(a)    The Commission and an employee organization certified as exclusive representative shall meet and engage in collective bargaining in good faith regarding:

(1)    salary and wages, including the percentage of the increase in the salary and wages budget that will be devoted to merit increments and cash awards, provided that salaries and wages shall be uniform for all employees in the same classification;

(2)    pension and other retirement benefits for active employees;

(3)    employee benefits such as insurance, leave, holidays, and vacations;

(4)    hours and working conditions;

(5)    orderly processing and settlement of grievances concerning the interpretation and implementation of a collective bargaining agreement that may include:

(i)    binding third party arbitration, under which the arbitrator may not amend, add to, or subtract from the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement; and

(ii)    provisions for the exclusivity of forum;

(6)    matters affecting the health and safety of employees; and

(7)    the effect on employees of the exercise of the Commission’s rights and responsibilities under § 16–213 of this subtitle.

(b)    This section does not require the Commission or the employee organization to agree to any proposal or to make any concession.

(c)    (1)    (i)    Collective bargaining may not begin later than September 1 before the beginning of a fiscal year for which an agreement has not been reached between the Commission and the exclusive representative.

(ii)    Collective bargaining shall conclude on or before the following February 1.

(2)    During the period between the dates set in paragraph (1)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, the parties shall negotiate in good faith.