The bill amends RCW 41.80.200 to extend interest arbitration rights to certain employees of the Washington Department of Corrections, specifically those covered by chapter 41.06 RCW, while removing the exclusion of management service employees from this provision. The intent is to ensure dedicated and uninterrupted services in the supervision of criminal offenders. The bill outlines the process for negotiations, mediation, and arbitration, including timelines for commencing negotiations, appointing mediators, and selecting arbitrators. It also specifies the factors that arbitrators must consider when making decisions, such as the financial ability of the department to pay and comparisons of wages and conditions of employment with similar state employers.

Additionally, the bill establishes that during arbitration proceedings, existing wages and conditions of employment cannot be changed without mutual consent. It provides mechanisms for enforcing arbitration decisions and clarifies that while the arbitrator's decision is binding on the parties, it is not binding on the legislature, which retains the authority to approve necessary funding for implementing any compensation and benefit provisions resulting from the arbitration. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the dispute resolution process for employees of the Department of Corrections while ensuring that the legislature maintains oversight of financial implications.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.80.200