Collective Bargaining

Charter Section 908: Right to Organize & Bargain Collectively

In order that County employees may participate in the formulation and implementation of personnel policies affecting their employment, they shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, subject to any procedural regulations that the Council shall provide by law.

The Council shall provide by law a labor code for County employees, which shall include:

The manner of establishing units appropriate for collective bargaining
The manner of designating or selecting bargaining representatives
Definitions of and remedies for unfair labor practices

COUNTY LABOR CODE (Subtitle 13A)

Labor Disputes

In order to prevent strikes, job actions, and other disruptions that might impede the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare, the County Executive shall immediately submit to binding arbitration any disputed issues including but not limited to wages and terms and conditions of employment arising out of the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement with a representative of County Protective Service Employees which has not successfully been negotiated by March one of the year in which any existing agreement expires unless an extension is mutually agreed upon. "Protective Service Employees" shall be defined as sworn police officers, uniformed firefighters, correctional officers and deputy sheriffs.

The disputed issues shall be submitted to the American Arbitration Association and arbitrated pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitration hearing shall be concluded and decision rendered within ninety days of the submission of arbitration unless otherwise ordered by the arbitrator. The decision of this mandatory arbitration shall be binding upon the County and the Protective Service Employees. The County Executive is authorized to submit to binding arbitration any disputes arising out of the interpretation of, or the application of, any collective bargaining agreement with the representative of County employees. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize a strike by any County employee or employees engaged in duties directly affecting the public safety.

Petition ratified November 4, 1980; amended, CB-83-1988, ratified November 8, 1988.

Collective Bargaining

Charter Section 908: Right to Organize & Bargain Collectively

Labor Disputes

Agreements (FY25-FY26)

Agreements (FY23-FY24)

Contact Human Resources Management