How does an employee organization become "certified" by PERB to represent a bargaining unit of employees

An employee organization becomes the legal representative of a bargaining unit by petitioning PERB to hold a secret-ballot election among the employees in that unit to see if they choose to be represented by that employee organization.  Every employee who is employed in the bargaining unit on established eligibility dates will be able to vote, and if a majority of those eligible to vote are in favor of representation by an employee organization which has secured a place on the ballot, that organization will be “certified” by PERB and become the exclusive representative of the employees in the bargaining unit once it complies with certain registration and reporting requirements.