State of Rhode Island, Department of Corrections v. Rhode Island State Labor Relations Board

Summary

The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s judgment, holding that the Labor Relations Board’s decision was unsupported by legally competent evidence and that the Department of Corrections’ changes to its Absenteeism Management Program were a valid exercise of the director’s statutory authority, thus not subject to collective‑bargaining. The Court rejected the union’s arguments on factual findings, materiality of the changes, and the need for bargaining.