(a) It is an unfair labor practice for the Commission or an employee organization certified as an exclusive representative of a bargaining unit to violate the rights of a Commission employee under this subtitle.
(b) Within 30 business days after the alleged violation, the party charging an unfair labor practice shall submit the charge in writing to the labor relations administrator and the party alleged to have committed the unfair labor practice.
(c) Within 15 business days after an unfair labor practice charge is submitted, the Commission and the employee organization shall request the labor relations administrator to hold a hearing and decide whether an unfair labor practice has occurred.
(d) The labor relations administrator shall:
(1) conduct the hearing;
(2) issue a finding of facts and conclusion of law;
(3) order the party found to have committed the unfair labor practice to cease and desist from the prohibited practice; and
(4) order all relief necessary to remedy the violation of this subtitle and otherwise to make whole any injured employee or employee organization or the Commission, if injured, including reinstatement, restitution, back pay, or other remedy needed to restore the employee, the employee organization, or the Commission to the position or condition it would have been in but for the violation.
(e) The labor relations administrator may not order punitive damages, consequential damages, damages for emotional distress, pain, and suffering, or attorney’s fees for purposes of satisfying the requirements of subsection (d)(4) of this section.
(f) If the labor relations administrator finds that the party charged has not committed an unfair labor practice, the labor relations administrator shall issue an order dismissing the charges.
(g) (1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the labor relations administrator’s decision is final.
(2) A party may seek judicial review of the decision on the basis that the decision is arbitrary, capricious, or exceeds the authority of the labor relations administrator.
(h) The Commission and the employee organization shall share equally the costs of any unfair labor practice proceeding.
(i) If the party found to have committed the unfair labor practice fails or refuses to comply with the labor relations administrator’s decision in whole or in part, the charging party may file an action to enforce the order with the circuit court for the county in which any of the involved employees work.
Structure Maryland Statutes
Division II - Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Subtitle 2 - Collective Bargaining
Section 18-201 - Applicability of Rights and Designation of Bargaining Units
Section 18-202 - Employee Organization as Exclusive Representative of Bargaining Unit
Section 18-203 - Labor Relations Administrator
Section 18-204 - Submission of Constitution and Bylaws to Labor Relations Administrator
Section 18-205 - Election of Exclusive Representative
Section 18-206 - Dispute Over Eligibility of Employee in Bargaining Unit
Section 18-207 - Collective Bargaining -- Requirements
Section 18-208 - Mediation-Arbitration
Section 18-209 - Provisions of Collective Bargaining Agreement
Section 18-210 - Funding of Collective Bargaining Agreements
Section 18-211 - Impairment of Rights and Responsibilities of Commission Prohibited
Section 18-212 - Prohibited Activities by Commission
Section 18-213 - Prohibited Activities of Employee Organization
Section 18-214 - Rights of Commission Employees
Section 18-216 - Unfair Labor Practice
Section 18-217 - Expression of Personal View, Argument, Opinion, or Statement