The proposed bill establishes a comprehensive framework for collective bargaining for employees in Washington State who are not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. It introduces a new chapter to Title 49 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), detailing the rights and obligations of parties in private sector labor-management relations, including key definitions such as "bargaining representative," "collective bargaining," and "labor dispute." The bill outlines procedures for certifying exclusive bargaining representatives, resolving disputes, and enforcing collective bargaining agreements, while also affirming that existing agreements remain enforceable even without federal oversight. It mandates that employers must engage in collective bargaining before altering wages or working conditions, thereby ensuring structured representation for employees.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for resolving labor disputes through arbitration, preserves the right to strike with a 10-day notice requirement for health care institutions, and allows employers in the building and construction industry to enter agreements with labor organizations without prior majority status. It affirms Washington's public policy on workers' rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining, granting the Public Employment Relations Commission concurrent jurisdiction over violations of these rights. The bill also enhances confidentiality protections for communications between employees and union representatives, as well as between advocates and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, ensuring that such communications remain private unless consent is given for disclosure.

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