption

Provide protection for the rights of professional, administrative and secretarial employees of the department of education to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of employment.

Impact

The enactment of H5227 is primarily intended to safeguard union rights for education employees, ensuring that their collective bargaining agreements are respected and not overridden by the management of the Department of Education. This could potentially lead to improved job security and working conditions for a significant segment of the state’s education workforce. It is expected that this will facilitate better negotiation practices between employees and management, leading to greater harmony within educational institutions.

Summary

House Bill 5227 aims to enhance the rights of professional, administrative, and secretarial employees within the Rhode Island Department of Education by affirming their ability to collectively bargain over all terms and conditions of their employment. This includes critical elements such as salaries, promotion criteria, and dismissal procedures. The bill is a response to the need for clearer protection for education staff amidst changing regulations and managerial policies within the department.

Contention

While the bill is expected to draw support from unions and employee advocacy groups, it may face opposition from those who believe that such collective bargaining rights should be restricted. Critics could argue that expanding bargaining rights could lead to increased costs for the state in terms of salaries and benefits, possibly impacting the budget allocated for education. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the autonomy of management in making hiring and staffing decisions without extensive negotiations.