REPRESENTATION ISSUES; CONTRACT BAR – In General

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To act as a bar, contract need be ratified only if the parties agree, in ground rules or in the contract itself, that the contract is not effective until ratified; pp. 3, 6. Contract signed by chief negotiator may act as a bar even if not yet formally "accepted" by the district; pp. 3-4, 6. Initials of negotiators are sufficient to meet the requirement that, to act as a bar, a contract must be "signed"; pp. 9-11. Language of EERA section 3544.7(b)(1) requires that, to act as a bar, a contract must be long enough to create a window period (at least 120 days). Overrules Alum Rock No. Ad-158; "bright line" rule found to be mandated by statute will also serve to minimize potential for disputes and, consequently, avoid delay that harms fundamental employee rights and disrupts labor relations; pp. 9-11. relations; pp. 9-11.