The right of municipal employees to associate together and to join any lawful organization of their own choosing for the purpose of collective bargaining to the fullest extent authorized and required by the General Laws of Rhode Island is recognized by this Charter, subject to the terms of this Charter, the Constitution and laws of this State. The town council and school committee are empowered to recognize such organizations, negotiate with them, and sign written agreements either directly or through the town administrator or superintendent of schools, as the case may be; provided, that no right whatsoever of employees to strike against the government of the town is herein implied or sanctioned, and provided further that no agreement shall be binding to the extent that it is inconsistent with the terms of this Charter, the Constitution or laws of this State or the lawful enactments of the Town.
All collective bargaining agreements affecting employees of any department including but not limited to the School Department, shall have no force or effect until and unless they are first ratified by a majority vote of the town council. No such vote shall be taken until the council has had a full and complete cost impact study detailing the short-term and long-term costs of the agreement in its possession for at least seven days. (Amended, November 5, 2002; Amended, November 6, 2012.)