(1) A public authority formed under this act shall have the right to bargain collectively and enter into agreements with labor organizations pursuant to Act No. 336 of the Public Acts of 1947, being section 423.201 to 423.216 of the Michigan Compiled Laws. Upon acquisition or reincorporation of a public transportation system, the public authority shall assume and be bound by any existing collective bargaining agreements applicable to that system for the remainder of the term of the agreement, and, except where the existing collective bargaining agreement may otherwise permit, shall retain the employees covered by that collective bargaining agreement. The acquisition or reincorporation of a public transportation system by the public authority shall not adversely affect any existing rights and obligations contained in the existing collective bargaining agreement. Members and beneficiaries of any pension or retirement system established by the existing public transportation system shall continue to have the same rights, privileges, benefits, obligations, and status under the new public authority.

    (2) If an existing collective bargaining agreement is expiring at the time of acquisition or reincorporation of a public transportation system to a public authority under this act, the acquisition or reincorporation does not affect the obligation of each of the parties to bargain collectively pursuant to the requirements of Act No. 336 of the Public Acts of 1947.

    (3) Employees who left the employ of the acquired public transportation system to enter the military services of the United States shall have the same rights as to the public transportation system established by the public authority pursuant to Act No. 263 of the Public Acts of 1951, being section 35.351 to 35.356 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, as they would have had under the acquired public transportation system.