RECOGNITION OF FIRE FIGHTER ASSOCIATION.

(a) A fire fighters association submitting a petition signed by a majority of the paid fire fighters in the municipality, excluding the head of the department and assistant department heads in the rank or classification immediately below that of the department head, may be recognized by the public employer as the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for all of the covered fire fighters unless and until recognition of the association is withdrawn by a majority of those fire fighters.

(b) In the event of a question about whether a fire fighters association represents a majority of the covered fire fighters, the question shall be resolved by a fair election conducted according to procedures agreeable to the parties. If the parties are unable to agree on such procedures, either party may request the American Arbitration Association to conduct the election and to certify the results. Certification of the results of an election resolves the question concerning representation. The fire fighters association is liable for the expenses of the election, except that if two or more associations seeking recognition as the bargaining agent submit petitions signed by a majority of the covered fire fighters, the associations shall share equally the costs of the election.