(A) Any organization which currently represents the bargaining unit will continue to be recognized by the city unless the recognition is withdrawn pursuant to this subchapter by city or bargaining unit members.
(B) Any organization seeking to become the bargaining agent for the bargaining unit may be recognized as such by the city so long as a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit vote in favor of the organization in a fair and impartial secret ballot election conducted by a disinterested third party to be appointed by the city’s Human Relations Director.
(C) Such an election for the purpose of establishing recognition of a bargaining agent shall be conducted only when employees in the bargaining unit present to the city administration objective evidence showing that 30% or more of the employees in the bargaining unit are in favor of holding such an election. Not more than 1 such election to recognize a bargaining agent shall be conducted in any 12-month period.
(D) The bargaining unit may by majority vote elect a bargaining committee without electing a bargaining agent.
(E) Such a bargaining agent shall have the privilege of bargaining collectively on behalf of the aforementioned employees only so long as it abides by all the provisions of this subchapter and only so long as the city has reason to believe the bargaining agent’s efforts are supported by a majority of the bargaining unit. At any time, after 12 months from the date of an election, if the city forms a reasonable belief that a majority of the bargaining unit no longer supports the bargaining agent, it may decline to bargain with the agent, and the employees in the bargaining unit may bargain independently or may seek another election.
(1979 Code, § 32.22) (Ord. 3858, passed 5-6-1988)