Existing bargaining relationships

(1) The collective bargaining provisions of this part 2 do not apply to any home rule city that has language in its charter on June 5, 2013, that provides for a collective bargaining process for firefighters employed by the home rule city. This part 2 applies to all other public employers, including home rule cities without language in their charters that address a collective bargaining process for firefighters. (2) A bargaining unit in existence on June 5, 2013, remains the bargaining unit unless the bargaining unit is modified by voluntary agreement between the exclusive representative and the public employer or as otherwise provided by this part 2. (3) An employee organization recognized by a public employer as the exclusive representative for a bargaining unit as of June 5, 2013, remains the exclusive representative for the bargaining unit until the employee organization is decertified as the exclusive representative by vote of a majority of the firefighters in the bargaining unit in accordance with a process established by the public employer. (4) (a) All existing bargaining relationships of firefighters, whether created by ordinance, resolution, or voluntary recognition, remain in effect under the terms, conditions, and procedures in effect unless the public employer and exclusive representative agree to apply the collective bargaining provisions of this part 2 or until an election is held by petition pursuant to section 29-5-206. If the registered electors approve coverage of the collective bargaining provisions of this part 2 to the public employer, those provisions will apply to the bargaining unit regardless of any charter, ordinance, resolution, or voluntary recognition. An election may not be held under section 29-5-206 during the term of a collective bargaining agreement that is in existence on June 5, 2013. (b) If a vote is held pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (4), the terms, conditions, and procedures in the prior bargaining relationship remain in effect until the election is completed. If the registered electors reject coverage of the collective bargaining provisions of this part 2, all terms, conditions, and procedures in the prior process remain in effect. (5) Nothing in this section changes or abrogates a collective bargaining agreement that is in existence on June 5, 2013.