City Ordinance Prompts RICC Lawsuit

The Rhode Island Convention Center Authority is suing the City of Providence regarding a city ordinance that requires the facility and other venues to keep employees for up to six months after a management change.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, is in response to the passing of the Hospitality Business Protection and Worker Retention ordinance, which was reportedly created in response to concern from employees at a local hotel that new management would outsource jobs, according to the Providence Journal.

The ordinance, which affects the SMG-managed convention center, and Dunkin’ Donuts Center, and Veterans Memorial Auditorium managed by Professional Facilities Management, went into effect Oct. 26.

Convention Center chairman David Duffy told the Journal in a statement that his facility, the arena and auditorium are state-owned, so the city has no authority to create an ordinance that binds the operation of said facilities.

City officials reportedly maintain that the ordinance is legal, the paper said.