In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Board” means a board of arbitration formed under this subtitle to settle a labor dispute. “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. “Mediation Service” means the State Mediation and Conciliation Service.

This subtitle does not preclude or otherwise affect any agreement for arbitration of a dispute in a manner different from that for which this subtitle provides, whether the agreement is made by the disputants directly or through persons who have written authorization to do so. This subtitle does not affect any provision of the Maryland Uniform Arbitration Act.

Under the supervision of the Commissioner, the Mediation Service shall carry out this subtitle. The Commissioner may assign staff to help the Chief Mediator to carry out this subtitle. The Commissioner may charge a fee to cover the cost of providing services requested under this subtitle.

To the extent possible, the Mediation Service shall: promote voluntary mediation or arbitration of disputes between employers and employees; and discourage resort to a legal proceeding or to a blacklist, boycott, discrimination, or lockout in or arising out of a dispute between employers and employees.

Subject to the approval of the Governor, the Mediation Service may: appoint a board of arbitration to settle a dispute; and provide: as the Mediation Service considers proper, for compensation of up to $5 for each day that a member of a board is engaged in its duties; and for other necessary expenses of a board. The Chief Mediator may serve on a board.

To the same extent as a court of the State in a civil case, the Mediation Service or a board may: conduct an investigation; hold hearings; administer oaths; and issue a subpoena for the attendance of a witness to testify or the production of books, papers, and other documents. If a person fails to comply with a subpoena issued under this section, on petition of the Mediation Service or board, a circuit court may compel compliance with the subpoena. A board shall petition the circuit court for the county where the board is meeting.

Documents and testimony obtained under this subtitle shall be kept in the offices of the Mediation Service. Information that the Commissioner, the Mediation Service, or a member of a board obtains under this subtitle is confidential, if the information: is of a personal nature; relates to the private business of a person; or may disclose the profits or methods for doing business of a person.

This section applies to a dispute only if the employer involved in the dispute has at least 10 employees. Whenever a disputant or other reliable source informs the Mediation Service that a dispute might result in a lockout or strike, the Mediation Service: may investigate and try to mediate the dispute; and if the Mediation Service is unable to mediate, may try to obtain the consent of the disputants for formation of a board. Whenever the Mediation Service is unable to mediate a dispute and a disputant refuses consent for formation of a board or for arbitration by the Chief Mediator, the Mediation Service shall investigate thoroughly the cause of the dispute. In an investigation under this subsection, the Mediation Service may depose a disputant. After an investigation under this subsection, the Mediation Service: shall decide which disputant is mainly responsible or blameworthy for continuance of the dispute; and over the official signature of the Commissioner or Chief Mediator, shall publish in a daily newspaper a report that assigns responsibility or blame for the continuance of the dispute.

The Mediation Service or a board shall make and publish findings about a dispute for settlement of the dispute. A determination and award of a board is final and binds the disputants.

Within 5 days after the National Labor Relations Board or other public or private unit certifies or recognizes a bargaining representative, the bargaining representative shall submit to the Mediation Service a report that contains: notice of the certification or recognition; the name and address of the employer; the total number of employees in the business establishment; the total number of employees in the bargaining unit; and if known, the date on which negotiations to establish a collective bargaining agreement are to begin.

On or before January 10 of each year, each bargaining representative shall submit to the Mediation Service a report that states, for each collective bargaining agreement that is to terminate during the year: the name and address of the employer; the total number of employees in the business establishment; the total number of employees in the bargaining unit; and the date on which the collective bargaining agreement terminates.