1. (a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
2. (b) “Board” means the Public Employee Relations Board.
3. (c) Unless specifically provided otherwise, “day” means a calendar day.

4. (d) “Employee organization” means:

   1. (1) a labor organization in which public employees participate and that has as one of its primary purposes representing public employees; or
   2. (2) for purposes of Subtitle 2A of this title, a labor organization in which private employees participate and that has as one of its primary purposes representing private employees.
5. (e) “Exclusive representative” means an employee organization that has been certified by the Board as an exclusive representative for public employees under Subtitle 4 of this title or for private employees under Subtitle 2A of this title.

6. (f) “Interested employee organization” means:

   1. (1) an employee organization already representing employees in a bargaining unit; or
   2. (2) a petitioner who has met the showing of interest requirement under § 22-402 of this title.

7. (g) “Lockout” means action taken by a public employer to:

   1. (1) 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
   2. (2) bring economic pressure on employees for the purpose of securing the agreement of their executive representative to collective bargaining agreement terms.

8. (h) “Private employee” means an individual who:

   1. (1) is subject to the federal National Labor Relations Act; or
   2. (2) would have been subject to the federal National Labor Relations Act as it existed on January 1, 2025.
9. (i) “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.

10. (j) “Public employer” means:

    1. (1) the State, including any unit, department, or instrumentality of the State;
    2. (2) a community college listed under § 16-702(b) of the Education Article; and
    3. (3) a county board of education or the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.

11. (k)

    1. (1) “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.

    2. (2) “Showing of interest form” includes:

       1. (i) a union authorization card; or
       2. (ii) a union membership card.

12. (l)

    1. (1) “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.

    2. (2) “Strike” includes a total or partial:

       1. (i) refusal or failure to report to work;
       2. (ii) refusal or failure to perform employment duties;
       3. (iii) withdrawal from work;
       4. (iv) work stoppage; or
       5. (v) work slowdown.

<Section effective upon occurrence of contingency specified in Acts 2026, c. 167, § 3. See, also, section 22-101 until occurrence of contingency specified in Acts 2026, c. 167, § 3.>

Added by Acts 2023, c. 114, § 4, eff. July 1, 2023. Amended by Acts 2024, c. 51, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 52, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2026, c. 167, § 2, eff..