§ 28-9.3-7. Certification of negotiating agent - Payment of service charge by non-members. (a) No association or organization shall be initially certified as the representative of certified public school teachers except after an election.

(b) Teachers shall be free to join or to decline to join any association or organization regardless of whether it has been certified as the exclusive representative of certified public school teachers.

(c) If new elections are not held after an association or labor organization is certified, the association or organization shall continue as the exclusive representative of the certified public school teachers from year to year until recognition is withdrawn or changed as provided in § 28-9.3-5.

(d) Elections shall not be held more often than once each twelve (12) months and must be held at least thirty (30) days before the expiration date of any employment contract.

(e) Any employees in the bargaining unit, who are not members of the exclusive bargaining representative organization, may be required by the labor or employee organization to pay a reasonable charge for representation in grievances and/or arbitrations brought at the nonmember's request.

(f) The employer shall notify the exclusive bargaining unit representative organization of the hiring of any employee in the bargaining unit. The notice shall be given promptly after the hiring decision is made but in no event later than the fifth business day following the employee's start date.

History of Section. (P.L. 1966, ch. 146, § 1; P.L. 1975, ch. 54, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 95, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 146, § 1.)