KRS 67A.6905: Election of exclusive representative.

(1) Whenever, in accordance with administrative regulations that may be promulgated

by the cabinet, a petition has been filed:

(a) By a police officer, group of police officers, firefighter personnel, a firefighter,

group of firefighters, a corrections officer , group of corrections personnel, or

any labor organization acting on behalf of thirty percent (30%) of the

employees who have signed labor organization affiliation cards and the labor

organization showing proof of representation:

1. Alleging that they wis h to be represented for collective bargaining by a

labor organization as exclusive representative; or

2. Asserting that the labor organization which has been certified or is

currently being recognized by the urban -county government as

bargaining representative is no longer the representative of the majority

of employees in the unit; or

(b) By an urban -county government alleging that one (1) or more labor

organizations has presented to it a claim to be recognized as the representative

of the majority of poli ce officers, firefighter personnel, firefighters, or

corrections personnel in an appropriate unit;

the cabinet shall investigate the petition, and if it has reasonable cause to believe

that a question of representation exists, shall provide for an appropr iate hearing

upon due notice. If the cabinet finds that there is a question of representation, it

shall direct an election by secret ballot to determine whether or by which labor

organization the police officers, firefighter personnel, firefighters, or cor rections

personnel desire to be represented, and shall certify the result thereof to the

legislative council of the urban-county government.

(2) The cabinet shall decide in each case, in order to assure police officers, firefighter

personnel, firefighters, and corrections personnel the fullest freedom in exercising

the rights guaranteed by this section, the unit appropriate for the purposes of

collective bargaining, based on such factors as community of interest, wages, hours,

and other working conditions o f the police officers, firefighter personnel,

firefighters, or corrections personnel involved; the history of collective bargaining;

and the desires of the police officers, firefighter personnel, firefighters, or

corrections personnel.

(3) An election shall not be directed in any bargaining unit or in any subdivision thereof

within which in the preceding twelve (12) month period a valid election has been

held. The cabinet shall determine who is eligible to vote in the election and shall

promulgate administrative regulations governing the election. In any election where

none of the choices on the ballot receives a majority, a runoff shall be conducted

and the ballot shall provide for the selection between the two (2) choices receiving

the largest and the second largest number of valid votes cast in the election. A labor

organization which receives the majority of the votes cast in an election shall be

certified by the cabinet as exclusive representative of all the police officers,

firefighter personnel, firefighters, or corrections personnel in the unit.

(4) Nothing in this or any other law shall be construed to prohibit recognition of a labor

organization as the exclusive representative by an urban -county government by

mutual consent.

(5) No election shall be directed by the cabinet in any bargaining unit where there is in

force and effect a valid collective bargaining agreement; provided, however, no

collective bargaining agreement shall bar an election upon the petition of persons

not parties thereto where mo re than four (4) years have elapsed since the execution

of the agreement or the last timely renewal, whichever was later.