Section 28-7-16 - Controversies as to representation(a) Whenever it is alleged by an employee or his or her representative that there is a question or controversy concerning the representation of employees, the board shall investigate the question or controversy and certify in writing to all persons concerned the name or names of the representatives who have been designated or selected.(b) Whenever it is alleged by an employer or his or her representative that there is a question or controversy concerning the representation of employees, the board shall investigate the question or controversy after a public hearing held upon due notice.(c) In any investigation the board shall provide for an appropriate hearing upon due notice, either in conjunction with a proceeding under §§ 28-7-21 - 28-7-25 or otherwise, and may conduct an election by secret ballot of employees, or use any other suitable method to ascertain the representatives either before or after the hearing; provided, that the board does not have authority to investigate any question or controversy between individuals or groups within the same labor organization or between labor organizations affiliated with the same parent labor organization.P.L. 1941, ch. 1066, § 6; G.L. 1956, § 28-7-16.