Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education and University of Rhode Island v. American Association of University Professors, Part-Time Faculty United, a/k/a URI/AAUP, PTFU ( 2018 )


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  • January 26, 2018
    Supreme Court
    No. 2016-53-Appeal.
    (PM 14-5703)
    Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary       :
    Education and University of Rhode Island
    v.                        :
    American Association of University         :
    Professors, Part-Time Faculty United, a/k/a
    URI/AAUP, PTFU.
    NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before
    publication in the Rhode Island Reporter. Readers are requested to
    notify the Opinion Analyst, Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 250
    Benefit Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, at Telephone 222-
    3258 of any typographical or other formal errors in order that
    corrections may be made before the opinion is published.
    Supreme Court
    No. 2016-53-Appeal.
    (PM 14-5703)
    Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary         :
    Education and University of Rhode Island
    v.                        :
    American Association of University          :
    Professors, Part-Time Faculty United, a/k/a
    URI/AAUP, PTFU.
    Present: Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, and Robinson, JJ.
    OPINION
    Chief Justice Suttell, for the Court. The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary
    Education1 and the University of Rhode Island (collectively URI) appeal from a Superior Court
    judgment denying their motion to vacate an arbitration award and confirming the award. This
    case came before the Supreme Court pursuant to an order directing the parties to appear and
    show cause as to why the issues raised in this appeal should not be summarily decided. After
    considering the parties’ written and oral submissions and reviewing the record, we conclude that
    cause has not been shown and that this case may be decided without further briefing or
    argument. For the reasons set forth in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the Superior Court
    in part and vacate it in part.
    1
    The Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education is the successor corporation to the
    board of regents for education concerning postsecondary education and the board of governors
    for higher education. See G.L. 1956 § 16-59-1, as amended by P.L. 2014, ch. 145, art. 20, § 5.
    -1-
    I
    Facts and Procedural History
    A
    Grievance
    Kenneth Jolicoeur, the grievant, was a long-term part-time faculty member at URI and a
    member of the American Association of University Professors, Part-Time Faculty United (the
    union). Jolicoeur had routinely taught two courses per semester and served as a coordinator in
    the Special Programs Office since the early 1990s. Jolicoeur was assigned two courses to teach
    during the fall 2013 semester. In addition, he received a “Special Programs Contract” from URI
    by letter dated August 21, 2013, informing him that he had “been tentatively assigned to teach
    the following: Course and Selection: Coordinate Special Programs Information Services.”
    Shortly thereafter, Jolicoeur received the following email from Associate Dean Kathryn Quina
    (Dean Quina):
    “As we noted previously, we cannot give you an additional
    contract for coordinating if you are teaching two courses. We
    worked out an arrangement with everyone this year to allow you to
    coordinate plus teach one course, but we are limited to two
    contracts. Do you wish to continue with both courses, and perhaps
    pick up the coordinating role in the spring * * *.”
    Dean Quina later explained during the grievance process that, “in compliance with the Collective
    Bargaining Agreement and Labor Board decision, [Jolicoeur had] been provided with the
    maximum of two courses for the [f]all 2013 semester * * *.” Jolicoeur chose to give up the
    “Special Programs Contract,” but he did so “under protest.” Consequently, the union filed a
    grievance on Jolicoeur’s behalf based on the rescission of his “Special Programs Contract.” The
    -2-
    grievance proceeded through step four2 of the grievance procedure set out in Article XIII of the
    Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but the dispute was left unresolved.
    On December 23, 2010, the board of governors for higher education3 and the union had
    executed a CBA effective July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2012.              The CBA was set to
    automatically renew every year if neither party gave notice of a modification of the CBA. The
    record does not indicate that either party ever gave notice. The final language contained in the
    CBA is the result of an interest arbitration4 between the parties. During the interest arbitration,
    the union proposed the following provision to be included in the “Assignments” section of the
    CBA: “[a] part-time faculty assignment is normally two (2) courses per semester.” URI, on the
    other hand, did not submit any proposed language related to either a minimum or maximum
    number of assignments for part-time faculty. Ultimately, the interest arbitrator rejected the
    union’s proposed language because he found that data from URI on part-time faculty course
    assignments for the spring 2010 semester did not corroborate that norm.
    2
    Step four of the CBA’s grievance procedure provides:
    “If the grievance is not resolved in Step 3, it shall be submitted
    within five (5) working days of the President’s decision to the
    Commissioner of Higher Education or his/her designee, as agent
    for the Board of Governors, who shall grant a hearing to the
    aggrieved and a representative of the [union] within ten (10)
    working days of the receipt of the written grievance. The
    Commissioner or his/her designee shall render written decision
    including reasons within ten (10) working days of the conclusion
    of the hearing.”
    3
    As previously mentioned, the Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education succeeded the
    board of governors for higher education. See § 16-59-1.
    4
    When seeking to reach an agreement, interest arbitration is an alternative method to collective
    bargaining through which an employer and a union can submit unresolved disputes to an
    arbitrator. See Elkouri & Elkouri, How Arbitration Works ch. 22.1 at 22-5 (8th ed. 2016); see
    also Silverman v. Major League Baseball Player Relations Committee, Inc., 
    67 F.3d 1054
    , 1062
    (2d Cir. 1995).
    -3-
    B
    Arbitration
    The union filed a demand for arbitration on behalf of Jolicoeur on January 2, 2014, in
    accordance with the arbitration provision contained in Article XIII of the CBA. Section 13.4 of
    the arbitration provision provides that “grievances arising out of the provisions of [the CBA]
    relating to the application or interpretation or violation thereof may be submitted to arbitration.”
    The union’s demand for arbitration alleged that URI violated several articles of the CBA,
    including Article X concerning course assignments to part-time faculty members. The union
    sought compensation for Jolicoeur to make him whole after URI’s rescission of his “Special
    Programs Contract” and a “rejection” of URI’s imposition of a two-course part-time faculty
    assignment maximum.
    Before the arbitrator, the union averred that the dispute was arbitrable because the CBA
    encompassed the rights that Jolicoeur alleged URI had infringed. The union further argued that
    URI’s imposition of the part-time faculty assignment limitation violated the CBA. In addition,
    the union contended that URI violated Article III’s nondiscrimination clause of the CBA when it
    rescinded the “Special Programs Contract.” For relief, the union, on Jolicoeur’s behalf, sought
    the salary for the rescinded “Special Programs Contract,” “an order that [URI] refrain from
    discriminating against the grievant for his [u]nion activity,” and an order that URI “cease and
    desist from so unilaterally imposing” such a limitation. In response, URI countered that the
    dispute was not substantively arbitrable because the CBA did not cover administrative
    assignments, such as the “Special Programs Contract.” Additionally, URI argued that it did not
    violate the CBA when it rescinded Jolicoeur’s “Special Programs Contract” nor did the union
    prove that it discriminated against Jolicoeur for his union activity.
    -4-
    On October 14, 2014, the arbitrator issued an award. Therein, the arbitrator made several
    findings, including: (1) Jolicoeur was not discriminated against based on his union activity; (2)
    the dispute was arbitrable because the parties agreed to arbitrate disputes regarding the
    interpretation or application of Article X, and resolution of this dispute depended on
    interpretation of the CBA; and (3) URI violated the CBA by limiting Jolicoeur to two
    assignments for the fall 2013 semester. With respect to his third finding, the arbitrator reviewed
    the CBA to determine whether it contained the two-course limitation imposed by URI.
    Specifically, he examined Article X and concluded that it set forth the criteria for URI to assign
    courses to part-time faculty.    In addition, he found that Article I outlined the minimum
    requirements for part-time faculty to maintain bargaining-unit status with the union.         The
    arbitrator also considered the union’s proposal during the prior interest arbitration, which was
    ultimately rejected, to include language that part-time faculty are “normally” assigned two
    courses per semester.
    After his review, the arbitrator concluded that neither Article X nor any other CBA
    provision imposed any limitation on part-time faculty assignments. Thus, he determined that
    URI’s rescission of Jolicoeur’s “Special Programs Contract” violated the CBA. The arbitration
    award required URI to pay Jolicoeur $6,500 in salary for the rescinded “Special Programs
    Contract” and to “cease and desist from unilaterally imposing a two (2) course per semester limit
    on bargaining unit employees.”
    -5-
    C
    Superior Court Review
    On November 13, 2014, URI filed motions in the Superior Court to vacate the arbitration
    award and to stay the implementation of the award.5 Before the hearing justice, URI contested
    the substantive and procedural arbitrability of the dispute, the award’s merits, and the arbitrator’s
    finding that the CBA did not include a two-course limitation. In challenging the award’s merits,
    URI contended that the arbitrator’s decision was “irrational” and “exceed[ed] the [a]rbitrator’s
    authority.” It further contended that the remedy was “half-baked” and went beyond the scope of
    the dispute set forth before the arbitrator. Moreover, URI contended that the CBA imposed a
    two-course-per-semester limitation that was implicitly incorporated within the term “part-time”
    and based on established past practices. URI’s arbitrability challenge was premised upon the
    notion that the CBA did not cover the “Special Programs Contract” assignment because it was
    not a course and the CBA only contemplated courses.
    The union objected to URI’s motion to vacate and moved to confirm the arbitration
    award. A hearing was held before a Superior Court justice on URI’s motion to vacate and the
    union’s motion to confirm on September 14, 2015.6 On October 1, 2015, the hearing justice
    rendered a decision that denied URI’s motion to vacate the arbitration award and granted the
    5
    On August 26, 2015, a consent order was entered by the Superior Court to stay the award’s
    implementation pending the decision on the motion to vacate or upon further order of the
    Superior Court. Several conditions were imposed, including that URI make course assignments
    pursuant to the CBA and in accordance with Article X.
    6
    We note that no transcript was ordered of this hearing.
    -6-
    union’s motion to confirm the award.7 The hearing justice found the dispute arbitrable because it
    centered on the interpretation of the CBA’s provisions. The hearing justice further determined
    that the arbitrator’s finding that the CBA did not contain any limitation on part-time faculty
    assignments properly “[drew] its essence from the contract and [was] based upon a passably
    plausible interpretation of the contract.” Additionally, the hearing justice found that URI’s
    general argument that past practices established a two-course limitation on part-time faculty
    lacked merit because, in order for past practices to be considered, the CBA must contain a past-
    practice provision.
    The hearing justice’s decision also included a footnote, which provided in its entirety:
    “Although the Court is affirming the holding of the Award, it notes
    that the arbitrator may have overreached by ordering [URI]
    generally to cease and desist from unilaterally imposing the two
    courses per semester limit on bargaining unit employees.
    However, the issue is not before the Court, and may not be subject
    to such review.”
    Due to confusion surrounding the footnote, URI objected to the union’s proposed form of
    judgment, and a hearing on the objection was heard before the same justice. URI had mistakenly
    interpreted the footnote to mean that it had not raised the cease-and-desist issue before the
    hearing justice. Thus, it argued that the issue had indeed been properly raised. However, the
    7
    Under these facts, the union moved for confirmation only in response to URI’s filing of a
    motion to vacate the award. In Rhode Island,
    “[a]t any time within one year after the award, is made, any party
    to the arbitration may apply to the court for an order confirming
    the award, and thereupon the court must grant the order confirming
    the award unless the award is vacated, modified or corrected, as
    prescribed in §§ 10-3-12 — 10-3-14.” G.L. 1956 § 10-3-11.
    An order confirming an arbitration award “has the same force and effect in all respects as, and is
    subject to all the provisions of law relating to a judgment in an action; and it may be enforced as
    if it had been rendered in an action in the court in which it is entered.” G.L. 1956 § 28-9-24.
    -7-
    hearing justice explained that he did not intend to imply that URI failed to raise the issue.
    Rather, the footnote was intended to convey his conclusion that, although the arbitrator “went a
    little wide” with his remedy, he would not disturb that remedy based on the level of deference
    owed to the arbitrator.    The hearing justice further clarified his intentions by noting that
    “[p]ersonally, I think the arbitrator may have gone a little broad, but it’s not up to me to
    determine whether or not the arbitrator was right or wrong, only whether or not they’re in
    compliance with the confines of the statute, the contract, and the like.” In light of the hearing
    justice’s explanation of the footnote, URI conceded and retracted its objection to the entry of
    judgment. Final judgment was entered on November 20, 2015, confirming the arbitration award
    and ordering URI to pay the union costs and attorneys’ fees in the amount of $16,532.48.
    D
    Appeal
    On appeal, URI challenges the hearing justice’s decision on four grounds: (1) the dispute
    was not substantively arbitrable because the “Special Programs Contract” was not governed by
    the CBA; (2) URI did not violate the CBA because the CBA governed part-time faculty, and the
    nature of part-time faculty status incorporated a limited number of assignments; (3) the arbitrator
    exceeded his authority by issuing a cease-and-desist order; and (4) the Superior Court’s award of
    fees should be reversed if the judgment is vacated.
    The union counters and argues that: (1) the dispute was arbitrable because its
    determination hinged upon the interpretation of the CBA; (2) the arbitrator’s finding that URI
    violated the CBA by imposing a limitation on part-time faculty assignments when no limitation
    existed was “rational, plausible, and [drew] its essence from the CBA”; and (3) the arbitrator had
    -8-
    “broad remedial authority” to order URI to cease and desist from violating the CBA in the same
    manner, and the remedy was narrowly tailored to that finding.
    II
    Standards of Review
    A
    Arbitrability
    “Whether a particular collective bargaining agreement contains clear language creating a
    duty to arbitrate a particular dispute is a matter for judicial determination.” Sacco v. Cranston
    School Department, 
    53 A.3d 147
    , 150 (R.I. 2012) (quoting School Committee of North
    Kingstown v. Crouch, 
    808 A.2d 1074
    , 1078 (R.I. 2002)). “Because arbitrability is a question of
    law, we review such determinations de novo.” 
    Id. (quoting Crouch,
    808 A.2d at 1078). In order
    for a dispute to properly proceed to arbitration, the parties must have agreed to submit such a
    dispute to arbitration. See 
    id. B Review
    of an Arbitration Award
    “In this jurisdiction, the authority of the Courts ‘to review an arbitral award is statutorily
    prescribed and is limited in nature.’” Buttie v. Norfolk & Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Co.,
    
    995 A.2d 546
    , 549 (R.I. 2010) (quoting North Providence School Committee v. North
    Providence Federation of Teachers, Local 920, American Federation of Teachers, 
    945 A.2d 339
    ,
    344 (R.I. 2008)). “In reviewing an arbitrator’s award, this Court, like the Superior Court,
    follows [G.L. 1956] § 10-3-12.” Berkshire Wilton Partners, LLC v. Bilray Demolition Co., 
    91 A.3d 830
    , 835 (R.I. 2014). Section 10-3-12(4) provides in pertinent part that “the court must
    make an order vacating the award upon the application of any party to the arbitration * * *
    -9-
    [w]here the arbitrators exceeded their powers, or so imperfectly executed them that a mutual,
    final, and definite award upon the subject matter submitted was not made.” An arbitrator
    exceeds his or her authority “if the arbitration award fails to ‘draw its essence from the
    agreement, if it was not based upon a passably plausible interpretation thereof, if it manifestly
    disregarded a contractual provision, or if it reached an irrational result.’” Nappa Construction
    Management, LLC v. Flynn, 
    152 A.3d 1128
    , 1132 (R.I. 2017) (quoting State v. Rhode Island
    Employment Security Alliance Local 401, SEIU, AFL-CIO, 
    840 A.2d 1093
    , 1096 (R.I. 2003)).
    III
    Discussion
    A
    Arbitrability
    URI argues that the dispute was not substantively arbitrable because the rescinded
    “Special Programs Contract” was not governed by the CBA, which only contemplates course
    assignments. Arbitrability is a question of law and is reviewed de novo by this Court. 
    Sacco, 53 A.3d at 150
    . For a dispute to properly proceed to arbitration, the parties must have agreed to
    submit such a dispute to arbitration. See 
    id. “Determining whether
    the parties agreed to submit a
    particular dispute to arbitration turns upon the parties’ intent when they entered into the contract
    from which the dispute ultimately arose.” Radiation Oncology Associates, Inc. v. Roger Williams
    Hospital, 
    899 A.2d 511
    , 514 (R.I. 2006).
    Thus, we must examine the CBA’s language to determine whether the parties agreed to
    arbitrate the rights of part-time faculty in URI’s assignment of both academic and administrative
    responsibilities.   “Our analysis of a CBA ‘is guided by long-established rules of contract
    interpretation.’” Botelho v. City of Pawtucket School Department, 
    130 A.3d 172
    , 176 (R.I. 2016)
    - 10 -
    (quoting Rhode Island Employment Security Alliance, Local 401, SEIU, 
    AFL-CIO, 840 A.2d at 1096
    ). We begin our analysis by examining the CBA’s express language to determine the
    collective intent of URI and the union to arbitrate the dispute.
    Article XIII of the CBA sets forth grievance procedures for part-time faculty, such as
    Jolicoeur, when pursuing disputes with URI. Section 13.4 of Article XIII provides that “[o]nly
    grievances arising out of the provisions of this contract relating to the application or
    interpretation or violation thereof may be submitted to arbitration.”           The CBA defines a
    “[g]rievance” as “any difference or dispute with respect to the interpretation, application, or
    violation of any of the provisions of this [a]greement * * *.”
    We look to the CBA’s specific language to determine whether this dispute involves the
    “interpretation, application, or violation” of one or more of the CBA provisions. This dispute
    involves the interpretation of the provisions contained in Article X of the CBA,8 which sets forth
    the agreed-upon criteria for assigning work to part-time faculty. Article X provides that “[part-
    time faculty] members who have taught satisfactorily shall have the expectation of being
    assigned courses according to availability, qualifications and time in service.” Article X further
    8
    Article X of the CBA provides, in pertinent part:
    “Part-time faculty are hired and assigned courses based
    upon their qualifications including academic credentials,
    professional and life experience (including specialty credentials),
    and previous teaching experience.
    “At the University, [part-time faculty] members who have
    taught satisfactorily shall have the expectation of being assigned
    courses according to availability, qualifications and time in service.
    Courses shall be assigned to part-time faculty by the department
    chair, with the approval of the Dean * * *.
    “The department chair will consider [part-time faculty
    members’] course sections request[s], available course offerings,
    qualifications, and satisfactory past performance * * *.”
    - 11 -
    provides that courses will be assigned to part-time faculty by the department chair, with the
    Dean’s approval, after considering a part-time faculty member’s course request in light of the
    availability of courses for that semester and the part-time faculty member’s qualifications, time
    in service, and past performance. Additionally, Article I, entitled “Recognition,” provides that
    part-time faculty must “teach[ ] a total of six (6) credits during two (2) academic years” to
    maintain bargaining-unit status.
    “[A] court shall rule in favor of submitting the dispute to arbitration unless the arbitration
    clause of the collective bargaining agreement cannot be interpreted to include the asserted
    dispute, and * * * all doubts should be resolved in favor of arbitration.” School Committee of
    Pawtucket v. Pawtucket Teachers Alliance AFT Local 930, 
    120 R.I. 810
    , 815, 
    390 A.2d 386
    , 389
    (1978). Our review of the CBA convinces us that the grievance was indeed arbitrable because it
    concerned the criteria and procedures that governed the assignment of work to part-time faculty
    members and thus related to the “interpretation, application, or violation” of the CBA.
    B
    Violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
    URI argues that “[w]hat the [hearing justice] and the [a]rbitrator failed to recognize is
    that the entire CBA is premised on the explicit, overriding, controlling and incorporated CBA
    concept that bargaining unit members are part-time.” URI further contends that “[i]f the CBA
    does not, explicitly or implicitly, limit the number of courses that can be taught, it is not a CBA
    representing part-time faculty.” Unlike this Court’s de novo review of arbitrability, our review
    of an arbitrator’s award “is statutorily prescribed and is limited in nature.” 
    Buttie, 995 A.2d at 549
    (quoting North Providence School 
    Committee, 945 A.2d at 344
    ). An arbitrator exceeds his
    or her authority “if the arbitration award fails to ‘draw its essence from the agreement.’” Nappa
    - 12 -
    Construction Management, 
    LLC, 152 A.3d at 1132
    (quoting Rhode Island Employment Security
    Alliance Local 401, SEIU, 
    AFL-CIO, 840 A.2d at 1096
    ).
    In determining whether the CBA included such a limitation, the arbitrator examined
    specific provisions of the CBA.9 He noted that Article X of the CBA “define[s] the part-time
    faculty assignment criteria for available courses, including ‘qualifications and prior teaching
    experience.’” In addition, the arbitrator pointed to Article I’s requirement that part-time faculty
    teach a total of six credits over two academic years to maintain their bargaining-unit status. The
    arbitrator determined that the requirements outlined in Article I “do not define minimum or
    maximum work load assignments.” The arbitrator further found that the assignment criteria for
    courses laid out in Article X only included “‘available course offerings’ (without limit),
    ‘academic credentials,’ ‘previous teaching experience,’ ‘time in service,’ and ‘satisfactory past
    performance,’” without reference to a limitation on assignments.
    The arbitrator ultimately found that URI rescinded Jolicoeur’s “Special Programs
    Contract” solely because it “unilaterally imposed [a] two (2) course per semester cap” that was
    unsupported by Article X or the CBA as a whole. We consider the arbitrator’s conclusion to be a
    “passably plausible” interpretation of the CBA; thus, we affirm the Superior Court judgment in
    its confirmation of the portion of the arbitral award that found the rescission of Jolicoeur’s
    “Special Programs Contract” in violation of the CBA and required URI to pay Jolicoeur the
    $6,500 salary. See Berkshire Wilton Partners, 
    LLC, 91 A.3d at 835
    .
    9
    In its written submissions to this Court, URI concedes that the CBA is silent on the maximum
    number of course assignments.
    - 13 -
    C
    Cease-and-Desist Remedy
    URI also takes issue with the remedy imposed by the arbitrator. It argues that the cease-
    and-desist order “goes beyond what is reasonably necessary to remedy the substantive dispute in
    this matter.” The arbitrator framed the issue before him as: “Is the grievance substantively
    arbitrable? If so, did [URI] violate the collective bargaining agreement when it rescinded the
    grievant’s Special Programs Contract in September, 2013 as the result of its two (2) course per
    semester limit? If so, what shall be the remedy?” He further explained that “[t]he essential
    inquiry is whether the grievant was entitled to a Special Programs Contract * * * in addition to
    teaching two (2) courses in the [f]all, 2013 semester.” The arbitrator then resolved the matter by
    reviewing the CBA and finding that it did not “contain a minimum or maximum assignment or
    teaching load per semester.” He ultimately concluded that “[t]he rescission of the grievant’s
    Special Programs Contract was a breach of Article X, because [URI] officials erroneously
    imposed a two (2) course per semester limit on the grievant.”
    Although we have concluded that the grievance was substantively arbitrable because its
    resolution required the interpretation of the CBA, we recognize that the heart of the dispute, as
    framed by the arbitrator, concerned the rescission of Jolicoeur’s “Special Programs Contract,”
    which governed his administrative assignment and not his separate course assignments. In
    fashioning his award, therefore, the arbitrator was required to consider a unique factual situation
    which is unlikely to pertain to all union members. By issuing a cease-and-desist order, however,
    the arbitrator potentially provided for prospective relief which might permit the union to bypass
    the grievance procedures set forth in the CBA and enforce the instant arbitral award in future
    disputes by filing contempt proceedings directly in court. See Massachusetts Nurses Association
    - 14 -
    v. North Adams Regional Hospital, 
    467 F.3d 27
    , 28-30 (1st Cir. 2006) (considering an arbitration
    award that contained a cease-and-desist order and noting that only in exceptional cases will an
    arbitral award be enforced as a means of resolving a subsequent dispute thereby “bypassing the
    normal grievance procedures”).
    While it is true that arbitrators need flexibility to address issues that parties to a contract
    may never have anticipated, see United Steelworkers of America v. Enterprise Wheel and Car
    Corp., 
    363 U.S. 593
    , 597 (1960), “an arbitrator’s broad authority to * * * fashion an appropriate
    remedy is not unbridled.” Rhode Island Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO v. State, 
    714 A.2d 584
    ,
    588 (R.I. 1998). Under the circumstances of this case, we are of the opinion that the cease-and-
    desist order remedy does not “draw its essence” from the CBA because it pertains not only to
    courses, but also administrative assignments not covered by the CBA. Nappa Construction
    Management, 
    LLC, 152 A.3d at 1132
    (quoting Rhode Island Employment Security Alliance,
    Local 401, SEIU, 
    AFL-CIO, 840 A.2d at 1096
    ). Therefore the arbitrator exceeded his authority
    by imposing such a broad remedy. See 
    id. Accordingly, we
    remand the case to the Superior
    Court with directions to vacate the final sentence of the arbitrator’s award, to wit: “The
    Employer shall also cease and desist from unilaterally imposing a two (2) course per semester
    limit on bargaining unit employees.”
    IV
    Conclusion
    For the reasons stated herein, we vacate the cease-and-desist order and affirm the
    judgment of the Superior Court in all other respects. The case shall be remanded to the Superior
    Court for further proceedings consistent herewith.
    Justice Indeglia did not participate.
    - 15 -
    STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND                                  PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
    SUPREME COURT – CLERK’S OFFICE
    OPINION COVER SHEET
    Rhode Island Council on Postsecondary Education
    and University of Rhode Island v. American
    Title of Case                        Association of University Professors, Part-Time
    Faculty United, a/k/a URI/AAUP, PTFU.
    No. 2016-53-Appeal.
    Case Number
    (PM 14-5703)
    Date Opinion Filed                   January 26, 2017
    Justices                             Suttell, C.J., Goldberg, Flaherty, and Robinson, JJ.
    Written By                           Chief Justice Paul A. Suttell
    Source of Appeal                     Providence County Superior Court
    Judicial Officer From Lower Court    Associate Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear
    For Plaintiffs:
    Jeffrey S. Michaelson, Esq.
    Attorney(s) on Appeal                For Defendants:
    Gina A. DiCenso, Esq.
    V. Edward Formisano, Esq.
    Michael D. Pushee, Esq.
    SU-CMS-02A (revised June 2016)