KINGSTON, R.I. – Oct. 16, 2026 – The University of Rhode Island Office of Strategic Initiatives in partnership with the National Academy of Arbitrators New England Region are excited to host their 27th annual Labor Arbitration Conference. It’s set for October 26 at the Downtown Marriott in Providence Rhode Island.
Registration is open through October 25, with discounted tickets available for URI students, staff, and faculty. The conference typically draws more than 100 labor and employment law, human resource management, arbitration, and mediation professionals from across the New England and New York area.
“If you’re in leadership or an HR role and you work with labor unions, or if arbitration is something that you have experienced—or if it’s something you foresee happening in the future—then this conference is perfect for you,” said John Olerio, the Executive Director of Summer Sessions, Winter J Term and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Rhode Island.
This conference aims to empower professionals in the labor relations and human resources arena to network, foster connections, and access the insight and skills they need to navigate the ever-changing workplace landscape. The conference allows those with expertise from different areas to converge and learn about the latest legal updates regarding National Labor Relations Board rulings as well as emerging labor relations challenges.
This year’s conference delves into crucial subjects, such as the ethical issues surrounding the use of AI and arbitration best practices under Rhode Island law. Those who attend can also participate in the always popular Red Light, Green Light session. It’s an interactive session where panelists and a moderator review case judgments, and parties from the scenario are assigned a red light or a green light by audience members, who contribute to the lively debate.
This year’s conference will also welcome the president of the National Academy of Arbitrators, Walt De Treux, who will be speaking on major updates in the world of arbitration.
““Our partnership with the National Academy of Arbitrators brings this conference something special: a deeply engaged membership, decades of expertise, and a dedicated community of passionate professionals that returns year after year. If you work in labor relations, HR, or arbitration, this is the room to be in. Register today and join us on October 26,” said Olerio.
Reserve your ticket here: https://web.uri.edu/osi/conferences/
Reach out to Stef Nelson (stef.nelson@uri.edu) and Lee Zeppetelle (lzeppetelle@uri.edu) of the OSI team for more information, or to learn more about discounted tickets for URI faculty, staff, and students.