(A) In the event a petition for recognition as collective bargaining representative of a group of firefighters of the city Fire Department is presented to the Mayor, the Mayor shall cause a preliminary investigation to be conducted to verify that such a petition is bona fide and presents a question whether the petitioning organization represents the firefighters of the city Fire Department.
(B) If the Mayor's investigation indicates that the petition is bona fide and presents a question whether the petitioning organization represents the firefighters, the Mayor shall cause to be conducted a secret ballot election amongst the firefighters.
(C) If such election determines that the firefighters desire to be represented in collective bargaining by the petitioning organization, the Mayor shall present those results to the City Council. The City Council may then pass an ordinance recognizing the petitioning organization as the exclusive bargaining representative of the unit of officers.
(D) Not more than one such election for any group of firefighters shall be conducted in any one calendar year. Once a union or other organization is so recognized, such recognition shall continue in force from year to year thereafter unless repealed by a validly passed and signed ordinance.
(Ord. 019-277, passed 1-28-2019)