In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. “Board” means the Public Employee Relations Board. Unless specifically provided otherwise, “day” means a calendar day. “Employee organization” means a labor organization in which public employees participate and that has as one of its primary purposes representing public employees. “Exclusive representative” means an employee organization that has been certified by the Board as an exclusive representative under Subtitle 4 of this title. “Interested employee organization” means: an employee organization already representing employees in a bargaining unit; or a petitioner who has met the showing of interest requirement under § 22–402 of this title. “Lockout” means action taken by a public employer to: interrupt or prevent the continuity of the employees’ usual work for the purpose and with the intent of coercing the employees into relinquishing rights guaranteed by this title; or bring economic pressure on employees for the purpose of securing the agreement of their executive representative to collective bargaining agreement terms. “Public employee” means an individual who holds a position by appointment or employment in the service of a public employer with collective bargaining rights under Title 3 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article or Title 6, Subtitle 4 or 5 or Title 16, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article. “Public employer” means: the State, including any unit, department, or instrumentality of the State; a community college listed under § 16–702(b) of the Education Article; and a county board of education or the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners. “Showing of interest form” means a written statement from a public employee who wishes to be represented by a petitioning employee organization for the purpose of collective bargaining. “Showing of interest form” includes: a union authorization card; or a union membership card. “Strike” means any concerted action to impede the full and proper performance of employment duties in order to induce, influence, coerce, or enforce demands for a change in wages, hours, terms, or other conditions of employment. “Strike” includes a total or partial: refusal or failure to report to work; refusal or failure to perform employment duties; withdrawal from work; work stoppage; or work slowdown.

It is the intent of the General Assembly that it is the public policy of the State to encourage and protect the exercise by public sector employees of the full freedom of association, self–organization, and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection. For the advancement of the rights described under subsection (a) of this section and to promote labor peace and the orderly and constructive relationships between all public employers and their employees, the General Assembly has determined that the overall policy may best be accomplished by: granting to public employees the right to organize and choose freely their representatives; requiring public employers to negotiate and bargain with employee organizations representing public employees and to enter into written agreements evidencing the result of the bargaining; and establishing procedures to provide for the protection of the rights of public employees, the public employers, and the public at large. The law of the State with respect to the labor rights of public sector employees is intended to follow the rights of employees under the federal National Labor Relations Act.

Decisions of the federal National Labor Relations Board may be afforded persuasive weight in any interpretation of this title.