City of Bremerton, Decision 7559 (PECB, 2001)

On October 26, 2001, Ronald D. McKiernan filed a petition for investigation of a question concerning representation with the Public Employment Relations Commission under Chapter 391-25 WAC seeking a change of representation for certain employees of the City of Bremerton. The authorization cards mentioned a desire for a separate bargaining unit represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters. From a subsequent conversation between Mr. McKiernan, the petition is understood to involve a request for a separate unit of supervisors.

Individual employees have a right to vote on their representation, but individual employees and groups of employees do not have a capacity to impose themselves upon an unwilling union. Any petition or motion for intervention by which a particular organization seeks certification as exclusive bargaining representative of an appropriate bargaining unit must be filed by the organization itself. Thus, the petitioner was given a period of ten days as to why the petition should not be dismissed as procedurally defective.

No response has been received from the petitioner. The petition must be dismissed.

NOW THEREFORE it is

ORDERED

The petition for investigation of a question concerning representa­tion filed in the above captioned matter is DISMISSED.

PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION

[SIGNED]

MARVIN L. SCHURKE, Executive Director

This order will be the final order of the agency unless a notice of appeal is filed with the Commission under WAC 391-25-660.