a.An employee organization or employees represented by a recognized employee organization may file a petition seeking the decertification of that recognized employee organization on the grounds that it no longer represents the majority of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit.

b.The timing of the petition shall be governed by Section 16.09. However, in no case, shall a decertification petition be filed within twelve (12) months from the date the recognized employee organization was certified, nor shall more than one (1) representation election be held affecting the same unit, or portions thereof, within a twelve (12) month period.

c.All decertification petitions shall specify the bargaining unit and incumbent employee organization at issue; demonstrate a 30% showing of interest on the part of all employees eligible to participate in the subject bargaining unit; and an allegation that the organization no longer represents a majority of the employees in the appropriate bargaining unit. In addition, an employee organization seeking certification as a recognized employee organization for the unit in question, shall include all information required in Section 16.09, paragraph c.

d.The City shall have the right to initiate decertification proceedings if it has reasonable and objective grounds for believing that a recognized employee organization no longer represents the majority of employees in an appropriate bargaining unit. Such grounds may include, but not be limited to, substantial modifications in the classification plan resulting in the elimination or reallocation of classes once in the bargaining unit.

e.Except in extraordinary circumstances, the City’s request shall be subject to the timing requirements of this Section and of Section 16.09 and shall only be acted upon with the prior approval of the City Council.

f.The procedures set forth in Sections 16.08 and 16.09 shall govern matters concerning appropriateness of a proposed unit, notification of the parties, waiting periods and recognition proceedings. Further, an employee organization desiring to intervene in the proceedings shall be subject to the provisions of Section 16.09, paragraph e, concerning Challenging Petitions.