Source: https://www.nrtw.org/en/public-sector-decertification-laws-as-of-8-2010
Timestamp: 2019-08-18 05:01:01
Document Index: 445213290

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3507', '§ 25', '§ 09', '§ 1210', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 345', '§ 67', '§ 963', '§ 967', '§ 979', '§ 1025', '§ 1287', '§ 14', '§ 4', '§ 423', '§ 179', '§ 273', '§ 273', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 51', '§ 243', '§ 1101', '§ 8', '§ 941', '§ 1581', '§ 1724', '§ 33', '§ 41', '§ 391', '§ 111']

National Right to Work Foundation » Public Sector Decertification Laws (as of 3/2019)
Persons must file a decertification petition with the appropriate PERB regional office per PERB Regulation 32075, and must accompany said petition with proof of support of at least 30% of the employees in the established bargaining unit.
If the employee is covered by the MMBA, then decertification elections are determined and processed in accordance with the rules adopted by the local city or county agency. See California Government Code § 3507.1.
Georgia law permits fire fighters to certify an organization to collectively bargain. In order for the organization to bargain, “[t]he organization selected by vote of the majority of the firefighters in any fire department shall be recognized by the proper corporate authority, provided the organization does not advocate striking and has a “no strike” clause in its constitution and bylaws, as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all of the members of the fire department unless and until recognition of the labor organization is withdrawn by vote of a majority of the firefighters of the fire department. In lieu of an organization, a person may be selected as the bargaining agent and have the same obligations and privileges.” Ga. Code Ann. § 25-5-5 (Lexis Advance through the 2018 Extra Session of the General Assembly)
Note: The following statute uses the word “Deauthorization” but establishes a decertification procedure:
“A petition in a union shop for an election to determine whether there should be any union representation must show at least thirty percent (30%) or more of the employees in the unit covered by the agreement desire such deauthorization. This petition must be filed with the Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor and Industrial Services.” Idaho Administrative Code § 09.05.03.014.12 (IDAPA 09.05.03.014, subsection 12)
Public employees (other than educational): A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Illinois Labor Relations Board (ILRB), on a form (Decertification Petition) prescribed by the ILRB, available here, accompanied by a 30% showing of interest. ILRB rules covering decertification can be found at 80 Illinois Administrative Code §§ 1210.60 and 1210.80. Educational employees: A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) on a form prescribed by the IELRB (click “Petitions for Representation” and then should check the “RD-Decertification” box on the form).
In order to decertify there has to be “Twenty percent (20%) of the school employees in a unit may file a petition asserting that the designated exclusive representative is no longer the representative of the majority of school employees in the unit.
(e) The board shall investigate a petition filed under subsection (b), (c), or (d). If the board has reasonable cause to believe that a question exists as to whether the designated exclusive representative or any school employee organization represents a majority of the school employees in a unit, the board shall provide for an appropriate hearing within thirty (30) days. In holding a hearing, the board is not required to comply with IC 4-21.5.
(f) If the board finds, based on the record of a hearing held under subsection (e), that a question of representation exists, the board shall direct an election by secret ballot in a unit the board determines to be appropriate.
(g) Certification as the exclusive representative may be granted only to a school employee organization that has been selected in a secret ballot election under subsection (f), by a majority of all the employees in an appropriate unit as their representative. Ind. Code Ann. § 20-29-5-3 (Burns, Lexis Advance through the end of the Special Session of the 120th General Assembly).
Iowa law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. “The petition of a public employee shall allege that an employee organization which has been certified as the bargaining representative does not represent a majority of such public employees and that the petitioners do not want to be represented by an employee organization or seek certification of an employee organization.” Iowa Code Annotated §§ 20.14.3 and 20.14.5(a). A petition for decertification election must be obtained and filed at the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board, 514 E. Locust, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50309, accompanied by a 30% showing of interest. A petition for decertification form is available here. Rules covering decertification, including when such a petition may be filed are available at Iowa Code Annotated § 20.15.6. For more information call (515) 281-4414.
Kentucky law permits firefighters to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if “a firefighter or group of firefighters . . . [a]ssert that the labor organization which has been certified or is currently being recognized by the public employer as bargaining representative is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the unit . . . ” (Kentucky Revised Statutes § 345.060). A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Kentucky State Labor Relations Board, Cabinet of Employment Standards and Mediation , 1047 U.S. Highway 127 South, Suite 4, Frankfort, KY 40601. Telephone (502) 564-2784.
For police officers, Kentucky Revised Statutes § 67C.408 provides that police officers have the right to petition for decertification when acting on behalf of 30% of the employees asserting that the “labor organization which has been certified or is currently being recognized by the consolidated local government as bargaining representative is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the unit”.
Maine law states that municipal employees have a right to not join a union )26 M.R.S. § 963(2009)). Maine law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if 30% of the employees in a bargaining unit petition for decertification. Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Title 26, § 967 (municipal employees); Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Title 26, § 979-F (state employees); Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Title 26, § 1025 (University of Maine employees); Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 26 § 1287 (judicial employees). These statutes are available for:
Municipal employees here
State employees here
University employees here
Judicial employees here
When a petition for certification or decertification is filed, the petitioner shall submit evidence that the petition is supported by 30% of the employees. (Code of Maryland Regulations § 14.32.03.03).
Per Md. Labor and Employment Code Ann. § 4-220(b) (2010): “Requirements for petition. — A petition for decertification of an organization as bargaining representative for a bargaining unit:
Michigan law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if “a public employee or group of public employees . . . alleg[es] that 30% or more of the public employees within a unit . . . assert that the individual or labor organization, which is certified or is being currently recognized by their public employer as the bargaining representative, is no longer a [majority] representative.” Mich. Compiled Laws Annotated § 423.212. A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) on a form prescribed by the Commission, available here, accompanied by a 30% showing of interest.
The petition or cards signed by bargaining unit employees to establish the 30% must state that they “no longer consider the certified bargaining unit representative as their representative,” not just that they request an election. Hepler v. State Dept. of Labor, 235 N.W.2d 161 (Mich. Ct. App. 1975).
Minnesota law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative: “[a]n individual employee or group of employees in a unit may obtain a decertification election upon petition to the commissioner stating the certified representative no longer represents the majority of the employees in an established unit and that at least 30 percent of the employees wish to be unrepresented.” Minnesota Statutes Annotated § 179A.12, subd. 3. A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS) on a form prescribed by the Bureau, available here and accompanied by valid deauthorization cards available here.
New Hampshire law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if “a petition is filed by [a]t least 30 percent of the employees in the bargaining unit . . . asserting that the employee organization which has been certified by the board is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the bargaining unit.” New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated § 273-A:10. An identical provision pertains to dog and horse racing employees, see New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated § 273-C:10. The petition for a decertification election must be presented to the New Hampshire Public Employee Labor Relations Board (PELRB) on a form prescribed by the Board, available here accompanied by a 30% showing of interest by employees who have signed a decertification signature card, which can be found here. For additional information on decertification, see PELRB’s website.
A final decertification order effectively ends the collective bargaining process, including collective negotiations and existing contracts.
There is a 12-month election bar in the event a decertification order has issued as the result of a representation election. However, there is no such bar if the underlying decertification order issued for other reasons
Local Public-School Districts and Charter Schools
or bi-state agencies, such as:
The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
The Delaware River Port Authority of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
New Mexico law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if “thirty percent of the public employees in the appropriate bargaining unit make a written request to the board or local board . . ..” New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 10-7E-16(A). However, a decertification election is considered valid only if 40% or more of eligible employees in the unit vote. New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 10-7E-16 (A) . A written request for a decertification election must be presented to either a local board if it exists or the New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board at 2929 Coors N.W., Suite 303, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Telephone (505) 660-1338.
Oklahoma law permits police and firefighters to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative if “a petition is filed . . . alleging that thirty percent (30%) of the fire fighters or police officers in a municipality . . . assert that the designated exclusive employee representative is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the unit.” Oklahoma Statutes Annotated Title 11, § 51-103. A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Oklahoma Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), accompanied by a 30% showing of interest, on forms available here. (Note: click on title of the form and document will load). Decertification cards can be found here. PERB Rules 585:15-3-1 through 585:15-3-9, which are available here, cover decertification, including when to file such a petition.
Oregon law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative, if “[a]n employee or group of employees alleging that 30 percent of the employees assert that the designated exclusive representative is no longer the representative of the majority of employees in the unit.” Oregon Revised Statutes Annotated § 243.682. A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB), on a form prescribed by the Board, available here accompanied by a 30% showing of interest.
Pennsylvania law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. “[A] public employee or a group of public employees may file a petition for decertification provided it is supported by a thirty per cent showing of interest.” Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated Title 43 § 1101.607. A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board on either a form for public employees, available here. (For Public Employee Petitions: Click on “Petition Under the Public Employee Relations Act: Form PERA-4; For Police/Fire and Private Sector Petitions, click on Petition Police/Fire and Private Sector: Form PERA-13). For more information, visit www.commonwealthfoundation.org/policyblog/detail/restoring-worker-voting-rights.
A petition for decertification election must be presented to the Rhode Island Labor Relations Board on a form prescribed by the Board, available here, accompanied by a 30% showing of interest. The Board Rules and Regulations § 8.06.1(e) states: “[w]hen thirty (30) percent or more of the employees in a bargaining unit covered by an agreement between their employer and a labor organization requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment file a petition alleging that they desire that the authority of the labor organization to make such an agreement be rescinded, the Board’s Agent shall conduct a secret ballot of the employees in such unit and certify the results . . . .”
Vermont law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. If a petition is filed with the Vermont Labor Relations Board (VLRB) in accordance with procedures and regulations prescribed by the Board, wherein an employee alleges that the individual or employee organization currently certified as bargaining agent is no longer supported by a majority of the state employees in the bargaining unit, then the Board shall investigate and provide for a hearing. Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 3, § 941(c)(1) (state employees); Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 21, § 1581(a)(1)(B); Vermont Statutes Annotated Title 21, § 1724 (municipal employees). A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board, available here (click the “Decertification of Collective Bargaining Representative Petition” link to access the form) accompanied by a 30% showing of interest. The VLRB Rules of Practice covering decertification are §§ 33.4, 33.5, and 33.6 .
Washington law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. When an employee seeking decertification of his/her exclusive bargaining representative presents evidence demonstrating that at least 30% of the employees in the bargaining unit are in support of the decertification petition, the Washington Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) will conduct a secret ballot election. Washington Revised Code Annotated §§ 41.76.020(3); 41.59.070(4). A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the PERC on a form prescribed by the Commission, available here (click the “Representation Petition” link and select the “Decertification” box on the downloaded form), accompanied by a 30% showing of interest. See Washington Administrative Code §§ 391-25-070(6)(c); 391-25-010; and 391-25-030 for PERC rules covering decertification, including when to file such a petition. For more information, click here.
Wisconsin law permits public employees to obtain an election to decertify an exclusive bargaining representative. “If a petition is filed . . . for the discontinuance of existing representation indicating a showing of interest by 30% of the total number of employees . . . , the commission should hold an election . . . .” Wisconsin Statutes Annotated § 111.83(5)(h). A petition for a decertification election must be presented to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commissions (WERC) on a form prescribed by the Commission, available here (click the “Election Petition Form” to download the petition), accompanied by a 30% showing of interest.