Allows employees, not represented by a union, to create a group to collectively bargain with employers.

Rhode Island Bill Summary: Non-Union Employee Bargaining Groups

This bill would give workers in Rhode Island who are not represented by a traditional union the ability to form their own group and negotiate with their employer as a collective. Currently, the right to bargain collectively — meaning negotiating wages, working conditions, or benefits as a group rather than as individuals — is typically associated with formal unions. This legislation would create a legal pathway for non-union employees to organize themselves into a group and have similar negotiating rights with their employer.

The bill would primarily affect workers at companies or workplaces where no union currently exists. Instead of each employee negotiating individually with their employer, workers could band together, form a group, and speak with one voice when discussing workplace issues like pay, hours, or working conditions. Employers would then be required to engage with that group in negotiations.

This legislation is currently in its early stages — it has been introduced and sent to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee, where lawmakers will review it before deciding whether to move it forward. No vote has taken place yet in the full Senate or House.