Rhode Island General Laws Title 36. Public Officers and Employees § 36-6-17. Deductions for union dues

(a) Upon written authorization of any state employee who is a member of any bona fide labor union or who voluntarily elects to pay dues or fees to a union, the state controller shall deduct from the employee's salary his or her dues as a member or fees and shall remit, together with a list by departments of the members or fee payers whose payments have been deducted, the amounts so deducted, to the treasurer of the labor union, designated by the employee in the request; provided, however, that where a labor union has been recognized as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative for an appropriate unit, only the dues or fees for the sole and exclusive bargaining representative shall be deducted. The state controller shall make dues or fee deductions, on an ongoing basis, unless the employee files a written notice requesting termination of the payments, with the exclusive bargaining representative.

(b) In the case of an employee employed in an area where there is no certified exclusive bargaining organization, the request for dues deductions or fees to a bona fide labor union shall be voluntary and shall take effect thirty (30) days after presentation. If the employer and the selected sole and exclusive bargaining representative have reached an agreement regarding the payment of dues or fees or the employee on a voluntary basis elects to pay dues or fees, then the state controller shall make dues or fee deductions on an ongoing basis, unless the employee files a written notice requesting termination of the payments with the exclusive bargaining representative.