The County is committed to conducting its employer-employee relations in a manner, which seeks to minimize the potential for interruption of public services to its citizens. A “strike” includes any concerted stoppage, slowdown or abstinence, in whole or in part, by employees from the full performance of their duties, including a refusal by employees to perform their usual duties, or other concerted interruption of operations or services, for purpose of inducing, influencing, or coercing a change in the conditions, compensation, rights, or obligations of public employment; and except in the case of absences authorized by the County, includes such stoppage, slowdown, interruption, refusal, absence or abstinence by any public employee out of sympathy or support for any other person who is on strike or because of the presence of any picket line maintained by any other person; provided that, nothing herein shall limit or impair the right of any public employee to express or communicate a complaint or opinion on any matter related to the conditions of employment or engage in peaceful, informational picketing in non-work locations on non-work time.
(a) Legal and Protected Strikes.
(1) Strikes Permitted. Public employees, except those prohibited by law, may engage in legal and protected strikes only under the following circumstances:
(A) The memorandum of understanding between the exclusive representative and the County has expired and impasse procedures under § 13.0210(a) have been exhausted and either the exclusive representative or the Board of Supervisors has rejected the recommendations of the mediator/fact-finder pursuant to § 13.0210; or
(B) The Board of Supervisors have failed to approve a written tentative memorandum of understanding that has been ratified by the exclusive representative within 30 days after the parties have finalized such memorandum of understanding.
(2) Notice. No employee may participate in a legal and protected strike unless written notification of intent to strike is served on the Employee Relations Division at least 15 days prior to commencement of the strike. The notice must contain the following:
(A) The date and time at which the intended strike will commence;
(B) The name and address of the exclusive representative who is involved in the strike;
(C) The general description of the unit and classification of employees intending to strike;
(D) Proof of service on the County and Employee Relations Division.
If the strike does not commence on the date specified in the original notice a new 15 day written notice is required.
(b) Illegal and Unprotected Strikes. Illegal and unprotected strikes are not permitted by public employees and include partial or intermittent strikes, strikes that do not meet the requirements as specified in § 13.0212(a)(1) and (2), or strikes that create a substantial and imminent threat to public health and safety. The County would be entitled to any remedies allowed under the law for participation in any illegal and unprotected strikes.
(Ord. 3991, passed - -2006; Am. Ord. 4210, passed - -2013; Am. Ord. 4290, passed - -2015)