The bill amends Washington state law concerning public employee collective bargaining, particularly focusing on the formation of bargaining units and interest arbitration procedures. A new requirement mandates that the public employment relations commission (PERC) obtain proof from both employers and employee organizations regarding challenged employees when a petition to form or expand a bargaining unit is submitted. If a petition is found inappropriate, PERC must evaluate whether an existing unit represented by another organization is suitable, which could lead to the dismissal of the petition or an election for a new unit. Additionally, the bill allows PERC to set hearing dates without consent from the parties involved and to draw adverse inferences from non-compliance with subpoenas, while providing protections for unions that invoke privilege.
Moreover, the bill addresses collective bargaining agreements related to employee health care benefits for the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, requiring these agreements to be separate and allowing the governor to request necessary funding for their implementation. It also permits the legislature to act on these agreements if they are submitted in a timely manner. A significant addition is the prohibition against public employers requiring workers to waive any statutory rights as a condition for settling grievances under collective bargaining agreements, thereby safeguarding workers' rights to pursue legal claims. The definition of "public employer" is consistent with existing law as defined in RCW 49.44.170.
Statutes affected: Original Bill: 41.56.050
Substitute Bill: 41.56.050
Bill as Passed Legislature: 41.56.050, 41.80.200, 47.64.170
Session Law: 41.56.050, 41.80.200, 47.64.170