(a) Generally. An exclusive representative may negotiate collectively with the Administration in matters related to wages, hours, working conditions, and other terms of employment of employees in the appropriate representation unit without discrimination and without regard to employee organization membership. An exclusive representative shall confer with the Administration in good faith at reasonable times, including meetings appropriately related to the budget-making process, and reduce to a memorandum of agreement the matters agreed upon as a result of meetings and conferences when all issues have been resolved.
(b) Signatures on memorandum of agreements. Each memorandum of agreement shall be signed by duly authorized representatives of the Administration and the exclusive representative.
(c) Service fees.
(1) A memorandum of agreement may contain a provision requiring the following employees, as a condition of employment, to pay a service fee to the exclusive representative: employees who elect not to join the exclusive representative or who execute membership or dues authorization cards as members of the exclusive representative and later elect to terminate membership or revoke the authorization cards.
(2) The service fee may be collected only for the period during which the exclusive representative retains its certification and may not exceed the current dues paid by members in order to defray the costs incurred by the exclusive representative.
(3) Costs to which the service fee may be applied include costs incurred in:
(i) the negotiation, administration, and implementation of the terms of a memorandum of agreement and all modifications and amendments to the memorandum, including related proceedings before a mediator or fact finder to resolve a bargaining impasse;
(ii) the processing of grievances;
(iii) the conduct and approval of disciplinary proceedings;
(iv) the protection and improvement of civil service rights; and
(v) other proceedings and matters in which the exclusive representative is authorized to act.
(d) Dues or service fee deductions.
(1) On the presentation of dues deduction or service fee authorization cards executed by individual employees in the unit, an exclusive representative is entitled to have the employees' membership dues or service fees deducted from paychecks and remitted to the exclusive representative.
(2) The authorization is irrevocable for one year and automatically renewable from year to year thereafter unless written notice of termination by the employee is given to the County at least 15 days before the anniversary date of the authorization.
(3) An exclusive representative is entitled to dues or service fee deductions only from employees in the unit for which the exclusive representative has been certified and only during the period that the exclusive representative retains its certification.
(e) Rights retained by employees. This section does not preclude an employee, regardless of employee organization membership, from bringing matters of personal concern to the attention of appropriate officials, or from choosing the employee's own representative in a grievance or appellate action.
(1985 Code, Art. 8, § 4-108) (Bill No. 23-04)