Ch. 689                                        1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(II) A DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIT WHICH THE INTERVENOR CLAIMS
TO BE APPROPRIATE;

(III)    THE NUMBER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN THE ALLEGED
APPROPRIATE UNIT;

(IV)   A STATEMENT THAT THE INTERVENOR REPRESENTS AT LEAST 20%
OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE ALLEGED APPROPRIATE UNIT BY VIRTUE OR
AUTHORIZATIONS TO REPRESENT, DUES DEDUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS, OR
MEMBERSHIP, WITH PROOF OF SUCH A SHOWING OF INTEREST TO BE MADE TO A
NEUTRAL PERSON SELECTED BY THE PARTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 1-906 OF THIS
SUBTITLE;

(V)     AN AFFIRMATION THAT THE INTERVENOR DOES NOT
DISCRIMINATE WITH REGARD TO THE ACQUISITION OR RETENTION OF MEMBERSHIP OR
IN ACCEPTING OR ADVANCING MEMBERS IN ANY TRAINING APPRENTICESHIP OR
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE OF RACE, SEX, AGE, COLOR, CREED, HANDICAP OR
NATIONAL ORIGIN; AND

(VI)   A CLEAR AND CONCISE STATEMENT OF ITS REASONS IN SUPPORT
OF THE ALLEGED APPROPRIATE UNIT.

(E) (1) WHENEVER A REPRESENTATION PROCEEDING IS INITIATED. THE
EMPLOYER SHALL MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LABOR ORGANIZATION
OR ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED, AND ANY LABOR ORGANIZATION ALLOWED TO
INTERVENE AND ATTEMPT TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING
REPRESENTATION WHICH EXIST, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DETERMINATION OF
THE APPROPRIATE UNIT AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE UNIT.

(2) IN THE EVENT THAT THE PARTIES FAIL TO AGREE ON ANY SUCH
QUESTION CONCERNING REPRESENTATION. THE UNRESOLVED QUESTION SHALL BE
REFERRED TO A NEUTRAL PERSON APPOINTED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN § 1-906 OF
THIS SUBTITLE, WHO SHALL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNTY OF A FINAL
RESOLUTION OF SUCH QUESTION.

(3) THE COUNTY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISION OF
THESE QUESTIONS.

(F) (1) ONCE THE APPROPRIATE UNIT AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN
THE UNIT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED, THE LABOR ORGANIZATION OR ORGANIZATIONS
SHALL SUBMIT PROOF OF THE REQUIRED SHOWING OF INTEREST TO A NEUTRAL
PERSON

(2) IF THE EMPLOYER CHALLENGES THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SHOWING
OF INTEREST, THE NEUTRAL PERSON SHALL CHECK THE EMPLOYEE SIGNATURES
AGAINST SIGNATURES CONTAINED IN PERSONNEL RECORDS.

(3) THE NEUTRAL PERSON SHALL NOT ACCEPT AUTHORIZATION CARDS
THAT ARE UNDATED OR MORE THAN 1 YEAR OLD.

- 3998 -