The following words and phrases when used in this act shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Bona fide religious objection." An objection to the payment of a fair share fee based upon the tenets or teachings of a bona fide church or religious body of which the employee is a member.
"Employee organization." An organization of any kind or any agency or employee representation committee or plan in which membership includes public employees and which exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, employee-employer disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment or conditions of work. The term does not include any organization which practices discrimination in membership because of race, gender, color, creed, national origin or political affiliation.
"Exclusive representative." The employee organization selected by the employees of a public employer to represent them for purposes of collective bargaining pursuant to the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L. 563, No. 195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act.
"Fair share fee." The regular membership dues required of members of the exclusive representative, less the cost for the previous fiscal year of its activities or undertakings which were not reasonably employed to implement or effectuate the duties of the employee organization as exclusive representative.
"Nonmember." A public employer's employee who is not a member of the exclusive representative but who is represented in a collective bargaining unit by the exclusive representative for purposes of collective bargaining.
"Political subdivision." A city, county, borough, incorporated town, township, institution district or any newly created governmental unit.
"Public employer." All political subdivisions of the Commonwealth. The term shall include "community college" as defined in section 1901-A of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.
"Statewide employee organization." The Statewide affiliated parent organization of an exclusive representative, or an exclusive representative representing employees Statewide, which is receiving nonmember fair share payments.
43 P.S. § 1102.2