New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 11 - LABOR AND WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Chapter 21 - LABOR UNIONS/LABOR RELATIONS
Part 2 - REPRESENTATION PROCEEDINGS
Section 11.21.2.13 - INITIAL INVESTIGATION OF PETITION
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 6, March 26, 2024
After a petition has been filed, the director shall investigate the petition. The investigation shall include the following steps and shall be completed within 30 days of the filing of the petition.
A. The director shall determine the facial validity of the petition, including the facial appropriateness of the petitioned-for unit and may request the petitioner to amend a facially inappropriate petition. In the absence of an appropriate amendment, the director shall dismiss a petition asking for a certification of, or a clarification that would result in, a facially inappropriate unit, or that is otherwise facially improper, in which case he shall explain his reasons in writing.
B. The director shall determine whether there are significant issues of unit scope, unit inclusion or exclusion, labor organization or public employer status; a bar to the processing of the petition; or other matters that could affect the proceedings. The director shall make the determination pursuant to the provisions of Subsection C of Section 10-7E-13 and Section 10-7E-24 NMSA 1978, of the Public Employee Bargaining Act.
C. The director shall check the showing of interest (if applicable) against the list of employees in the proposed unit filed by the public employer pursuant to Subsection B of 11.21.2.12 NMAC, to determine whether the showing of interest has been signed and dated by a sufficient number of employees and that the signatures are sufficiently current. If signatures submitted for a showing of interest meet the requirements set forth Section 11 of this rule, they shall be presumed valid unless the director is presented with clear and convincing evidence that they were obtained by fraud, forgery or coercion. In the event that evidence of such fraud, forgery or coercion is presented to the director, the director shall investigate the allegations as expeditiously as possible and shall keep the showing of interest confidential during the investigation. The director shall dismiss any petition supported by an improper or insufficient showing of interest, consistent with Section 23 (opportunity to present additional showing), and shall explain in writing the basis of the dismissal. The director's determination as to the sufficiency of a showing of interest is an administrative matter solely within the director's authority and shall not be subject to questions or review.
