Binding arbitration: an orderly solution that deserves your support TODAY

Last night, the RI Senate passed a provision to settle teacher contracts by referring them to an impartial arbitrator, and the folks at the RI Statewide Coalition have responded predictably, "condemning" the action and "targeting" the senators who supported it. This morning, their spokesperson posted a dire screed in GoLocalProv.

I don't know about you, but whatever those folks oppose, I naturally find myself supporting. Add to that the local craziness around the teachers contract — is our community truly best served by taking our teachers to court? — and I'm thinking that binding arbitration is starting to sound pretty good.

If you agree, take one minute today to call Governor Chafee’s office at 222-2080, and just say "I want to urge the Governor to continue his support for binding arbitration." Easy peasy.

And it can't hurt to ping our legislative delegation — here's the e-mail I sent this morning, ready to cut-and-paste.

To: rep-edwards@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-gallison@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-reilly@rilin.state.ri.us, rep-gordon@rilin.state.ri.us
Subject: Please support binding arbitration
Sent: Jun 30, 2011 10:05 AM

Hi...
As someone who has watched with growing concern the issues have arisen in Portsmouth when there is no mechanism for resolving contract disputes -- short of the legal system -- I would urge your support today for binding arbitration for teachers.

Thank you for your consideration, and for all you do for our state.

Best Regards.
--John

Full disclosure: Yes, I am married to a teacher, but she works in Massachusetts, so I don't have a dog in this fight.

Comments

And I support binding arbitration. There are lots of challenges with public sector unions and binding arbitration is a reasonable check to some of those issues.

I'm disappointed my union is so rent-seeking at times.