South Dakota Codified Laws
Chapter 18 - Public Employees Unions
Section 3-18-2 - Rights relating to labor organizations--Designation of representatives--Discrimination against employees exercising rights as misdemeanor--Good faith negotiations--Intimidation.

3-18-2. Rights relating to labor organizations--Designation of representatives--Discrimination against employees exercising rights as misdemeanor--Good faith negotiations--Intimidation.
Public employees shall have the right to form and join labor or employee organizations, and shall have the right not to form and join such organizations. Public employees shall have the right to designate representatives for the purpose of meeting and negotiating with the governmental agency or representatives designated by it with respect to grievance procedures and conditions of employment and after initial recognition by the employer, it shall be continuous until questioned by the governmental agency, labor or employee organization, or employees, pursuant to §3-18-5. It is a Class 2 misdemeanor to discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee for the exercise of such rights, and the governmental agency or its designated representatives shall be required to meet and negotiate with the representatives of the employees at reasonable times in connection with such grievance procedures and conditions of employment. The negotiations by the governmental agency or its designated representatives and the employee organization or its designated representatives shall be conducted in good faith. Such obligation does not compel either party to agree to a proposal or require the making of a concession but shall require a statement of rationale for any position taken by either party in negotiations. It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons, either directly or indirectly to intimidate or coerce any public employee to join, or refrain from joining, a labor or employee organization.

Source: SL 1969, ch 88, §7, subdiv 2; SL 1970, ch 26, §1; SL 1973, ch 31; SL 1974, ch 33; SL 1980, ch 24, §48.

Structure South Dakota Codified Laws

South Dakota Codified Laws

Title 3 - Public Officers and Employees

Chapter 18 - Public Employees Unions

Section 3-18-1.1 - "Grievance" defined.

Section 3-18-2 - Rights relating to labor organizations--Designation of representatives--Discrimination against employees exercising rights as misdemeanor--Good faith negotiations--Intimidation.

Section 3-18-3.1 - Unfair practices of employers defined.

Section 3-18-3.2 - Unfair practices of employee organizations defined.

Section 3-18-3.3 - Rules on unfair practices.

Section 3-18-3.4 - Time for filing complaint on unfair practice.

Section 3-18-4 - Investigation and hearing on refusal to grant formal recognition or on question of designation of representation unit.

Section 3-18-5 - Question on representative of employees--Petition for investigation or certification--Hearing to ascertain representatives for formal recognition.

Section 3-18-6 - Promulgation of rules of procedure for elections and negotiations.

Section 3-18-7 - Tentative settlement between labor or employee organization and designated representatives of agency--Action by governing body or officer.

Section 3-18-8 - Implementation of settlement between labor or employee organization and governing body.

Section 3-18-8.1 - Intervention by department on failure to reach agreement.

Section 3-18-8.2 - Issuance of contracts by school districts prior to reaching agreement--Terms and conditions.

Section 3-18-9 - Strike defined.

Section 3-18-10 - Strikes prohibited--Right to submission of grievance.

Section 3-18-11 - Consent to strikes by supervisors prohibited--Discharge from employment for submission of grievance prohibited.

Section 3-18-14 - Injunctive relief in case of strike.

Section 3-18-15 - Right of employee or representative to expression or communication of grievance not limited.

Section 3-18-15.1 - Grievance procedures to be established.

Section 3-18-15.2 - Appeal to department--Investigation, hearing, and order by department--Summary disposition of certain claims--Public employees of Board of Regents.

Section 3-18-15.3 - Grievance procedure adopted in absence of agency action.

Section 3-18-15.5 - Grievance procedures for employees of political subdivisions.

Section 3-18-16 - Proceedings to establish nonparticipation in strike--Request by employee--Time for proceedings.

Section 3-18-17 - Review by trial de novo of decision establishing violation.