Collective Bargaining

Except as otherwise provided by the Legislature, City employees shall have the right to form, join and participate in the activities of employee organizations of their own choosing for the purpose of representation on all matters of employer-employee relations. City employees also shall have the right to refuse to join or participate in the activities of employee organizations and shall have the right to represent themselves individually in their employment relations with the public agency.

Union Rules & Regulations

No City employee shall be subject to punitive action or denied promotion, or threatened with any such treatment, for the exercise of lawful action as an elected, appointed, or recognized representative of any employee bargaining unit. An employee who is a member of a bona fide religion, body, or sect that has historically held conscientious objections to joining or financially supporting public employee organizations shall not be required to join or financially support a public employee organization as a condition of employment.

The employee may be required, in lieu of periodic dues, initiation fees, or agency shop fees, to pay sums equal to the dues, initiation fees, or agency shop fees to a nonreligious, non-labor charitable fund exempt from taxation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, chosen by the employee from a list of at least 3 of these funds, designated in a memorandum of understanding between the City and the public employee organization, or if the memorandum of understanding fails to designate the funds, then to a fund of that type chosen by the employee.

Local Unions

The Service Employee's International Union Local 521, the Greenfield Police Officers Association and Greenfield Police Supervisor Association are the 3 recognized employee organizations that have the right to represent City employees in their employment relations with City Management. Employee organizations may establish reasonable restrictions regarding who may join and may make reasonable provisions for the dismissal of individuals from membership.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit any employee from appearing in his own behalf in his employment relations with the public agency. The scope of representation includes all matters relating to employment conditions and employer-employee relations, including, but not limited to, wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment, except, however, that the scope of representation shall not include consideration of the merits, necessity, or organization of any service or activity provided by law or executive order.