---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 7011"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "7011"
heading: "Successorship provisions relating to bargaining units and exclusive representatives"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/7011"
units:
  - "Chapter 98 — Department of Agriculture Reorganization"
  - "Subchapter IX — Miscellaneous Reorganization Provisions"
---

# §7011. Successorship provisions relating to bargaining units and exclusive representatives

- (a) **Voluntary agreement—**
  - (1) **In general—** If the exercise of the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3)’s authority under this chapter results in changes to an existing bargaining unit that has been certified under [chapter 71](/usc/5/chptIII/sptF/ch71.md) of title 5, the affected parties shall attempt to reach a voluntary agreement on a new bargaining unit and an exclusive representative for such unit.
  - (2) **Criteria—** In carrying out the requirements of this subsection, the affected parties shall use criteria set forth in—
    - (A) sections [7103(a)(4)](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-4), [7111(e)](/usc/5/7111.md?p=e), [7111(f)(1)](/usc/5/7111.md?p=f-1), and [7120](/usc/5/7120.md) of title 5, relating to determining an exclusive representative; and
    - (B) [section 7112 of title 5](/usc/5/7112.md) (disregarding subsections (b)(5) and (d) thereof), relating to determining appropriate units.
- (b) **Effect of an agreement—**
  - (1) **In general—** If the affected parties reach agreement on the appropriate unit and the exclusive representative for such unit under [subsection (a)](#a), the Federal Labor Relations Authority shall certify the terms of such agreement, subject to [paragraph (2)(A)](#b-2-A). Nothing in this subsection shall be considered to require the holding of any hearing or election as a condition for certification.
  - (2) **Restrictions—**
    - (A) **Conditions requiring noncertification—** The Federal Labor Relations Authority may not certify the terms of an agreement under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) if—
      - (i) it determines that any of the criteria referred to in [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) (disregarding [section 7112(a) of title 5](/usc/5/7112.md?p=a)) have not been met; or
      - (ii) after the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3)’s exercise of authority and before certification under this section, a valid election under [section 7111(b) of title 5](/usc/5/7111.md?p=b) is held covering any employees who would be included in the unit proposed for certification.
    - (B) **Temporary waiver of provision that would bar an election after a collective bargaining agreement is reached—** Nothing in [section 7111(f)(3) of title 5](/usc/5/7111.md?p=f-3) shall prevent the holding of an election under [section 7111(b)](/usc/7/7111.md?p=b) of such title that covers employees within a unit certified under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), or giving effect to the results of such an election (including a decision not to be represented by any labor organization), if the election is held before the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date such unit is so certified.
    - (C) **Clarification—** The certification of a unit under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall not, for purposes of the last sentence of [section 7111(b) of title 5](/usc/5/7111.md?p=b) or [section 7111(f)(4)](/usc/7/7111.md) of such title, be treated as if it had occurred pursuant to an election.
  - (3) **Delegation—**
    - (A) **In general—** The Federal Labor Relations Authority may delegate to any regional director (as referred to in [section 7105(e) of title 5](/usc/5/7105.md?p=e)) its authority under the preceding provisions of this subsection.
    - (B) **Review—** Any action taken by a regional director under [subparagraph (A)](#b-3-A) shall be subject to review under the provisions of [section 7105(f) of title 5](/usc/5/7105.md?p=f) in the same manner as if such action had been taken under [section 7105(e)](/usc/7/7105.md) of such title, except that in the case of a decision not to certify, such review shall be required if application therefor is filed by an affected party within the time specified in such provisions.
- (c) **“Affected party” defined—** For purposes of this section, the term “affected party” means—
  - (1) with respect to an exercise of authority by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6902.md?p=3) under this chapter, any labor organization affected thereby; and
  - (2) the [Department](/usc/7/6902.md?p=1) of Agriculture.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–354, title II, § 291, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3235.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1) and (c)(1), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 103–354, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3209, known as the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 6901 of this title and Tables.