426                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                       [CH. 160

ment nor any loss of wages, hours, working conditions, seniority,
fringe benefits and rights and privileges pertaining thereto.

(b)    Labor contracts and labor disputes. Deal THE AUTHORITY
MAY DEAL with and enter into written contracts with the employees
of the Authority, who may form part of any operating company, which
the Authority may acquire, through accredited representatives of such
employees or representatives of any labor organization authorized to
act for such employees concerning wages, salaries, hours, working
conditions, and pension or retirement provisions.

In case of any labor dispute involving the Authority and such
employees where collective bargaining does not result in agreement,
the Authority and the employees, through their accredited repre-
sentatives or representatives of any labor organization authorized
to act for the employees, shall submit such dispute to arbitration by
a board composed of three persons, one appointed by the Authority,
one appointed by the labor organization representing the employees,
and a third member to be agreed upon by the labor organization
and the Authority. The member agreed upon by the labor organi-
zation and the Authority shall act as chairman of the board. The
determination of the majority of the board of arbitration thus
established shall be final and binding on all matters in dispute. If
after a period of ten days from the date of the appointment of the
two arbitrators representing the Authority and the labor organiza-
tion, the third arbitrator has not been selected, then either arbitra-
tor may request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to
furnish a list of five persons from which the third arbitrator shall
be selected. The arbitrators appointed by the Authority and the
labor organization, promptly after the receipt of such list, shall
determine by lot the order of elimination, and thereafter each shall
in that order alternately eliminate one name until only one name
remains. The remaining person on the list shall be the third
arbitrator. The term "labor dispute" shall be broadly construed and
shall include any controversy concerning wages, salaries, hours,
working conditions, or benefits including health and welfare, sick
leave, insurance or pension or retirement provisions but not limited
thereto, and including any controversy concerning any differences
or questions that may arise between the parties including but not
limited to the making or maintaining of collective bargaining
agreements, the terms to be included in such agreements, and the
interpretation or application of such collective bargaining agree-
ments and any grievance that may arise. Each party shall pay one-
half of the expenses of such arbitration.

(c)    Pensions. The Authority is hereby authorized and em-
powered to establish and maintain a system of