Town of North Kingstown v. Int’l Ass’n of Firefighters, Local 1651
Annotate this CaseThese consolidated appeals concerned a highly contested labor dispute between the Town of North Kingstown and the North Kingstown Firefighters, Local 1651, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO (“union”). At the heart of the litigation was the town’s unilateral implementation of a three-platoon structure and the effects of that reorganization, including a change to a twenty-four hours on, forty-eight hours off schedule. The superior court issued various declaratory and injunctive relief. The Supreme Court affirmed in part, and reversed and remanded in part, holding (1) the town’s actions in implementing its decision to change to a three-platoon structure were lawful under the circumstances; but (2) provided that the union complies with the requirements of the Firefighters Arbitration Act and makes timely requests, the town must bargain regarding the effects of its decision to implement the three-platoon structure.
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