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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 4Ch. 10.7Art. 5§ 3544 Employee Union Recognition Process

§ 3544 Employee Union Recognition Process

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3544 Employee Union Recognition Process

Key Takeaways

  • •A group of workers can ask to be the official group that talks to the boss for all workers in a certain job type.
  • •To prove most workers want them, they need to show things like signed lists or cards saying they want this group to speak for them.
  • •The boss must put up a notice about this request where all workers can see it.
  • •The group must show secret proof to the board that most workers really want them, and the board checks if it’s enough.

Example

A group of teachers at a school want a union to speak for them about pay and work rules.

The union collects signed cards from more than half the teachers and gives them to the school boss. The boss puts up a notice on the teacher bulletin board. The union also sends the cards to the board to prove most teachers want them, and the board checks if it’s enough.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3544 Employee Union Recognition Process

(a) An employee organization may become the exclusive representative for the employees of an appropriate unit for purposes of meeting and negotiating by filing a request with a public school employer alleging that a majority of the employees in an appropriate unit wish to be represented by such organization and asking the public school employer to recognize it as the exclusive representative. The request shall describe the grouping of jobs or positions which constitute the unit claimed to be appropriate and shall be based upon majority support on the basis of current dues deduction authorizations or other evidence such as notarized membership lists, or membership cards, or petitions designating the organization as the exclusive representative of the employees. Notice of any such request shall immediately be posted conspicuously on all employee bulletin boards in each facility of the public school employer in which members of the unit claimed to be appropriate are employed. (b) The employee organization shall submit proof of majority support to the board. The information submitted to the board shall remain confidential and not be disclosed by the board. The board shall obtain from the employer the information necessary for it to carry out its responsibilities pursuant to this section and shall report to the employee organization and the public school employer as to whether the proof of majority support is adequate. (Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1084.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

majorityorganizationschoolclaimemployeeportemployermembership

Related Statutes

  • § 3544.3 Employee Representation Election Petition
  • § 3544.1 Employee Union Recognition Rules
  • § 3573 Union Recognition Process
  • § 3543.5 Public School Employee Protections
  • § 3546 Public Employee Fair Share Fees

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 3544.
View Official Source