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<section article="gsg" article_name="State Government" number="22-101" future_version_removed="true" title_number="22" title_name="Public Employee Relations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>“Board” means the Public Employee Relations Board.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Unless specifically provided otherwise, “day” means a calendar day.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>“Employee organization” means a labor organization in which public employees participate and that has as one of its primary purposes representing public employees.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>“Exclusive representative” means an employee organization that has been certified by the Board as an exclusive representative under Subtitle 4 of this title.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>“Interested employee organization” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>an employee organization already representing employees in a bargaining unit; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a petitioner who has met the showing of interest requirement under § 22–402 of this title.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>“Lockout” means action taken by a public employer to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>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</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>bring economic pressure on employees for the purpose of securing the agreement of their executive representative to collective bargaining agreement terms.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>“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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>“Public employer” means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the State, including any unit, department, or instrumentality of the State;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a community college listed under § 16–702(b) of the Education Article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a county board of education or the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Showing of interest form” includes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a union authorization card; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a union membership card.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <level label="1">
      <text>“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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Strike” includes a total or partial:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>refusal or failure to report to work;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>refusal or failure to perform employment duties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>withdrawal from work;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>work stoppage; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>work slowdown.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
