Anchor Rising: All You Need to Know About Binding Arbitration

June 30, 2011

All You Need to Know About Binding Arbitration

Justin Katz

GoLocalProv puts the added price tag of binding arbitration for teachers at $2 billion (albeit with few specific details). For my part, I'd say that National Education Association of Rhode Island Executive Director Bob Walsh tells us all we need to know about binding arbitration:

Expanding the binding arbitration law to teachers and other school employees would mean "no strikes, no work-to-rule, no disruption of the education environment," Walsh said. "It will bring labor peace and let teachers teach and just focus on the kids."

Take a moment to roll that statement around in your mind and consider its various angles. People who are willing to "disrupt the education environment" and the communities that they supposedly serve to secure high pay raises and low copays are willing to give up their weapons for binding arbitration. That's how much they expect binding arbitration to work in their favor.

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Yes, you always have to worry when people like Walsh and Crowley tell us that we should be in favor of something because it'll make it "cheaper" for us. Right, that's what they're in favor of? Something that is cheaper?

Take a look at which Senators voted for it yesterday, mostly the city-folk facing some of the biggest budget problems:

Of the 20
6 representing Providence
4 representing Warwick
3 representing Cranston
2 representing Pawtucket

There's 15 of the 20 right there. Having budget problems? Tie your local officials hands to make it worse. Great idea.

Ciccone
DaPonte
DeVall
DiPalma
Doyle
Gallo
Goodwin
Jabour
Lanzi
Lynch
McCaffrey
Metts
Miller
Perry
Pichardo
Ruggerio
Sheehan
Sosnowski
Tassoni
Walaska
Paiva-Weed

Posted by: Patrick at June 30, 2011 10:59 AM

Don't forget Tassoni...he didn't vote but sponsored it...also the biggest beneficiary of labor money in the GA. Big surprise.

Posted by: JTR at June 30, 2011 12:30 PM

What grab bag did GoLocal pull the $2 billion figure out of?
I don't think GoLocal necessarily skews left or right on a consistent basis, but it does have a penchant for sensationalizing these kinds of stories. I read it sometimes and want to run out looking for the flames and black helicopters.

Posted by: bella at June 30, 2011 12:51 PM

There are so many lies surrounding binding arbitration. It is a separate issue from pension reform. My question is how did GoLocalProv get the 2 billion number, when this is simply a bill that allows for a 3rd party to bring neutrality to 2 opposing negotiating sides? These situations are theoretical and so many people are creating false panic surrounding this bill. You want to save money, start looking at the fact that we are a nanny state and are paying for thousands upon thousands of people who don't work. Start looking at pension reform, but don't take away people's rights to bargain in good faith.

Posted by: Lindsay at June 30, 2011 4:06 PM

There is no valid reason for the GA to give such power to any one group of private citizens, to make decisions that take property away from RI citizens, decisions that are not reviewable by a legitimate court of law.

The senators who voted for this bill who live in districts not owned by the unions need to find something else to do. We will make sure your vote is widely known and not forgotten before the next election. Your betrayal of the citizens you are sworn to serve is detestable.

Posted by: riborn at June 30, 2011 9:05 PM

Well said, RIBorn.

Posted by: Monique at June 30, 2011 9:42 PM