The MERO conducts secret ballot elections among groups of eligible employees pursuant to Title 32, the Tribe’s Labor Relations Law.Most employees of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe who work on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation are eligible to receive the benefits and protections of the law.

Generally, for each type of election case, a petitioner is required to submit a completed MERO form (Form 32-2010, Petition) and provide evidence of the desire of the employees for the election being sought. Some election petitions may only be filed at certain times. 

Select information about the primary types of elections is provided below. Additional information may be found in the applicable MERO Election Petitions Procedures Manual and by contacting the MERO.

Types of Elections:

Certification (RC petition):  Certification elections are held to determine whether a group of Tribal employees wishes to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by a particular labor organization. To initiate a petition, MERO Form 32-2010, Petition, requesting a certification election is completed and filed with a showing of interest consisting of a petition or individual authorization cards bearing the signatures of at least thirty percent (30%) of the Tribal employees in the proposed bargaining unit. Generally, an RC petition may be filed at any time for an unrepresented group of eligible employees, but an election may not be directed or held within twelve months of a prior election within the same bargaining unit.    

Decertification (RD petition):  Decertification elections are held to determine whether a group of Tribal employees who are represented in collective bargaining by a labor organization wish to continue to be represented by the labor organization. To initiate a petition, MERO Form 32-2010, Petition, seeking decertification of an incumbent union is completed and filed with a showing of interest consisting of a written request for a decertification election signed by thirty percent (30%) of the Tribal employees in the bargaining unit. 

Generally, a petition to decertify an incumbent union may be filed only at the following times:

• If there is a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in place with a term of three (3) years or less, 45-90 days prior to the expiration of the agreement;
• If there is a CBA in place with a term in excess of three (3) years, 45-90 days prior to the end of the three (3) years or any time after the third year of the contract; or
• After a CBA expires but before a new one is agreed upon.

An election may not be directed or held within twelve months of a prior election within the same bargaining unit.

Deauthorization (UD petition): Deauthorization elections are held to determine if employees in a bargaining unit with a CBA that includes a union security provision wish to rescind the union’s authority to require bargaining unit employees to make payments to the union as a condition of employment. A MERO Form 32-2010, Petition, seeking to rescind authorization for a union security provision in a CBA must be accompanied by a petition signed by thirty percent (30%) or more of the Tribal employees in the existing bargaining unit covered by a CBA containing a union security clause, stating that they desire that the authorization to enter into the union security clause be rescinded. Generally, a UD petition may be filed at any time that a union security provision is in effect in a collective bargaining agreement.     

Showing of Interest:

Each MERO petition must be accompanied by a showing of interest that reflects the desires of at least 30% of the employees in the proposed or actual bargaining unit. The showing of interest or other accompanying documentation must be submitted with the MERO Form 32-2010, Petition, within 48 hours of filing the petition or within such additional time as permitted by the MERO. Docketing and processing of a petition may be held in abeyance until such time as the showing of interest or other requisite accompanying documentation is received. 

The showing of interest (RC or RD cases) or petition (UD cases) required to accompany the MERO Form must include an appropriate statement supporting the petition, bear original signatures and dates that are current, and be accompanied by a typewritten or clearly handwritten, alphabetized listing of the names appearing on the showing of interest or petition. 

Processing an Election Petition:

Upon receipt of a properly completed Form 32-2010, Petition, and showing of interest or other supporting documentation, as required, the MERO dockets the petition.

Please see MERO Labor Law Case Processing and the MERO Election Petition Procedures Manual for additional information about the processing of an election petition after docketing.

Important Notice:

Some cases are required to be filed within certain specific time periods. Please review carefully the specifics of the law and case filing procedures that may be found on this website or contact the MERO for additional information.