Rhode Island § 28-10-2 - Labor Disputes

§ 28-10-2. Prerequisites and proof required for injunction.

(a) No court of this state shall have jurisdiction to issue a temporary or permanent injunction in any case involving a labor dispute, except after hearing the testimony of witnesses in open court, with opportunity for cross-examination, in support of the allegations of a complaint made under oath, and testimony in opposition, if offered, and except after findings of fact by the court to the effect:

(1) That unlawful acts have been threatened and will be committed unless restrained or have been committed and will be continued unless restrained, but no injunction or temporary restraining order shall be issued on account of any threat or unlawful act except against the person or persons, association, or organization making the threat or committing the unlawful act or actually authorizing or ratifying the unlawful act after actual knowledge of the unlawful act;

(2) That substantial and irreparable injury to complainant’s property will follow;

(3) That as to each item of relief granted greater injury will be inflicted upon the complainant by the denial of relief than will be inflicted upon the defendants by the granting of relief;

(4) That the complainant has no adequate remedy at law; and

(5) That the public officers charged with the duty to protect the complainant’s property are unable or unwilling to furnish adequate protection.

(b) The hearing shall be held after due and personal notice has been given, in any manner that the court directs, to all known persons against whom relief is sought, and also to the chief of those public officials of the city or town within which the unlawful acts have been threatened or committed charged with the duty to protect the complainant’s property; provided, that if a complainant also alleges that, unless a temporary restraining order is issued without notice, a substantial and irreparable injury to the complainant’s property will be unavoidable, a temporary restraining order may be issued upon testimony under oath, sufficient, if sustained, to justify the court in issuing a temporary injunction upon a hearing after notice, and a statement of the grounds justifying the issuance of the order shall be made a matter of record by the court; provided, further, that no temporary restraining order shall be issued except upon its also being made to appear to the satisfaction of the court, either from the testimony of witnesses or from written assurances filed by counsel, that:

(1) A principal representative or attorney of the employees or labor organizations participating in the dispute was informed of the time and place at which the application for a temporary restraining order would be presented sufficiently in advance to appear in opposition; or

(2) The complainant made every reasonable effort to comply with subsection (b)(1) of this section but was unable to do so; provided, that notification by mail alone shall not be deemed compliance with this section without proof of receipt.

(c) Testimony or written assurances shall set forth in detail the manner in which the complainant complied with subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section and shall be made part of the record in the case.

(d) If the defendants appear in opposition to the application for a temporary restraining order they shall be afforded an opportunity to cross-examine the complainant’s witnesses at any length that is reasonable under the circumstances and a like opportunity to introduce evidence in opposition.

(e) In case a restraining order is granted, the matter shall be returnable at the earliest and most reasonable time, but in no event later than three (3) days from the date of the order, and shall take precedence over all matters, except older matters of the same character. The court shall hear the matters on any day except Saturday and Sunday.

(f) The restraining order shall not be renewable.