Iowa Admin. Code r. 621-4.10

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 621-4.10 - Merger of two units represented by affiliated certified employee organizations

A certified employee organization may petition the agency to amend a bargaining unit the organization represents to merge another bargaining unit of employees into the successive unit. The unit of employees added must be represented by an affiliated certified employee organization. This proceeding does not apply to school districts' and area education agencies' reorganizations and mergers pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 273 or 275.

(1)Petition. A combined petition to amend a bargaining unit and an employee organization's certification may be filed by a successive employee organization to reflect a merger of two agency-determined bargaining units that have the same public employer and are represented by affiliated certified employee organizations. The combined petition shall contain:

a. The names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of the public employer and the employee organization or their respective representatives.

b. A listing of all PERB cases relevant to the first unit and its certification history followed by a current description of the unit.

c. A listing of all PERB cases relevant to the second unit and its certification history followed by a current description of the unit.

d. An identification and description of the proposed amended unit.

e. The names and addresses of any other employee organizations which claim to represent any employees affected by the proposed amendment or a statement that the petitioner has no knowledge of any other such organization.

f. A statement identifying the current status of the units as either public safety units or non-public safety units and the change, if any, to the status of the unit, which would result from the requested merger.

g. A specific statement of the petitioner's reasons for seeking amendment of the unit and any other relevant factors.

(2)Accompanying documents. The successive employee organization must file its petition with the following:

a. An affidavit(s) that establishes the following:

(1) The act or occurrence, which the requested amendment would reflect, was authorized by and accomplished in accordance with the certified employee organization's constitution and bylaws, which provided members with adequate due process; and

(2) Substantial continuity of representation has been maintained.

b. Updated agency reports if there is a change in the employee organization's name or if there is a change to the employee organization's governing body. The reports shall include the following:

(1) An updated PERB annual report that covers the time period from the last annual report to the time of the filing of the petition.

(2) An updated PERB registration report.

(3) An updated constitution and bylaws.

c. Final agency reports for dissolved organizations resulting from a merger. The final agency report shall include a PERB annual report that covers the time period from the last annual report to the time of the merger and shall reflect the closing of the books and accounts of the dissolved employee organization. The certified employee organization may wait and submit its final agency reports following the board's tentative approval of the amendment of certification.

(3)Notice. The agency shall file a notice to employees, giving notice that a petition to merge two units and amend the certification of the successive employee organization has been filed and setting forth the rights of employees under Iowa Code chapter 20. The employer shall promptly distribute, electronically or by hard copy, the notice to the affected employees. The employer shall also promptly post the notice in the manner and locations customarily used for the posting of information to employees.

(4)Procedure-decision. Insofar as applicable, rules 621-4.2 (20) and 621-4.8 (20) shall apply.

(5)Elections. Should the agency determine, in any case, it is appropriate to merge one unit into the successive unit, the agency shall file an order directing that an election be conducted to determine whether the employees of the unit getting merged into the successive unit wish to be represented by the successive certified employee organization. The election shall be conducted in accordance with rule 621-5.8 (20).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 621-4.10

Adopted by IAB May 22, 2019/Volume XLI, Number 24, effective 6/26/2019

Amended by IAB May 19, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 24, effective 6/23/2021