(a) As of the implementation date of this chapter, an employee organization that is recognized as a representative of a group of trial court employees or the exclusive representative of an established bargaining unit of trial court employees, either by the county or the trial court, shall continue to be recognized by the trial court as a representative or the exclusive representative of the same trial court employees. A trial court and recognized employee organization shall be bound by the terms of any memorandum of understanding or agreement covering trial court employees to which the trial court or the county is a party that is in effect on the implementation date of this chapter for the duration thereof, or until it expires and, consistent with law, is replaced by a successor memorandum of understanding or agreement, subject to the obligation to meet and confer in good faith. Upon expiration of a memorandum of understanding or agreement, the trial court shall meet and confer in good faith with recognized employee organizations.

(b) A trial court’s local rules governing trial court employees and a trial court’s personnel rules, policies, and practices, and any county rules in effect pursuant to former Rule 2205 of the California Rules of Court as adopted on April 23, 1997, in effect at the time of the implementation date of this chapter, to the extent they are not contrary to or inconsistent with the obligations and duties provided for in this article, shall continue in effect until changed by the trial court. Prior to changing any rule, policy, or practice that affects any matter within the scope of representation as set forth in this article, the court shall meet and confer in good faith with the recognized employee organization as provided for in this chapter.

(c) Nothing contained in this article is intended to preclude trial court employees from continuing to be included in representation units which contain county employees.

(Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 130, Sec. 138. Effective January 1, 2008.)