(a) Employees have the right to self-organize, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. It is declared to be in the public interest that the district not express any preference for one union over another.

1. (1)

   1. (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, if a majority of the employees employed by a district in a unit appropriate for collective bargaining indicate a desire to be represented by a labor organization, then the district, after determining pursuant to subdivision (f) that the labor organization represents the employees in the appropriate unit, shall enter into a written contract with the accredited representative of those employees governing wages, salaries, hours, and working conditions.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) If a dispute arises over wages, salaries, hours, or working conditions that is not resolved by negotiations conducted in good faith between the district and the labor organization, then upon the request of either party, the district and the labor organization may submit the dispute to an arbitration board. The decision of a majority of the arbitration board shall be final.
      2. (ii) The arbitration board shall be composed of two representatives of the district, two representatives of the labor organization, and a fifth member to be agreed upon by the representatives of the district and labor organization.
      3. (iii) If the representatives of the district and labor organization are unable to agree on the fifth member, then the names of five persons experienced in labor arbitration shall be obtained from the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service. The labor organization and the district shall, alternately, strike a name from the list supplied by the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service. The labor organization and the district shall determine by lot who shall first strike a name from the list. After the labor organization and the district have stricken four names, the name remaining shall be designated as the arbitrator. The decision of a majority of the arbitration board shall be final and binding upon the parties.
      4. (iv) The expenses of arbitration shall be borne equally by the parties. Each party shall bear the party’s own costs.

(f)

1. (1) Any questions regarding whether a labor organization represents a majority of employees or whether the proposed unit is or is not appropriate, shall be submitted to the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service for disposition. The California State Mediation and Conciliation Service shall promptly hold a public hearing after due notice to all interested parties to determine the unit appropriate for the purposes of collective bargaining. In making that determination and in establishing rules and regulations governing petitions and the conduct of hearings and elections, the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service shall be guided by relevant federal law and administrative practice, developed under the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 141 et seq.).
2. (2) The California State Mediation and Conciliation Service shall provide for an election to determine the question of representation and shall certify the results to the parties. A certification of a labor organization to represent or act for the employees in any collective bargaining unit shall not be subject to challenge on the grounds that a new substantial question of representation within the collective bargaining unit exists until the lapse of one year from the date of certification or the expiration of any collective bargaining agreement, whichever is later. However, no collective bargaining agreement shall be construed to be a bar to representation proceedings for a period of more than two years.

(g) If the district acquires existing facilities from a publicly or privately owned public utility, either in proceedings by eminent domain or otherwise, the district shall assume and observe all existing labor contracts.

1. (1) To the extent necessary for operation of facilities, all of the employees of the acquired public utility whose duties pertain to the facilities acquired shall be appointed to comparable positions in the district without examination, subject to all the rights and benefits of this act. Those employees shall be given sick leave, seniority, vacation, and pension credits in accordance with the records and labor agreements of the acquired public utility.
2. (2) Members and beneficiaries of any pension or retirement system, or other benefits established by the public utility, shall continue to have the rights, privileges, benefits, obligations, and status with respect to the established system. No employee of any acquired public utility may be subject to a reduction in wages, seniority, pension, vacation, or other benefits as a result of the acquisition.
3. (3) The district may extend the benefits of this section to officers or supervisory employees of the acquired utility.

(h) The district shall not do any of the following:

1. (1) Acquire any existing system or part of an existing system, whether by purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise.
2. (2) Dispose of or lease any transit system or part of the transit system.
3. (3) Merge, consolidate, or coordinate any transit system or part of the transit system.
4. (4) Reduce or limit the lines or service of any existing system or of the district’s system unless the district has first made adequate provision for any employees who are or may be displaced. The terms and conditions of that provision shall be a proper subject of collective bargaining.

(i) Notwithstanding any provision of the Government Code, the district may make deductions from the wages and salaries of its employees who authorize the deductions for the following purposes:

1. (1) Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement with a duly designated or certified labor organization, for the payment of union dues, fees, or assessments.
2. (2) For the payment of contributions pursuant to any health and welfare plan, or pension or retirement plan.
3. (3) For any purpose for which employees of any private employer may authorize deductions.

(j)

1. (1) The obligation of the district to bargain in good faith with a duly designated or certified labor organization and to execute a written collective bargaining agreement with that labor organization covering the wages, hours, and working conditions of the employees represented by that labor organization in an appropriate unit, and to comply with the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, shall not be limited or restricted by any provision of law. The obligation of the district to bargain collectively shall extend to all subjects of collective bargaining that are or may be proper subjects of collective bargaining with a private employer, including retroactive provisions.
2. (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the district shall make deductions from the wages and salaries of its employees, upon receipt of authorization to make those deductions, for the payment of union dues, fees, or assessments, for the payment of contributions pursuant to any health and welfare plan or pension plan, or for any other purpose for which employees of any private employer may authorize deductions, where those deductions are pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement with a duly designated or certified labor organization.