4 GCA Chapter 10 Public Employee Management Relations Act (PEMRA), “declares that it is the policy and purpose of this Chapter, in the public interest, to promote orderly and constructive relationships between Government and its public employees by providing an opportunity for effective participation by employees in the formulation and implementation of policies and procedures affecting conditions of their employment.”
Why is this important? Public employees have the right to negotiate with management on their working conditions in a collective bargaining agreement through an exclusively recognized employee organization through the PEMRA law. Management officials are prohibited from:
1) restraining, coercing or interfering with the exercise of the rights assured to public employees by the terms of this Chapter;
2) dominating, sponsoring, controlling or otherwise assisting employee organizations, except that routine services and facilities may be furnished impartially to such organizations consistent with other provisions of this Chapter;
3) discriminating against public employees in regard to hiring, tenure or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any employee organization;
4) disciplining or otherwise discriminating against any public employee for legitimate activities in representing an employee organization or participating in procedures implementing this Chapter;
5) refusing to grant exclusive recognition to a qualified employee organization for an appropriate public employee unit;
6) refusing to consult or negotiate with an employee organization accorded exclusive recognition on matters within the scope of this Chapter and implementing rules and regulations.