This bill seeks to extend collective bargaining rights to agricultural employees in Washington State by placing them under the jurisdiction of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). It introduces a new chapter in Title 49 RCW, defining "agricultural employee" and "agricultural employer," and establishes the commission's concurrent jurisdiction with superior courts to address violations of collective bargaining rights. The legislation emphasizes the unique challenges faced by agricultural workers, such as language barriers and seasonal employment, and outlines processes for determining bargaining representatives, mediation, and arbitration in disputes. It mandates that agricultural employers engage in collective bargaining with certified representatives before altering wages or working conditions, with provisions for interest arbitration if agreements are not reached in a timely manner.

Additionally, the bill enhances protections for communications between union representatives and employees, ensuring that such communications cannot be disclosed without consent, except in specific circumstances. It expands the definition of "union" to include farmworker labor organizations and clarifies key terms related to union activities, such as "union representation" and "communication." The bill also establishes a process for appointing arbitrators to resolve disputes without charging fees to the parties involved and mandates the creation of multilingual signage to inform agricultural workers of their rights. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen labor relations in the agricultural sector, ensuring fair representation and negotiation rights for workers while upholding their rights and protections.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 49.32.020, 5.60.060
Substitute bill: 49.32.020, 5.60.060