(A) If, after reviewing the petition, it appears that a question concerning representation exists, the City Manager shall direct that a secret ballot election be held to ascertain whether a majority of the employees in the appropriate representation unit desire representation. The City Manager shall certify the results of any valid election to council.
(B) No employee organization will be recognized for purposes of collective bargaining which has not been certified as the representative of a majority of the employees voting in an appropriate representation unit. Any employee organization so certified shall be awarded, via council resolution, the exclusive right to negotiate and to represent the representation unit for a reasonable period of time (in no case less than one year). No further election shall be held for the duration of any collective bargaining agreement, nor for the first 12 months after certification as a recognized employee organization.
(C) If 2 or more employee organizations seek to represent the same or similar representation units, the City Manager shall direct that a secret ballot election be held in which the competing employee organizations may participate, and in which employees in the representation unit shall have the opportunity to vote for any employee organization, or for no employee organization. If no choice on the ballot has an actual majority, a runoff election between the 2 highest choices will be conducted.
(Ord. 2051, passed 11-22-77)